|
The
Role of Somali Women has Transformed Over Time
(Phoenix,
November 27,
2010 Ceegaag Online)
By: Mohamud Shalab
Somalia was first introduced
to Islam between the years 635 to 1000 AD after prophet
Muhammad's (PBUH) companions immigrated to East African
soil, more specifically, Abyssinia (now known as
Ethiopia).The vast majority of Somalis are Sunni Muslims
which used to practice a moderate version of Islam.
It is expected of Muslims to follow the
guidelines Islam sets for them. Islam for many is considered
not only a religion, but a way of life. Therefore, each
family abides by certain rules and structure, and each
family member plays an important role. Traditionally women
were and to some extent still are considered the bond
that holds together the family and the community as a whole.
However, nowadays that role has changed as a lot of them
seek post secondary education and a career before
marriage, this could have a lot to do with the economy and
the fact that it is a lot harder for a family to survive
with a single than a double income. Nonetheless, many people
believe Muslim women are not allowed to do this and that
they are oppressed and abused in the Islamic society, which
may be true in some parts of the world, but it shouldn't be
linked to Islam, in fact the rise of Islam is what stopped
female infanticide in the Arabian peninsula. The inequality
of women in some Muslim countries can for the most part be
blamed on the country's politics and culture. In Islam women
and men generally hold equal, but different roles in the
society.
The Somali
people accepted the Muslim way of life and began to adopt it
into their own society. The rise of Islam also lead to
changes of the culture, Muslim women were to follow a modest
dress code, the dress code did not outline a specific color,
fabric or fashion. Perhaps the most popular piece of Muslim
dress today, is the head cover commonly known as the hijab,
which can also be described as anything that covers the body
modestly. After years of peace, Somalia experienced a civil
war in recent time , it left thousands of people dead and
countless children without their fathers,since it was mainly
men that took part in the war, women had to take on both
parenting roles and learn to provide for their children on
their own. The civil war and the continuing violence is what
caused women to flee their home country and seek asylum in
other countries. Many women and children immigrated to
Canada, England and the United States. Adapting to the
western culture became difficult for some for fear of losing
their own culture and values, but over time most Somalis
have learned that integration isn't a bad thing and that
every culture has it's negatives and positives and that the
best they can do is to incorporate the good into their own
culture and values.
webmaster@ceegaag.com |
