Gender Discrimination and the Role of Spouses in a Family System: An Islamic Perspective

Abstract

Gender discernment is generally related to woman and children. There is no doubt that women face inequality in access to obtain their rights and they come across multi-dimensional problems, but in eastern countries, men’s rights are also being exploited when they are not getting their right status in a family as prescribed by Islam. It is the basic composition of the family system which is proven to be the foundation of a happy and prosperous family that men are the guardians of their families as Qawwām while women are obedient to them in following the right commands and fulfilling their responsibilities according to Islamic teachings within prescribed parameters mentioned by Islam. The present-day society is discriminating the status of both men and women; there is a misbalance among the rights and duties of these genders in a family resulting in the disturbance of standards and philosophy of fundamentals of family system. The current status for both the genders is the deprival of their rightful status within their families, causing an unstable relationship with other family members. Moreover, they both are not aware of their responsibilities; hence they misuse their authorities towards their families. The discrimination against both the genders causes insecurity of a family system; it also creates inequality and injustice in society.