Written by Dr. Muhammad Mamdouh Abdullah 

Head of the NGO Development Sector at the Misr El Kheir Foundation

 

 

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In recent years, the concept of “gender” has emerged as a pivotal term in much human rights and development literature, as it is presented as a tool for understanding social roles beyond the biological confinement of the sexes. While this discourse carries promises to achieve justice and equality, its applications in some contexts, especially in Arab societies, have sparked widespread debate about its effects on the family structure and the relationships between its members..

 

(1) Gender and Family: The Problem of Interpretation, Not the Concept

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In some discourses, the argument is made that traditional family roles are a “social construct” that can be dismantled or reformulated. Although this vision may contribute to highlighting aspects of injustice in some imposed roles, going beyond the innate or biological differences between men and women sometimes leads to:

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Disruption of reference models for parenting and motherhood, which negatively affects the psychological and social stability of children..

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The clash of roles within the family, where the principle of complementarity turns into a state of competition or mutual suspicion.

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Promoting alternative family models that are not in line with the prevailing cultural and social structure in our societies, which leads to destabilizing the system of common values..

 

(2) Between criticism and evaluation: towards a balanced understanding of gender

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It cannot be denied that there are real challenges facing women in some societies, such as weak economic empowerment, political representation, or unfair distribution of roles. But the response to these challenges must not be through:

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Denying the natural differences that God created and made them a basis for integration, not competition..

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Imposing ready-made models or imported from different cultural contexts without taking into account social and religious specificities.

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Turn the family relationship into a conflict of roles, instead of promoting cooperation and participation.

 (3)Islam presents a balanced conception of family and social relations, based on:

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Integration in functions and roles, as God Almighty says:

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">﴿And women will have a degree similar to those over them, with kindness, and men will have a degree over them. (Al-Baqarah: 228..

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The degree here is a duty related to responsibility and care, not a superior value.

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Justice, not uniformity. Women's rights in Islam include education, work, ownership, and participation in public affairs, while preserving their innate privacy..

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The family as an integrated unit based on affection and compassion, not on erasing differences or eliminating roles.

 (4)What is required is not to completely reject modern concepts, nor to isolate ourselves from the global dialogue on issues of gender and justice, but rather to present an alternative discourse:

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Based on our local culture and promoting the values of cooperation and balance.

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He acknowledges the existence of real challenges, but rejects categorical solutions that lead to the disintegration of the family..

mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Reconstructs the roles of men and women in light of the developments of the times, without wasting the moral and religious constants.

mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Conclusion

mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Approaching the concept of gender requires a critical awareness that differentiates between the true pursuit of justice and dissolution of models that may lead to disruption of the structure of society and the family. In light of the rapid social transformations, a balanced vision that takes into account cultural and religious specificity, and is based on the values of cooperation and integration, remains the most worthy of preserving family cohesion and building a more just and humane society..