It's not only fundamentalist Islam that treats women as inferior - it's also fundamentalist Christians. A few years ago, the Southern Baptist Convention declared women were lesser humans and it was too much for Jimmy Carter. He was, and still is, a strong Baptist but his selective interpretation of the bible is different - he believes that women should not only be given equal rights in the secular world but also in the religious world. Despite words claiming they treat both sexes equally, Islam, the Catholic Church and many other religions still refuse to allow women to hold positions as imams, priests or ministers. Some take this further and like the Southern Baptists, say that women should be subservient to men.
This teaching of inequality encourages other abusive treatment - in the words of Jimmy Carter: "...the belief that women must be subjugated to the wishes of men excuses slavery, violence, forced prostitution, genital mutilation and national laws that omit rape as a crime. But it also costs many millions of girls and women control over their own bodies and lives, and continues to deny them fair access to education, health, employment and influence within their own communities."
Carter belongs to a small group of men and women called the Elders. These are a group of eminent global leaders, brought together by Nelson Mandela, who offer their collective influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity. The following video expresses what Carter and the Elders think on this subject:
The Elders have issued the following statement:
"Religion and tradition are a great force for peace and progress around the world.
However, as Elders, we believe that the justification of discrimination against women and girls on grounds of religion or tradition, as if it were prescribed by a higher authority, is unacceptable. We believe that women and girls share equal rights with men and boys in all aspects of life.
We call upon all leaders to promote and protect equal rights for women and girls.
We especially call on religious and traditional leaders to set an example and change all discriminatory practices within their own religions and traditions.
The Elders are fully committed to the realisation of equality and empowerment of all women and girls."
Carter left the Southern Baptist Convention when the convention leaders: "quoting a few carefully selected Bible verses and claiming that Eve was created second to Adam and was responsible for original sin, ordained that women must be 'subservient' to their husbands and prohibited from serving as deacons, pastors or chaplains in the military service." It's ironic that he also carefully selects Bible verses to support his own more humane interpretation.
Carter addressed the Parliament of Religions on this subject last year in Melbourne Australia:
Here are some quotes from that:
"This view that women are somehow inferior to men is not restricted to one religion or belief. Women are prevented from playing a full and equal role in many faiths. Nor, tragically, does its influence stop at the walls of the church, mosque, synagogue or temple. This discrimination, unjustifiably attributed to a Higher Authority, has provided a reason or excuse for the deprivation of women's equal rights across the world for centuries."
"In some Islamic nations, women are restricted in their movements, punished for permitting the exposure of an arm or ankle, deprived of education, prohibited from driving a car or competing with men for a job. If a woman is raped, she is often most severely punished as the guilty party in the crime."
"It is simply self-defeating for any community to discriminate against half its population. We need to challenge these self-serving and outdated attitudes and practices - as we are seeing in Iran where women are at the forefront of the battle for democracy and freedom."
"The truth is that male religious leaders have had - and still have - an option to interpret holy teachings either to exalt or subjugate women. They have, for their own selfish ends, overwhelmingly chosen the latter. Their continuing choice provides the foundation or justification for much of the pervasive persecution and abuse of women throughout the world. "
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