Dr. Salam Al Rabadi
With the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, many of the gains made on the level of
equality are vulnerable to reversal. Where this pandemic deepens existing
imbalances and reveals weaknesses in the social, political and economic
systems, which exacerbate the suffering of women and girls simply because they
are female. Despite the slow evolution in the
pace of raising of gender equality, women all over the world still face laws
and regulations that restrict and impede their economic and social
opportunities.
According to international reports, the
"Covid-19"
pandemic appears to have created new challenges for women in terms of their
health, safety and economic security, as women only enjoy three quarters of the
legal rights granted to men([1]).
Certainly when trying to assess these dilemmas and
approach the reality of women's rights, the following questions must be asked:
1- How long will the woman be taken as evidence of the
cultural and moral integrity of society?
2- Is there a philosophical defect that prevents women
from transcending this male system?
It seems that the real male oppression is what
societies and philosophical fields suffer from inferiority view of women.
Consequently, if there is a serious desire to reach true equality between women
and men, this requires reconsideration of everything related to the culture of
societies, including the culture of women themselves([2]), not to mention facing some challenges at the level of enlightenment,
which require searching for a new approach to each What is related to the
philosophical and cultural thought according to an explicit critical view.
Where it appears that the woman has been placed in the womb of a closed
philosophical vortex, which maintains the traditional forms of femininity([3]).
In this context, it is logical to say that societal
gender equality cannot be reached without the existence of a philosophical
background that works to enlighten minds and liberate them from male restrictions. But how can this liberation and enlightenment be
achieved if the philosophical values themselves suffer from a prominent gender
and chauvinist problem, which is linked (unfortunately) with the inferiority
of women in the world of philosophy?
For example, the most famous Greek philosophers (Aristotle,
Plato, Socrates) had a vision of women in general that did not go beyond
the fact that they were only suitable for procreation, and that they could not
exercise moral virtues like men, also that they could not exercise moral
virtues like men, not to mention that women were considered inferior to men in
terms of reason and virtue.
And this vision of women in the world of ancient
philosophy did not differ much with a number of great modern philosophers (Jean-Jacques
Rousseau, Immanuel Kant, Nietzsche). According to their vision, women were
not created either for science or for wisdom, but rather only to satisfy the
instincts of men. They also believed that a woman's mind was not up to the
level of a men's mind, and it was not made for thinking. In addition, they
believed that women were the source of all evil, and that they conspired with
all forms of decadence against men([4]).
In conclusion, it seems clear that the continued
tyranny of male philosophy is a natural symptom of the domination of the male
culture over humanity in general, which continues to this day, despite claims
of equality. Consequently, if there is someone who believes that these
philosophical considerations, steeped in masculinity and related to women's
rights, have become outdated by time in light of the spread of feminist
ideology and the development of ideas related to sexuality (gender)..etc.
But here, the existing
problematic must be raised around the question of whether the male view of
women has actually changed at the contemporary philosophical level, and whether
there is an urgent need to move to the comprehensive Enlightenment
philosophical system?
Certainly when trying to answer these questions and
evaluate this hybrid problematic (in case the
statistical and quantitative approach, which emphasizes the darkness of the
scene, is exceeded) in order to create a radical change at the level of the
vital pillars guaranteeing women's rights, we must be searched about the
reasons and backgrounds that have prevented women from creating an integrated
philosophical school, or establishing an intellectual current that can
influence the philosophical field.
Out of this impossibility or inability , this will
inevitably lead us to pose the fundamental dilemma which lies in the following
question: Are there women philosophers([5])?
Here, judiciously and definitely, we will clash with
the cruelty and weight of the dialectic related to the importance, status and
role of women in thinking and philosophizing.
[1] Not
to mention the increase in violence against women, in addition to economic
weakness and lack of financial independence (to some extent), including
barriers to job preservation, women also face an increase in domestic violence
and health and safety challenges...etc. See Report: “Women, Business And The
Law In 2021",The World
Bank,Washington,Look:https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/35094/
97814648 16529.pdf
[2] It is strange and reprehensible that some women accept
these appearances, on the pretext that they are accustomed to these practices.
It is also unfortunate that many of them do not know anything about their mere
exploitation. Here, many question marks may arise about whether women are
entitled (based on human rights principles) to accept the violation of their
humanity?
[3] Consequently, we must be careful and reflect on how to use
terms such as femininity, identity, honor, masculinity .. etc.
[4] It is worth mentioning here the importance of not
generalizing the masculine view of women in the philosophical field. For
example, the Arab philosopher Averroes(Ibn Rushd:1126-1198)
presented us with a human vision that is no less important than all
contemporary propositions related to gender equality rights. Where he affirms
that there is no difference between a woman and a man(except for the physical
difference), they are one type where the woman and the man are one type. As
well as, he considers that there is no obstacle to a woman from reaching the
ruling.
[5]
Systematically if the influence of the irrational public opinion is overlooked,
if emotions are put aside and if the scientific scrutiny of philosophical history
(ancient and contemporary) is carried out according to specific characteristics
and conditions, then we will not find any women philosopher.
