2022-03-24

Women Between Philosophy And Masculine Thought


 


Dr. Salam Al Rabadi

 

    Many of the achievements that have been made on the level of equality between men and women are vulnerable to setbacks, as there are many existing imbalances, which further exacerbate the suffering of women just because they are female. Women all over the world continue to face laws and regulations that restrict and impede their economic, social and political opportunities. According to global reports, it appears that there are many new challenges facing 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 this dilemma and approach the reality of women’s rights, the following problematic must be asked:

 

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 the search for a new approach to everything related to philosophical and cultural thought according to an explicit critical point of 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, logically 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.


For communication and cooperation

يمكن التواصل والتعاون مع الباحث والمؤلف سلام الربضي عبر الايميل
jordani_alrabadi@hotmail.com