Working women in Cape Town: reconciling religious beliefs and modernity
A patriarchal reading of the Qur'ānic verse 4:34 implies the subordination of wives to their husband within their families. The fundamental duty of the husband to support his wife materially has led to the entrenched notion of male protection of women. In exchange for such protection, the wife has the reciprocal duty of obedience to her husband, which may lead to the restriction of her right to work, amongst other rights. In contemporary societies where women are increasingly participating in the maintenance of the family, different interpretations of the verse are now becoming more influential than the patriarchal view. Allowing women access to equal opportunities on the labour market and to receive equal remuneration will not only contribute to the overall improvement of society but could also lead to the effective implementation of gender equality as required by international legal standards and religious doctrines.
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