Al-Yaum newspaper

I wish the media would stop using the Arabic term “Al-Unsur Al-Nisa’i” to refer to women, which literally translates as the: “female element”. First of all, we are not inside a chemical laboratory nor are we conducting a dangerous chemical experiment in which the “female element” needs to be added to a chemical compound. We are women, not chemical elements.

Whenever I hear this term, I feel as if women are some sort of element that is to be added into a mixture or are intruders in a male-dominated society. I feel as if men constitute the fundamental part of society and that they have allowed women or the “female element” to be a part of this society.

What have women done wrong to be treated like this? Why are women’s achievements not given any attention or focus like those of men? Women are under constant pressure to watch their behavior and avoid the spotlight. I feel sad when I see women act as if they were unimportant members of society and as if they had no right to exist.

Some men believe that they have the right to attack women, regardless of the latter’s social status or age. These men view women as irrelevant and do not respect them. I do not feel sorry that I was born female. On the contrary, I am very proud of this. Allah Almighty created me like this. If some men do not know how to treat women properly, then that is their problem and not mine.

Some men believe that women should not have a voice or opinion in society, nor should they cross certain limits or boundaries. I have always criticized men who set these limits. Frankly speaking, I always cross these boundaries because I believe they are set by men who strongly believe in certain social traditions. I have discovered that all of the men who try to prevent me from crossing these boundaries have a mind of their own and view things from a narrow perspective.

My message to my fellow women is: Do not let anyone belittle you or treat you as if you were an irrelevant member of society. If someone tries to draw boundaries for you, challenge him because you have every right to live your life the way you want to as long as it does not contradict with the Shariah.