Download ISLAM and FEMALE IDENTITY

ISLAM and
FEMALE IDENTITY
H. Nermin ÇELEN
Maltepe University
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The person is under the influence of different external
factors from the congestion on.These are sociopsychological ( mother –child relationship)and sociohistorical cultural factors. ,The factors like family
types,child rearing techniques, school, social
environment,religion, economy,politics,globilazition,
modernization, law, media finally a cultural factors are
the factors which influence and shape the individual
from childhood to throughout the life. They help
individual to answer the questions “Who am I?” and
“What am I?” The answer of these questions give the
hint about the identity of individual
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When we look at broader perspective we easily refer to
different identities to a person. Like Ego identity, gender
role identity, social identity, collective identity, ethnic
identity and others Personality is a Gestalt of these
identities.One can not seperated from each other.Each
of them has its own importance in one’s life. Before
explaining the female identity in İslam it would better to
define and give more detail information about the
identities
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EGO IDENTITY
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It is not easy to define ego identity but we may give
dimensions of it. Like; Continuity, sameness, uniquiness.
Interaction between biological determination, life time
experiences and cultural environment of person shapes
his/her ego identity That means Identity takes its roots
from individual itself and also from social cultural
environment.
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Ego identity is partly concious and partly unconcious.
Ego identity is a Gestalt. Our identity begins to be
shaped from childhood by introjection and identification
and closes its cycle during the time of late adolescence
and young adulthood. Of course it is not the final
position.It has a tendency to be changed because of
different life experiences.( traumas like lotary
winning,migration, loss someone, wars, eartquakes etc)
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There are different identities in every domain the
individual interacts. family, religion, ideologypolitics,friendship,career etc. These different identities
come together and make the whole or the configuration (
Erikson,1968).
According to J. Marcia there are four different identity
statuses: Achieved, moratorium, foreclosed and
diffused.They may be the same in each domain or may
be different.
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Main Charecteristics of Identity statuses
ID Status type
exploration
commitment
Achieved
Yes
Yes
Moratorium
Yes
No
Foreclosed
No
Yes
Diffused
No
No
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PHILOSOPHY OF
LIFE
f
%
Achieved
63
75,9
Diffused
2
2,5
Foreclosed
3
3,5
Moratorium
15
18,1
Total
83
100
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CAREER/OCCUPATI
ON
f
%
Achieved
63
75,75
Diffused
2
2,50
Foreclosed
6
7,25
Moratorium
12
14,5
Total
83
100
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GENDER
f
%
Achieved
53
63,9
Diffused
9
1,8
Foreclosed
6
7,2
Moratorium
15
18,1
Total
83
100
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INTIMATE
RELATIONSHIP
f
%
Achieved
23
27,7
Diffused
47
56,6
Foreclosed
2
2,4
Moratorium
11
13,3
Total
83
100
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RELIGION
f
%
Achieved
62
74,7
Diffused
4
4,8
Foreclosed
9
10,8
Moratorium
8
9,7
Total
83
100
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SOCIAL IDENTITY
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Social identity comprises the parts person’s identity that
come from belonging to particular groups including age,
ethnicity, religion and gender.The two important
processes involved in social identity formation namely
self categorization and social comparison.
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The consequence of self categorization a member
perceive similarities between the self and the out group
members. Like attitudes, beliefs, values, affective
reactions, behavioral norms, dressing style and other
properties.They also use cultural symbols make them
differ the out-group. from those are believed to be
correlated with the relevant intergroup categorization.
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The consequence of the social comparison process is
the selective application of accentuation effect, primarily
to those dimensions that will result in self enhancing
outcomes for the self Specifically one’s self-esteem is
enhanced by evaluating the in-group and out-group on
dimensions that lead the in-group to be judged positively
and the out-group to be judged negatively.
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In group based identities , the uniformity of perception
reveals itself in several ways: Cognitive, attitudinal and
behavioral.
Social streotyping is primary among cognitive
outcomes. Researches have found that streotyped
perceptions of in-group memebers and out-group
members are enhanced and made more homogeneous
by identification. The central cognitive process in social
identity theory is depersonalization., or seeing the self as
a embodiment of the in group prototype a cognitive
representation of the social category containing the
meanings and norms that the person associates with the
social category.
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Along attitudinal lines , people uniformly make positive
evaluations of a group when they become group
members.The researches have found that individuals
who identify with the group feel a strong attraction to the
group as a whole, independed of individiual attachments
within the group ( Hogg & Hardie, 1992). The others
have found that in-group identification leads to greater
commitment to th egroup and less desire to leave group
even when the group’s status is relatively low( Ellemers,
Spears & Doosje, 1997)
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Finally people behave in concert within a a group which
they identify.Social identification is one of the prime
bases for participation in social movements.In general
we find uniformity of perception and sction among
persons when they take group based identity.
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The question” How and when do identities become
activated in a situation?” is very important. The social
identity theorists used the term salience to indicate the
activation of an identity in a structure. The activation of
identity in a situation allows individuals to accomplish
their personal or social goals.Activition of a social identity
is sufficient result of depersonalization.De
personalization is the basic process underlying group
phenomena such as social streotyping, group
cohesiveness, ethnocentrism, cooperation and altruism
emotional contagion and collective action ( Turnet at all,
1987)
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When a group identity is activated people behave so as
to enhance the evaluation of the in-group relative to outgroup and thereby to enhance their own self-evaluation
as group members. This process is the maintanance
and enhancement of of self-esteem.. The self esteem
motive initially was thought to the basis in-group
favoritism and ethnocentrism as well as hostility toward
the out-group ( Abrams,1992). Self esteem and self
efficacy ( control over the environment) are increased by
self-verification which occurs performing a role well. If
the person performed well in the role he/she would feel
good, given the appraisals by others and their approval.
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GENDER ROLE IDENTITY
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Gender role identity refers the roles of each gender
have been acquired by socialization. Generally Females
belongs to private area and society expects them to be
sensitive, cooperative, compassive and warm. The
psychological profile of labelled as masculine centres on
assertiveness, dominance, competence and
compettiveness.
Man fort he sword and fort he needle she
Man with the head and woman with the heart
Man to command and woman to obey
All else confusion
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When we consider the gender role identity females have
been always kept generally in their private area in
Western world and in Middle East from the pagan time to
industrial revolution. By urbanization in the Western
countries ( migration to rural to urban areas) woman
began to work which the male society permit for
them.The wages are different from the males.Feminism
movement increased against the sex segragation they
wanted to take place in male dominated careers.Social
control and socialization of youth in the past has specfic
values and norms for gender in vocational socialization
put the barrier İn preindustrilized
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Socio-political-cultural factors which
helps to form female Islamic Identity
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The concept of modernity refers to enlightenment,
industrial revolution, individualism, equality and laisizm
(secularism) thes eare the outcomes of multi
democratization.
Islamic behavior and hijap are outcomes for being
against the reformism and secularism of Western world.
Radical Islamic movement is the result of economic
crisis based on globalization, political authoritarian
(economic and political advantages of USA and AU) and
urbanization ( migration from rural to urban areas for
seeking jobs)
Western modernization depends on industrilization,
production and class conflicts. Western modernization
refers to universality and decrease the differences.
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Modernization in Islamic world means making changes
in cultural norms, behavior patterns and gender role
identities Specifically modernization have been
perceived as female independence away from her
traditional Islamic values in Turkey. They must be more
individualized and more autonomous. and So they put
the females at the centre of modernization process in
Islamic countries.
Most of the women in Turkey have traditional life styles
and have traditional religious pratics and they are
conservatives.
Islamic society reshapes the muslim identity against the
modern world by using females.Islamic world not only
represent reaction to sovereignty but also propose a
cultural modal and new identity paradigma against
Western modernization
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The formation of collective identity of Islam females is
the result of interaction between secular females, İslam
males and also within in-group.The females who used
hijap mostly come from rural areas in Anatolia and have
traditional families in which females put scarf. They differ
themselves from tradition and internalized Islamic radical
political interpretation.They are in differantiation
process.They categorize themselves away from modern
and also tradition. They create hybrid modal. W e may
easily see the relationship between gender roles and
political ideology.
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Islamic female movement looks like a feminist and ethnic
groups movements When the females categorizes
themselves as feminists they feel secure and also sense
strength in their identity. It is the same for Muslim
females when they label themselves as Islam they sense
the augmentation of the strength in their identity.Hijap of
İslam female is accepted as the symbol of the self and
islamic societal taboos against homosexuality, sexual
freedom, infidelity and alcohol consumption because
they are the refused roles.They are under the
sovereignty of İslamic ideology.
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İslam females criticize traditional Muslims and
modernization and try to create new alternative system
as in any other social identity they consider hijap as a
symbol of this movement. They use new word for it
TURBAN. Hijap represents the collective power of
religion and politics.
They read Qouran ( Koran) and learn qouran scripts and
verses, they know about sociology and Islam history.
They dont believe secularism is the proper for the
İslamic policy and religion.
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They believe that if they come together they will create
political power in structured society and have social
control over the others. They have brought the
phenomena from periphery to the center (Cities).
Culturally the cities are the areas which produce modern
values and symbols
Women who prefer hijap refuse to carry on passive
traditional culture of rural areas. They try to catch
opportunities of modernism ( which depend on their
interpretation) in an active way.
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PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
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Generally a person can be think whole islamic females
are under the control male islamic society. In some
cases it is not true.We can talk about the double faces of
the Money.First of all when we look at the history during
the time Amavi and Abbasi empires and also in the first
years of Ottoman Empire the İslam females have had
autonomy and also have responsibility of
commitment.These were the times the empires were
living in their more powerful time. But afterwards they did
not follow up the reinassance reforms and began to
decline and experienced economic crises.The İslam
males could not compite with Western world’s economic,
technological and industrized renovations . Inferiorıty
turn to rage against Western world but they could not
show this rage against them ( the real target)
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They used projection defense mechanism and turned to
this rage feelings more fragile group… females. They are
the group who were not physically powerful. So Males
could easily put authority on them and transfer their rage
feelings for females. It is almost the same situation for
Afghanistan and Pakistan nowadays.In the novel of the
“Kite Runner” written by Khaled Hossein. In the movie
“Stoning of Soraya M.”
Note:Dress code or cover the hair not show a bit of hair
after puberty not always be seen in İslam but also in
orthodoks christians and other societies you may read
the novel “Eleni” by Nicholas Gage to understand the
situation better
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Then the İslam females experienced learned
helplessness.They tranfer this behavior pattern from
generation to generation.By the help of limited education
and television they have learned what kind of rights
which the females have in the other part of the world.As
you know to change the technology is easier compare to
change in the cultural values. To change the inferior
position and to take the power was not easy. They are
the natural victims
They raise some voice but no one wanted to hear the
voices.They accepted to cover themselves to take a part
besides male population. You can see them in Egypt or
Arab countries Tv channels or in hospitals etc. They
create themselves a new social identity.achieved ego
identity( by exploring the proper alternatives and made
their own commitments) of them helped them.
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“We cover our hair but not our brains”
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The females come from low SES families can not use
this advantage. They continue their learned helplessness
and foreclosed ego identity.In Iran for example there are
three different cover styles The females from low SES
totaly in black gown. Economic level also helped them to
get decision. They choose to wear black gown and
cover their faces with veil because otherwise they dont
get help from the state.They choose or forced to be
chosen. If they choose we may say that they make their
commitments to get food for their homes.
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In Turkey the situation is a bit different. According to
sociologists as I told you in social analysis the Muslim
females generally used to cover their hair in traditional
way. The university students who come from Rural areas
or small cities to the big cities could not adopt the
modernization and feel alone . One of the most
important needs is being a member of a group. They
come together and follow up the ideology against
modernization. They became the member of the
group.They used hijab for the symbol.by this they
differentiate themselves from others.That helped them to
keep their self esteem high.They create a new behavior
pattern and dress code. According to the research has
been done with female İslam students put forward that
they chose this kind of living with their free will and made
commitments without the pressure of their families.
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