Originally Posted by NJUSA

I, like many Muslim women before me, work and socialize with men and women. I work in the office with men and women, I tutor men and women, I enjoy social gatherings and conversations with men and women. Some of the men I socialize with are Muslim; some are non-Muslim. The men that I socialize with know the limits and observe them wonderfully, and we keep our intercourse at the social level. Could I restrict myself to female friends only? It's possible, but I'd be a less wise and healthy person in the absence of several friends who care for me and challenge me to be a better person. There is a difference between modesty and segregation. Modesty is a curtain between the sexual and non-sexual parts of one's life. A certain amount of it is neccessary, and can be withdrawn when needed. Segregation is a wall between human beings. It is only needed to prevent danger, and is meant to be more or less permanent. I refuse to believe that morally sound people are an inherent danger to society, and must be put behind walls for the protection of and from other morally sound people. My brethren in faith and humanity are not morally deficient on account of their gender;likewise for my sistren in faith and humanity. Why, then, must we be alienated from each other and our own selves?