Even, you belong to a secular society, you have to obey laws. Sometimes, I get the feeling that some board members think, that all western women run around in bikinis the whole day, roam around in bars, or whatever.
No, we also obey to laws, just with the difference, that these laws are human made. They say clearly, that when you like to wear a bikini, you must wear it in an appropriate place, like a beach, public swimming pool.
Further, the rights of women are more than 'just beeing allowed to drive a car'. The rights for women should also be able to build and design cars. Surveys have shown that women often look for different characteristics in cars than men, like color, texture of seats, while men prefer more power on engine.
Another point of equality would be 'household chores'. In the western world, you often see, that women are the breadwinners, while the husband raise the kids at home. How is that in islamic countries?
There is a pass I read on a website:
Regrettably, no serious efforts were made by Muslim scholars to investigate the various meanings of the words in this verse. The text has been even misinterpreted again to the advantage of men. This issue of 4:34 has been elegantly addressed by M. Shahroor. He concludes that capability and not gender is what determines who is in charge of the household affairs. Physically, men are more able than women (on average). Also, Traditionally and historically men owned resources and gave them to women or looked after women. Also, during childbirth and childrearing, it is women who suffer economically because they become less capable of attending to their work while looking after a child. These facts created a general phenomenon in many societies that men are more capable physically and economically. There are many exceptions to that, but in general it is true. The verse illustrates, according to Shahroor, that capability is variable among people and some men or women are more capable than others. Thus managing the household affairs is function of capability not gender. This is a sharp turn from all the other literature concerning this matter. We are faced with situations where a woman is indeed the manager of the house hold affairs, such a woman whose husband is incapacitated due to illness or a terminal condition or lack of income.
Taken from
this website
So, Quaran does not determine exactly, who's in charge of a household, but still, you see only muslim men working in jobs in an family while the woman stay in household.
Further I found this:
It’s wrong to say that Islam does not allow women to participate in politics.
According to the Quran(60:12), Muhammad was told that when the believing women would come to him and swear their loyalty towards Islam then he must accept their oath. This narration on Quran itself justify the fact that Muslim women are allowed to choose their leader and can declare them publicly. In fact Islam also do not forbid the women from holding any designation in government.
Taken from
this website
So, if it isn't wrong in Islam for women to go into politics, why we cannot find muslim women there?