Over the past few months, the media has drawn attention to the inhumane treatment of women in many Muslim societies. As a result of an influx of technological advances, Muslim societies are more aware of customs in other cultures. This awareness is slowly changing many Muslim beliefs. The atrocities that are portrayed by way of the media often represent extreme and isolated events, thereby depicting the plight of women as more harsh and widespread than it may actually be.
             Muslim culture considers women to be inferior to men; women have been treated like second-class citizens for centuries. Many Muslims believe that a man is superior to a woman in both intellect and spirituality. This custom is based on verses from the Qur'an (Koran), the following verse reinforces these views. "Men are in charge of women because Allah hath men the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women)" (Yusufali 4: 34). Muslim women are often referred to as "shadows," because they rarely speak and are seldom seen. It is held that a woman's place is home, where she can pray frequently. Because it is considered shameful for a woman to expose any part of her body publicly, she covers her face and body with what is referred to as a "burqa" during the isolated occasions where she leaves her home. It is believed that a woman who is "lacking beauty" will not sexually tempt a man, for this reason, some societies will allow her to expose her face.
             It is an honor to be chosen as a Muslim wife, for this honor, a wife is expected to strive to please her husband. Traditionally, Muslim women are raised to be completely submissive to their husbands. The wishes of a husband must never be denied, doing so could result in a beating. A man has the legal right to beat his wife if she violates any of the following: 1.) Refusing sexual intercourse. 2.) Refusing to take a bath when asked. 3.) Traveling without the...