We need to remember that in many societies women have been treated
for practical and legal purposes as the property of their
husbands (or, if unmarried, of their fathers). As recently as the
late 1960s, many statutes made married women legally incompetent
to enter into contracts, rent cars, or get credit without their
husband's signature - in much the same way that minors cannot
exercise certain privileges without the approval of a parent or
guardian.

Even more strikingly, husbands had absolute sexual rights over their
spouses, and it is only in recent times that it has been made illegal
for a husband to rape his wife. Traces of the old traditions are
also to be found in our contemporary wedding ceremonies; in the
standard form of vows, some brides still solemnly promise to "obey"
the groom, and it is usually her father who still "gives her away"
to her new husband, as though some piece of property was being
transferred.

We can see the implications of this symbolic interaction more
clearly if we imagine its opposite - the mother of the groom
giving him away to the bride, and he then vowing to obey his
wife for the rest of his life.

Nonetheless, the fact that women have been subordinate in all
family systems in the past does not necessarily mean that there
is something inherently wrong with the whole idea of the family,
or marriage today in our society. It is entirely possible that
utterly different family and marriage forms might (and are)
emerging in the future. Particularly in our post-industrial
societies, where in fact there is a strong trend nowadays toward
equality between the spouses.

However, this is not always the case with some Islamic couples.
And the only thing that we can do - is to try to let people
know of their rights in this country and also what our laws are
concerning domestic violence. Getting the communities involved
would also help.

I cannot understand how one would get a woman to submit without causing pain if she was not consenting. To make her submit one would had had to bully her before using force. This places he in the position of being abused

Foxy:

You have already made that point about education. It is not ignorance that makes these women sucuumb to these acts of violence - it is fear.

It would be simple if all you had to do was give them a book of rules and laws governing violence in our society and that would make them safe. They live in fear, not of violence but of having no husband and no religion.

The emotional pressure to have a husband is even more compelling than it is in western societies and they will endure a great deal of punishment rather than deal with that pressure. In the same way their dependence on religious observance as a way of dealing with their emotions compounds their problem.

They deal with the fear of having no husband by resorting to religious behaviours and religious beliefs. These fears are powerful emotions and it is avoiding the issue to suggest that education can overcome them.

Foxy: her father who still "gives her away" to her new husband,

Well at least he gives her away. What the usual Bride Price. 20 Pigs, 40 Goats & a Camel? Dad's laughing all the way to the back paddock. ;-)

Dear phanto,

What do you then suggest? (if you don't think that education
of these women
concerning their rights and our laws is not a good idea)?

Foxy: (if you don't think that education of these women concerning their rights and our laws is not a good idea)?

I think phanto would agree that the education of these women in their Rights under Australian Law is a good thing. The problem is these women don't believe in Australian Laws. They believe that Shari'a Laws are much superior & therefore will bow towards them every time. If they don't, of course, then the husbands will beat them & not with a little stick.

I'm sure I saw those women wink at one another.