You may want to compare your views with the efforts of the Baha’i Faith.

http://bahai.org/dir/teachings/equality/equality_gender

Briefly…

Traditionally, religion has been one of the most powerful sources of both vision and values. Every religion, particularly in its early stages, has evoked a new vision for society, articulated values consonant with that vision, and inspired both personal and institutional transformation. At the same time, it must be acknowledged that religion has also been a source of division and social fragmentation. Indeed, the record of religions in promoting the advancement of women has been uneven. While, typically, in the early years of their existence, religions have tended to encourage the participation of women, historical evidence suggests a gradual tendency among religious institutions over time to establish practices and support attitudes that impede the development of women’s potential.

Because religion is such a potentially powerful force for progress, religious leaders and people of faith everywhere are urged to step forward as lovers of humanity to promote those eternal, unifying principles — or spiritual values — that can inspire in both individuals and governments the will to implement the Agenda for Equality.

Foremost is the principle of the oneness of humankind. It lies at the heart of the exhortation that we should treat others as we ourselves would wish to be treated, an ethical standard upheld in some form by every religion. To establish justice, peace and order in an interdependent world, this principle must guide all interactions, including those between men and women. If the treatment of women were scrutinized in the light of this ethical standard, we would doubtless move beyond many traditional, religious and cultural practices.

I am not exactly sure since I am not ultra orthodox and have only had limited contact with them since they are communities are quite isolated. Chabad, one of the main ultra orthodox organizations, has homes scattered throughout the world in which Jews are welcomed at any time. Their homes tend to fill up during the holidays by travellers or other people away from their families. I visited them when I was alone living in Denmark and Sweden.

I should also state that in reform and conservative communities and even most orthodox communities (as opposed to ultra orthodox) these rules are not followed.

That sounds kinda extreme (Womans Land; Womyns Land; I know some women who refuse to even have “man” or “men” in their vocabulary), like a gated community in the USA. Those places really suck!

Isn’t there one of those types of places in Abu Dhabi? A women’s mall? I heard of this a few years ago. I think that the main reason for such a place is to allow women to be able to shop and do their thing without the presence of men. I can appreciate such a place as a kind of “sanctuary” away from gawking men or a male family member shadow, as well as a place where ME women who wear the shayla and abaya can take it off in a total women’s world and browse, relax and not worry about the world outside the mall. I also heard that men aren’t even allowed near the parking entrances to this mall.

Rasha, yeah the music video industry does promote women as sexual objects, and I think that it is centered around a few sets of music genre, and this is just my opinion, but it seems like the women groups really push it further.

But I would also like to add that there are Women who disrespect and exclude men. There is a place, just near where I live in Wales, called ‘Womans Land’ that only allows women to live there. Any male above the age of 4years is not allowed in, and any women who has a male child above that age either has to leave or is seperated from the child. This kind of thing is extremely distressing to me.

This usually happens because it looks weird for a woman to be standing among men. Many women would feel uncomfortable too. I have been in such situation where I needed to stand in line and I was the only female standing among men. Some men stared at me and it was uncomfortable. The worker felt sorry for me and actually helped me finish so I can leave.

Our society has a long way to go.. segregation creates sick minds most of the time. There is a LARGE gap between men and women, both genders are perceived differently either by society or the opposite sex.

I would think this problem of how society perceives women is evident in many cultures. Women are still looked at as sexual objects. It is evident in the music industry.. media..etc.
Women are still being exploited everyday in front of our eyes, we are just too used to it to actually recognize it..