Should feminists complain about other religion's sexist practices?

I think feminists should complain about sexist practices wherever they see them. Obviously, at the right time and place and context - it wouldn't do to complain about the portrayal of courtesans in the middle of Violetta's death scene in La Traviata for example. So the middle of a mass is prob not the right time to start discussing patriarchal persecution by the catholic church, or the middle of a muslim wedding not the right time to discuss the shortcomings of Shariah (unless all the guests are particularly given to energetic discussions at weddings). But in principle, feminists are entitled to call patriarchy wherever they see it. Anything else is silencing.

I also agree with Beach.

I agree with beach.

I am Anglican. I am well aware of how and where this conflicts with my feminism. To me, this is worthwhile because 1) it's not an issue of choice for me and 2) I think there is something to be said for changing systems from the inside. Short of separatism, we all all participants in patriarchial structures, often because we have to be but sometimes because we choose to be - by being someone's wife, for example. I think these structures can change.

So I think 'complain' is an odd word, but 'practices' is spot on. Complain about the practice, not the belief, I'd say.

I'm an atheist too - I consider all religions to be patriarchal and tools of oppression.

I don't think it is wrong for feminists to analyse patriarchal practices that are part of religious institutions that they do not belong to. Nor do I think it is wrong to do the same with non-religious cultural practices.

I just think we have to be careful not to act oppressively ourselves in doing so. We also have to be as aware as possible of our own privilege and listen to and prioritise giving space to women of the religion or different cultures concerned. We must not presume to know more about their lived experiences than them - an easy trap to fall into when discussing a culture one has no lived experience of.

At the same time I think it is vital that women speak out against misogyny and the idea that certain things are none of our business because they exist within a different culture is a very effective silencing tactic.

orange your OP title makes it sound like feminism is a religion or that everyone on this board follows a particular religion - which is not the case. There aren't "other" religions there are just religions. Personally I am an atheist and believe all religions are patriarchal so that doesn't marry nicely with my feminism.

However the misogynistic acts that peole do tend to get grouped under religion, especially if that person follows a particular religion. I don't particularly believe that is true - I think they are just misogynists and would probably not like women much no matter what religion they followed. I suppose what I am saying is that religion can be used both by the accuser (in this case the DM) and the perpetrators as an excuse for misogynist acts. Tosh is what I say to that (although religious structures and tenets can be misogynist too).

There are plenty of feminists tackling sexist practices right under their nose too. That comment makes it sound like the only abuse happening to women is whatever they arbitrate as being "real" and that regular women don't experience sexism or abuse on a daily basis in this country at all . One of the feminist groups I am thinking about that tackle problems facing women such as described in the article Southall Black Sisters. They are pretty vocal although I wouldn't expect someone who comments like that on a DM article to have heard of them!

i dont think you were bashing Muslim people but you have somewhat prooved what the DM says. On the basis we dont want that....

IMO you cannot take account of religeous differences unless you think that not all women deserve the same rights.

A British Bangladeshi friend (divorced) was married by a Bangladeshi man for visa/passport purposes & when his application was turned down he married another women & did not bother to tell her. she only found out her son called to speak to daddy & the other wife answered the phone.

She wears a headscarf sometimes & her religion has got her through the death of her twenty something brother & shortly followed by the death of her 15yr old son mentioned above. i certainly would not want to take that away from her but the first husband who beat her & the second who used her, cannot be allowed to hide behind their purpored religion or culture.

they are arseholes, pretending to be religious, not religious people following their religion.

Yay, another Muslim bashing thread! We haven't had one of these in ages!!