The idea behind it is “grown women are sexually attractive and, in order not to disturb them with our unwanted advances and not to disturb ourselves with unwanted thoughts, the sexes should be separated in such events”. Now, I don’t agree with it (and I’m not that afraid of having passing ‘sexual’ thoughts, lol), but the core idea is one of prosociality and female safety, that’s undeniable. It’s at best unnecessary and low-key hurtful both to the women who want to participate and to the men who don’t feel like mindless rapists, but counterproductive virtue signalling and at least a tinge of sexism is sadly a big part of mainstream “Islamic culture”.
but the core idea is one of prosociality and female safety
No, it isn’t. That’s not at all why the separation of sexes exists for Muslims.
It’s about the fact that once a woman reaches a certain age, she is now eligible for being owned by someone other than her father and must be treated as exclusive property that only one man can own. Restricting their movements and not giving them the right to drive a car or vote or do other “normal adult” things is all the same as separating the sexes and making women wear certain clothing.
Forbidding women from participating in a “fun” event doesn’t seem very benevolent to me.
The idea behind it is “grown women are sexually attractive and, in order not to disturb them with our unwanted advances and not to disturb ourselves with unwanted thoughts, the sexes should be separated in such events”. Now, I don’t agree with it (and I’m not that afraid of having passing ‘sexual’ thoughts, lol), but the core idea is one of prosociality and female safety, that’s undeniable. It’s at best unnecessary and low-key hurtful both to the women who want to participate and to the men who don’t feel like mindless rapists, but counterproductive virtue signalling and at least a tinge of sexism is sadly a big part of mainstream “Islamic culture”.
No, it isn’t. That’s not at all why the separation of sexes exists for Muslims.
It’s about the fact that once a woman reaches a certain age, she is now eligible for being owned by someone other than her father and must be treated as exclusive property that only one man can own. Restricting their movements and not giving them the right to drive a car or vote or do other “normal adult” things is all the same as separating the sexes and making women wear certain clothing.