As Myriam clearly states, “It just isn’t machismo, it is a feeling of duty. He’s very considerate in my opinion, he states this is certainly enough using the work we do in the home … Why do you wish to work more? People just start to see the topic that is usual Muslim men don’t enable their wives to exert effort, nevertheless the thing is, working with a residence and three small kids we currently work! After which I wonder … How is it that, within our countries, we women can be the ones who’ve to focus inside and outside our home? The girl comes house from work and contains to deal with the house, the youngsters then look after him. And besides that she’s got to cover 50 % of everything. Now, that’s exactly what we call machismo!”
Though it might appear paradoxical, this distinctly unequal founded system additionally plays a role in a form of women’s independence that is economic. This can be specially obvious when you look at the instances when they will have previous familial or individual earnings, or a part-time/at-home task, as they are free of financial obligation with regards to their households and kids, and for that reason have actually the freedom to make use of their particular cash while they be sure to. As Estela claims, “it’s a deal that is good my cash is my cash along with your cash is ours.”
Evidently, not totally all ladies have actually the chance to function or have their very own savings that are previous possessions, but even yet in those situations you can recognize the application of methods to make sure some margin of economic liberty. The type of, there is certainly asking for lots more cash from spending her own money, like her own family’s regular or incidental needs than she would actually spend on home purchases and then saving the rest, lovingly forcing the husband to get her luxury items that she could buy herself, or charging the husband with extra loads that would free her.
Another area where Islamic and western values often collide is in the legally – and culturally-legitimized practice that is– of.
Nevertheless, them had not done it, not simply because of lack of knowledge, but also because current economical hardships make polygamy more of an ideal than a plausible reality although they have the legal possibility of signing a monogamy clause, most of. More surprisingly, though, is that the most of them thought to prefer having a legalized polygamy that is controlled than needing to set up with normal Latin-American male infidelities back.
The reason why behind these roles appear to count on the amount of accountability of men’s actions.
“In Latin America men can simply get one wife that is legal numerous have actually a large amount of women, plus they usually don’t assume their obligation for females or young ones. Since numerous don’t have actually a stable job, even they can get out of it if you file an alimony claim for children support. Kids end up being the young ones of oblivion, second course young ones without having a father. If polygamy guarantees the rights of women and kids, males aren’t likely to have activities, since there aren’t numerous prostitutes or easy-ones women around. Under those circumstances, it is really difficult that he’ll be unfaithful for you. Now, physically I’d castrate him, due to my tradition, however in the case scenario that is worst, I like that one other girl and her young ones have their legal rights, and therefore method i am aware where he could be sufficient reason for who, he’s not likely to bring me personally an illness or other surprises.”
Generally, converted ladies hitched to Muslim guys are portrayed from an outsider’s western viewpoint as suffering, submissive or poor creatures, awaiting a “Not without my child” kind of fate. The contrasting life stories and viewpoints of numerous Latin-American ladies which have discovered faith and love in Egyptian hands, provide us with a hint of 
other means of approaching this occurrence.
* Some names are changed to protect the interviewed identities.
