A Probing Look at Gender-based Jobs in the View of Islam

Gender-based jobs are those jobs in which gender, in addition to other qualifications, is regarded as a condition for employment. Today, there are two views about gender-based jobs, which are at opposite extremes from each other. In the first view, the role of gender in the environment takes the place of the role of gender in job, and considers all jobs in Islam as gender-based. As a result, women are deprived of many resources and facilities within the society. Conversely, the extremist feministic view emphasize on the equality between the sexes. This view leads to family breakup, sexual harassment, humiliation of women and ignoring the economic and managerial role which man has in modern world.Using a descriptive-analytical method and referring to the logical relations established by Islamic law, the present paper distinguishes between common jobs and gender-based jobs and between the role of gender in the environment and the role of gender in job. Twelve gender-based principles in addition to the prime principle of jobs are identified. They frame the policy of job for men and women.