The real discrimination

This week, the government released information regarding the salary of women compared to the earnings of men, and as it turned out there's a large gap between the two. It was hinted, because it was not declared otherwise, that this was proof of discrimination. Particularly after it turned out that women, generally, are more educated than men. And as education is translated to income, there is no explanation for the salary gaps except for discrimination. Which does not exist.

There is discrimination in the job market, but all of it focuses on Arabs, not women. A series of studies undertaken in recent years led researchers to conclude that there is a reasonable explanation for the salary gaps. The income differences are mostly a result of part time work (and there is a relative majority of women in the part-time job market,) as well as experience and tenure. There's no discrimination there.

Yet what was worked out following a struggle of many years in the world of work is not being worked out in other social spheres. Angelina Fares quit the beauty pageant this week. "I respect the Druze community," she explained. A somewhat strange explanation, as this competition disgraces the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities no less than the Druze. However, in Fares' case, the competition and winning it were a dream, and "it isn't easy to give up a dream."

Fares was apparently forced to "honor" the community. Several relatives were detained on suspicion of planning to kill her because of her participation in the pageant. The Chief Druze religious figure, Sheikh Tarif, called her in for a conversation and explained what a Druze woman is allowed and not allowed to do. This was forced on her, until she agreed to show some respect.

Would the chief rabbi (or any Druze, Jewish or Muslim religious leader) allow a male community member to take part in the "Mr. Israel" competition, where he will display his good looks and muscles? Even if religious leaders are not excited by that show, they have never expressed their views publicly. Women, on the other hand, are a different story. They are subjected to other obligations (Druze women are not allowed to drive a car. They can stay at home.)

What the men are allowed, the women are not. And so, a woman who arrives at the main street of Jerusalem's Mea Shearim neighborhood is required to dress modestly. A man can walk around unconstrained.

Dangerous trend

Why do religious leaders of all religions agree that women have fewer rights than men? And should those men decide what is proper for women and what isn't? This is of course an old story of discrimination against women. What is interesting today is that so little is done to resist this.

Why does Angelina Fares even listen to the bunch of religious, archaic men? Likely because of the threats of violence and the fear. This is the old tool men have always been using against women. What hurts is to see women giving up in the face of these threats.

Nobody rose to defend Fares. It's true that her dream, to be a beauty queen, is embarrassing. In this competition, Ms. Fares presents to the entire world the results of the genetic match between her parents – and not something she acquired by herself. This is the big difference between the beauty pageant and the Bible Quiz, athletics competitions, and chess competitions.

Women's groups, and this is quite understandable, despise this "competition." But women also have the right to make fools of themselves, and in public, and we must protect the right to be foolish. Abandoning Fares in the face of the religious-male regime of suppression is a disgrace.

The matter does not end with this minor affair. Recently, a document was published that proposed separation of authorities on a cultural basis. Jews would enjoy a cultural autonomy managed by Jews. Arabs would have their own cultural autonomy. The Jews would not be telling the Arabs what to learn, what to teach, what is proper, and what is not. And vice versa.

This multiculturalism, which lacks any universal values that should be maintained, means abandoning Arab, Druze, and Jewish women to the mechanisms of male-religious control. Sheikh Tarif won't even need to convince Fares. He'll simply order her. Should she refuse, she'll be imprisoned. The same will be done to bare-armed women in the Jewish-Orthodox autonomy.

This dangerous trend is joined by women, who in the name of gender differences and past economic discrimination, demand special rights and preferences (guaranteed spots on the board of directors, a long maternity leave, tax benefits.)

Each demand for benefits undermines the power and justice inherent in the demand for doing away with discrimination. Religious figures the world over would agree to pay women more, as long as they are granted the public authority to continue suppressing women (for example, when it comes to reading the Torah or granting a Jewish divorce certificate.)