Muslim women have often been stereotyped in Westernized civilizations as heavily veiled women who only take care of their homes and children . According to Camilla Fawzi El-Sohl's book The Choices of Muslim Women: Religious Belief and Social Reality, this is simply no longer true when it comes to contemporary Muslim women. This concept of Muslim women may have been true in the past or even true for certain groups in certain Muslim societies, but it has little relevance for understanding the daily lives of these Muslim women. Indonesia, with a population of over 238 million, has the largest Muslim population. Muslim women across Indonesia's many islands have been closely scrutinized in the media and other Westernized arenas. To fully understand the concept of the modern Muslim woman, you need to analyze the history of Indonesia, the history of Islam, and gender relations as they relate to Islam. After examining these aspects, a closer look at how Muslim women are perceived in society and in Westernized societies as well as their own role in society can provide further insight into the misconceptions perpetuated today. Finally, comparing these concepts in Indonesia with those of American Muslim women can fully uphold the ideas of Muslim women around the world. An adequate understanding of these aspects can delve deeper into the practices of Muslim women and their effects on their country. Indonesia, according to Wikipedia, is officially called the Republic of Indonesia and is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is made up of 17,508 islands and thirty-three provinces. It is the most populous country in the world with more than 238 million people and governs under a republic, with an elected legislator...... middle of paper ...... I have as many rights as men but because women do not have equal opportunities does not mean that they live in conditions that are uncomfortable or bad for them. The Westernized portrayal of these women leads us to believe these views and although there is an ideology of an "ideal Islamic woman" (El-Sohl), they do not live a completely controlled lifestyle and there exists a certain flexibility. Camillia Fawzi. 1994. “The choices of Muslim women: religious belief and social reality”. Providence, RI: Berg Publishers Ltd. Karim, Jamillah Asira. 2009. “American Muslim Women: Negotiating Race, Class, and Gender in the Ummah.” New York and London: New York University Press. “Indonesia”. Wikipedia. Accessed June 13, 2011 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia). “Islam”. Wikipedia. Accessed June 12, 2011 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam).