Understanding the Middle Eastern mindset

I heard someplace once that "A woman could never understand the Middle Eastern mindset." I think it was on a movie, probably The Siege.

Anyways, could somebody enlighten a Westerner whose study and experience are all in Far Eastern thought and culture? What is the middle eastern mindset? how does it differ from others?

Does it have to do with the greater level of faith these people seem to have in their religion? Or is it a product of the male superiority thing that seems prevelant in their cultures? or is it that they're regularly out in the sun too much?

Please pardon me if I seem rude in the asking, but I'm curious. In my studies of other cultures, I find that the more people are different, the more they're the same. there seem to be consistent differences between different cultures depending on what type of geophysical environment that culture developed in.

An important aspect of Islam, that seems to have been lost in the more Western, Christian world is the fact that Musilms believe that Islam is a heightened, more advanced form of Christianity and thus, when they are told that they are uncivilized and must learn how to be more like the West, which usually means more Christian or Jewish, they view it as a step backwards religiously.

All religions have been perverted by those who can pervert them. I don't believe there is any part of Islam that actually says women must be inferior to men, but somehow, the people who were in power at the time decided that in order to keep their power and further inflict their will, they would interpret Islam to benefit themselves. It's happened in just about every religion unfortunately.

Take care all.