The Quran provides several examples of women being active role models in their societies and interacting with men, such as Abraham’s wife:
11:69 Our messengers came to Abraham with good news, they said,
"Peace" He said, "Peace," and it was not long before he came back with
a roasted calf.
11:70 But when he saw that their hands did not go towards it, he
mistrusted them, and felt a fear of them. They said, "Have no fear, we
have been sent to the people of Lot."
11:71 His wife was standing, so she laughed when We gave her good news
of Isaac, and after Isaac, Jacob.
Muslim women in Madyan with one whom Moses married:
28:23 When he arrived at the watering hole of Midyan, he found a crowd
of people watering. He noticed two women waiting on the side. He said,
"What is holding you back." They said, "We cannot draw water until the
shepherds finish, and our father is an old man."
28:24 So he drew water for them, then he turned to a shaded area, and
he said, "My Lord, I am poor, lacking any provisions You may have sent
down."
28:25 So one of the two women approached him, shyly, and said, "My
father invites you to reward you for watering for us." So when he came
to him, and told him his story, he said, "Do not fear, for you have
been saved from the wicked people."
28:26 One of the two women said, "O my father, hire him. For the best
to be hired is one who is strong and honest."
28:27 He said, "I wish you to marry one of my two daughters, on
condition that you work for me through eight pilgrimage periods; if
you complete them to ten, it will be voluntary on your part. I do not
wish to make this matter too difficult for you. You will find me, God
willing, of the righteous."
28:28 He said, "It is then an agreement between me and you. Whichever
period I fulfill, you will not be averse to either one. God is
entrusted over what we said."
The Queen of Sheba who later surrenders to the will of God (27:34:40), and Mary (19:16-30; 3:42-43; 66:11-12).
Muslim women were so outspoken that they could engage in debate with Muhammad!
The rights of women during the time of prophet Muhammad is reflected with all
its power in verse 58:1, where a Muslim woman argues with Muhammad regarding
her husband. God does not reprimand that woman; to the contrary, God sides
with the grievances of the woman and criticizes the superstition. A critical study
of hadith and history books will reveal that even those books contain many hints
regarding the individual, social and political rights enjoyed by women during the
era of revelation and even decades afterwards. History books report that Aisha,
Muhammad's wife, in her old age became the leader and commander of a major
faction that participated in a civil war that took place thirty years after the departure
of Muhammad.
58:1 God has heard the woman who argues with you regarding her
husband, and she complains to God. God hears the argument between you.
God is Hearer, Seer.
Additionally, women pledged allegiance and voted for Muhammad’s leadership (60:12).
60:12 O you prophet, if the acknowledging women come to make
allegiance to you that they will not set up anything beside God, nor
steal, nor commit adultery, nor kill their born children, nor fabricate any falsehood, nor disobey you in any matter which is righteous, then you shall accept their allegiance, and ask God to forgive them. God is Forgiver, Compassionate.
SOURCE: Reformist Translation
