Middle Eastern vs. western women working mentality

It's funny. Today I had a seminar about comparative women's rights. Very interesting class! Very nice looking, well dresses law-professor, which is becoming a rarity. (Don't worry, he is not interested for my gender...:) and we were talking about Multicultural problems. Meaning whether or not women from different cultures have more difficulties adapting to a certain legal system. During the discussion the ban of the hijab in France came up. Additionally the question of FGC, and last but not least the question of culture and its effect on the legal systems.
while we touched the subject of the hijab, I mentioned that while being very religious, I believe I do understand the French government. They separated State and Religion at the beginning of the 20th century, and from then on no governmental institution is supposed to be religious. as we say here in the United states that the constitution is "color-blind", the french believe that their Constitution is... well, not atheist, since that would be a believe as well. But let's say: without belief. Now, you tell me: what's wrong with that? I don't think anything. I absolutely believe that religion and state should be separated. We see on the sample of the Iranian Revolution what kind of misery the mixing can bring. religion tells you not to lie. well, in politics you are supposed to lie to get somewhere. Religion tells you to believe in one superior power, which can not be challenged. Politics tells you, go after the big guy and make him fall, so that you can be on top.
Now, back to the women issues: awhile we are sitting week after week in a classroom and discussing what needs to be done to help the weak women in the middle east, who apparently have no rights, I came to the conclusion that they enjoy life much more than we do. Seriously. Listen to this: My mom showed one of my pictures to a cousin, who lives in Iran. She does not work, has to grown-up children, parties and travels. Basically: la dolce vita. she saw my photo, and the first thing she said was: "Oh, Nina looks really really tired." My mother told her that I was working, studying and having a family. My cousin said: "Tell her not to do the work. what does she want to work and study for? Tell her to enjoy life." Now, see, that's what I mean. In her opinion I should be sitting home, partying and start knitting socks for my grandchildren already! There are two issues: My kids tell me that they never want to have children, and number two: even though I am patient and can knit very well, I'd rather work and by my grandchildren socks from Christian Dior!