What support is there for thinking that Muslims treat women differently than other groups we have studied?

While the Qur'an speaks of the equality of women in some instances, there are many instances in the Qur'an where women are treated as less than men: "And they (women) have rights similar to those (of men) over them in kindness, and men are a degree above them." (2:228). This statement is paradoxical.  How can women have rights similar to those of men if men are a viewed as a degree above women?  

In other instances it appears the Qur'an is written as if it were meant to be read only by men directing men in how women are to be treated: "Your women are a tilth for you (to cultivate) so go to your tilth as ye will, and send (good deeds) before you for your souls, and fear Allah, and know that ye will (one day) meet Him.  Give glad tidings to the believers" (2:223).  The Qur'an indicates that women are really objects, like fields to be plowed men.  Men are instructed that they are to control the sex life in marriage and they can do with their wives as they desire. The Qur'an tells men that mistreating their wives will lead them to a closer relationship with Allah.

The Qur'an instructs Muslims that a woman's mind is weaker than a man's mind. In Sura 2:282 the Qur'an tells us that a woman's memory is not as reliable as a man's memory.  Therefore a woman is not as reliable a witness as a man, and two women to replace the role of one male witness:  "And call to witness, from among your men, two witnesses. And if two men be not (at hand) then a man and two women, of such as we approve as witnesses, so that if one of the two erreth (through forgetfulness) the one of them will remind."  (2:282)  In other words, according to the Qur'an the testimony of a female witness is only half as valuable as the testimony of a male witness. 

The Qur’an’s ideals have loose correlations with Aristotle. Aristotle referred to women as the natural inferior and man the natural superior. Which sounds a lot like the Qur’an citing that women’s minds are by nature weaker than men. Aristotle seems to advocate for a similar lack of respect of women but not the blatant lack of sexual respect present in the Qur’an.