How does Islam shape the lives of women?

Islam has a very high level of respect and status for women; The best example I can think of is a mother;

One time a man came to the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and asked him "O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship?" The Prophet said: {Your mother.} The man said, "Then who?" The Prophet said: {Then your mother.} The man further asked, "Then who?" The Prophet said: {Then your mother.} The man asked again, "Then who?" The Prophet said: {Then your father.}; Just from this incident we can see the high level of respect that Islam gives to the women and the mother in general. In other narrations it mentions how one can never re-pay the mother for the pain she experienced when giving birth to the child.

The Holy Qur'an has a entire chapter Called Surah- Nisa (The Women); In this chapter one the verses mentions "O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will, and you should not treat them with harshness...(Surah (Chapter) 4, Verse 19)

Many People ask why the women in Islam have to wear Hijab (The covering you see Muslim women wear), Islam's respect for the beauty of a women is so high that it shouldn't be shown to everyone (e.g, strangers etc).

Islam is not a religion, instead it is a way of life, a way to live and follow to achieve happiness not only in this world but in the hereafter the way it helps shape the lives of women perfectly.