Background of the feminist movement in Orthodoxy

Question 1

What was the culture

Answer 1

Patriarchal

Question 2

What was the movement around periods?

Answer 2

Women were considered “unclean” after birth and menstruation

Question 3

What was the persona of God?

Answer 3

Male dominated language with reference to God

Question 4

What was the justice system for women?

Answer 4

The man’s absolute right to proceed or stop a divorce (get), leading to the “chained wife” or agunot/agunah

Question 5

What were the religious restrictions?

Answer 5

Women could not formally study the Talmud or attend yeshiva, could not be called up to read the Torah or give the weekly discourse at Shabbat service

Women could not be Rabbis or wear tefillin (prayer shawl)

Women could not sit with men for religious services

women could not recite the mourning prayers or kaddish