Beliefs in Society - Gender and religion Flashcards
Who said about women being the guardians of family life and how does that explain why women are more religious than men?
Halman & Druans -> women expected to take major responsibility of looking after the home, therefore they feel responsible to take charge of a child’s moral development
What does Davie say about visions of God and how does this explain why women are more religious than men?
women associate god with love, comfort and forgiveness whereas men associate god with power & control -> women are more people oriented therefore more involved with religion
What does Bruce say about women’s socialisation and how does this explain why women are more religious than men?
women socialised into nurturing role, makes them more caring and less agressive (more involved in denominations, sects, new age movements and are attracted to alternative spiritual practices e.g. tarot card readings/zodiac signs)
What does Davie say about life, death and changes in life and how this explains why women are more religious than men?
women’s association with childbirth makes them more aware of life’s vulnerability and spirituality
Compared to men, women are more likely to?
face social deprivation, marginality & experience more alienation
Experience poverty
Experience personal and family problems
Often less self confident, and more likely to seek out self improvement through New age movements and NRMs
How does women’s greater life expectancy explain why women are more likely to be religious than men?
more likely to be widowed and live on their own at an old age
(women may turn to religion as a form of support, comfort and/or community.)
How does social deprivation, marginality and theodicies of deprivilege explain why women are more likely to be religious?
NRM’s attract attention of women more. NRM focuses on qualities such as nature and natural experiences, individuals experiences and self- values.
How can status frustration explain why women are more religious than men?
Some women might feel unfulfilled because they’re stuck in trad gender roles. Religion can help them feel better and break free from these roles, so more women might join religious activities. Marxist feminists add that working-class women also feel frustrated because of their social status, which stops them from feeling fulfilled.
What are the 3 factors proposed by Aune et al that explain women’s declining participation in religion?
women’s movement & feminism
changing roles of women
changing family and relationships
How does women‘s movement and feminism explain women’s declining participation?
led to women to questioning roles of women as wives & mothers in traditional churches and other religions (has been accompanied by changes in sexual attitude as we live in a more permissive society which has made the church seem out of touch)
How can the changing roles of women explain women’s declining participation?
most women are now in paid employment and are in succesful & demanding work (this has displaced religion as a focus of activity as it reduces the time available & provides a source of identity)
How can changing family and relationships explain women’s declining participation?
a growing diversity of family types & living arrangements (for example: increased levels of divorce, cohabitation etc.) has been met with disapproval from traditional churches which alienates women)
