Christianity Chapter 2 : Marriage and The Family - 2.8 Gender Prejudice and Discrimination Flashcards
What is a Stereotype and what can it lead to?
A stereotype is a generalised idea of supposedly typical features that something or someone may have.
Stereotyped assumptions may lead prejudice and / or discrimination
Define prejudice
Prejudice means having an opinion that is based on a preconceived idea, rather than actual experience.
Define discrimination
Discrimination means acting unfairly towards a person, on the basis of a prejudiced opinion.
Where in the Bible is it taught to regard each other as equal?
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus’
(Galations 3: 26-29)
This is from a text often used to encourage Christians to challenge inequality, prejudice and discrimination of different kinds
From Biblical teachings about Jesus’ life, where can we see he treated men and women with respect?
He had devoted female followers who stayed throughout his ministry, received serious teaching from him, and were there at his death and resurrection. Female followers are presented by the gospel writers in a positive light.
- Jesus healed a sick woman who was outcast from her community (Mark 5: 24-34).
- He spoke to a Samaritan woman who was despised by others (John 4: 7-27).
- He defended the woman who had used expensive perfume to anoint him (Mark 14: 1-9).
How did the Anglican Church help tackle domestic violence within a marriage?
The Anglican wedding ceremony men vowed to ‘love and cherish their wife, while women vowed to ‘love, cherish and obey’ their husband.
In 2006, the Church recognised that the traditional vow of obedience could appear to condone abusive relationships. It went on to launch guidelines on acceptable alternative vows that left out the word ‘obey’.
What has the Methodist and Catholic Church done in relation to wedding vows?
In the Methodist marriage ceremony, the word ‘obey’ had been dropped in the 1930s, and the practice of ‘giving away’ the bride was optional. The Catholic wedding service has identical forms of wording for the vows made by women and men.
What is one of the most recent acts opposing gender discrimination in The Church of England?
Why might some Christians object to this act?
The ordination of women into the priesthood. Some denominations have been ordaining women into the ministry for many years, but women were not permitted to become priests in the Anglican Church until 1994. The Catholic Church does not ordain women.
Those who object to the ordination of women may do so for a number of reasons:
- They may refer to the teaching of Paul: ‘I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man’ (1 Timothy 2:12).
- Other arguments against women’s ordination include the fact that Jesus chose only men to be the twelve disciples
- women are not given authority by God to be leaders in the Church.
Why are some Christians in favour of having women as ordained ministers?
They may argue that it is not just an issue of equality and that it is good to have men and women in the priesthood because:
- women have different skills to offer their congregations
- Many women are able to deal sensitively with pastoral issues
- women priests can relate better to women in the Church.
When were woman first allowed to be ordained in the Church of England?
Who was the first female bishop and when was she appointed?
1994 was when women were first allowed to be ordained into the CofE as ministers
Libby Lane was the first female CofE bishop ordained in 2014
