Feminism Flashcards
What do feminists believe is the main function of religion?
To maintain gender inequality through portraying male domination over women
What ways does religion portray male domination over women?
Portraying God as a man
Restricting access to women at the top of women organisations
Depicting women as bad influences within the sacred text
What type of feminist is Daly?
A Christian feminist
How does Daly suggest monotheistic religions have enabled men to control women?
Monotheistic religions has meant that men can control the idea that God is a man and therefore the only supernatural being
She claims that the Christian faith the Christian faith desperately seeks to eliminate polytheistic religions as they have powerful female Gods
How does Daly suggest gender equality could be achieved in religion?
She suggests it could be achieved if it is accepted that God could be a woman
How does De Beauvoir claim religion maintains gender inequality?
He argues that religion tricks women into thinking they are seen as equal to men by God and will be rewarded in the afterlife for any hardships
However he claims that they are exploited as they are raised from young to worship a male God so subconsciously see men as superior
How does Holm argue that religion is unequal?
Focuses on the segregation that occurs in many religious places of worship
Mainly how women are treated in the place of worship
In many mainstream religions women can be seen as impure due to them having periods,
e.g in Islam a women can be denied entry to a place of worship if they are in the last stage of the menstruation cycle
How did Woodhead argue that oppression isn’t universal in all religions?
He argues that one religious practice can be seen oppressive from the outside but not to those who practice it
E.g Wearing the hijab is seen as modern-day oppression to westerners, however to Muslim women it is seen as a symbol of liberation that allows them to enter public spheres with being condemned as being immodest
