Feminism of Religion

Question 1

Key Thinkers and Concepts

Answer 1

Thinkers: de Beauvior, Bruce, Armstrong, Daly, El Sadawi, Aldriddqel, Wright, Watson, Woodhead.

Concepts: Patriarchy, Patriarchal ideology, Repression, Oppression, Religion as liberating, Gendered socialisation, Stained Glass Ceiling

Question 2

Feminists on Religion

Answer 2

• Believe that religion is conservative social force because it is a patriarchal social institution that reinforces gendered inequalities.
• Criticise functionalists & marxists as ‘malestream’ because both theories ignore fact that religion often justifies male power & women’s subordination

Question 3

Feminism on Religion - Daly

Answer 3

Suggests that emergence of monotheistic religions has allowed men to control idea that God is a man and so is only supernatural being.

Claims Christian faith has deliberately sought to eliminate polytheistic religions such as paganism that include powerful female gods

Concludes that we will never achieve equality in religion until we can consider that God could potentially be a woman

Question 4

Second-class believers - de Beauvior

Answer 4

Religion successfully maintains gender inequality by tricking women into thinking they are equal to men in eyes for their god & that they will be rewarded in afterlife for an hardship.