Feminism - Religion as Liberating

Question 1

Female Goddesses

Answer 1

• Religion can have positive functions for women.
• Not all feminists accept that religion is oppressive.
• In early religions, there were female goddesses who were dominant and powerful. e.g. ancient Greece and Hinduism.
• These female figures disappeared with the introduction of monotheistic religions (belief in one male god) e.g. Christianity, Judaism and Islam.
• Although, New Age religions such as paganism and Wicca, have female goddesses.

Question 2

Stained Glass Ceiling

Answer 2

• More women are breaking through the stained glass ceiling.
• Women are beginning to achieve leadership roles in some religions.

e.g. Libby Lane became the first bishop of the C0fE in 2014. There are also now a small number of female imams.

Question 3

Watson

- Women and the veil

Answer 3

• Non-Muslim women see the veil as a symbol of women’s oppression, a form of social control.
• Watson argues that this is a very ethnocentric view.
• For many Muslim women, the veil was a positive item of clothing.
• Allows them to cope with, or even reduce, male oppression.
• Wearing the veil meant they avoided the male gaze, men did not look them up and down when in the public sphere.

Question 4

Sikhism

Answer 4

• Emphasises equality between men and women.
• Both have equal status.
• Woman are able to participate in all religious and social activities in the Gurdwara.
• Both men and women worship together.
• Upon marriage, women do not have to take their husband’s name.