Feminist + Radical Feminist View of Religion Flashcards
What do feminists say about religion?
Don’t like religions because they are patriarchal and try to control women. Exceptions are Hinduism and the New Age
Does the radical feminist view see religion as a conservative or dynamic force and is this a good or bad thing?
Conservative force that prevents change but this is a negative thing as they want change. Women are kept in a state of false consciousness by religion.
Does the radical feminist view see religion as bringing about harmony or conflict?
They agree religion brings about harmony but this isn’t true harmony. They see it as an illusion because religion controls women and prevents them from seeing the truth.
State some ways religion is patriarchal
- Religious organisations
- Places of worship
- Sacred texts
- Religious laws and customs
How are religious organisations patriarchal?
- Religious organisations are mainly male-dominated despite the fact that women participate more. E.g. Orthodox Judaism and Catholicism forbid women to become priests.
Armstrong sees exclusion from the priesthood as evidence of women’s marginalisation.
Woodhead argues that the exclusion of women from the Catholic priesthood is evidence of the Church’s deep unease about the emancipation of women generally.
How are places of worship patriarchal?
- They often segregate the sexes and marginalise women by seating them behind a screen while men occupy the more central and sacred spaces.
- Women’s participation is also restricted as they aren’t allowed to read from sacred texts or preach.
- Taboos that regard menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth as polluting also prevent participation. E.g. in Islam, menstruating women aren’t allowed to touch the Qur’an.
- Jean Holm describes this as the deviation of women in religion.
How are sacred texts patriarchal?
- feature the doings of male gods + prophets and are usually written and interpreted by men.
- Stories often reflect anti-female stereotypes e.g. the Adam and Eve story.
How are religious laws and customs patriarchal?
- They may give women fewer rights than men e.g. in access to divorce, how many spouses they marry, decision making, dress codes etc.
- Religious influences on cultural norms may also lead to unequal treatment such as genital mutilation.
- many religions legitimate and regulate women’s traditional domestic and reproductive role for example the catholic church bans abortion and artificial contraception.
What does Karen Armstrong argue?
Early religions often placed women at the centre. For example, earth mother goddesses and female priesthoods were found throughout the Middle East until about 6,000 years ago. However the rise of monotheistic religions saw the establishment of a single, all powerful male God and this meant women’s importance declined.
What does Nawal El Saadawi argue?
Religion itself isn’t patriarchal. When religion emerges into patriarchal cultures it is used by men to control women.
What does Simone de Beauvoir argue?
Religion justifies women’s inferior positions on society as part of God’s plan and the mothers role is ‘divine’. It creates false consciousness as it distorts women’s perceptions and disguises their exploitation and inferiority.
What does Jean Holm argue?
Gives examples of how women are subordinate and exploited in religions.
- In Buddhism, all monks are seen as senior to all nuns.
- Hindu women are prohibited from approaching family shrines when pregnant or menstruating.
- Orthodox Judaism only allows males to take a full part in ceremonies.
Give an advantage of religion for women
Women can use religion to gain status and respect for their roles within the private sphere of home and family. (talk about Brusco+Piety movements)
What does Woodhead do?
Criticises feminist explanation and says not all religion is patriarchal.
What does Woodhead argue?
She argues there are ‘religious forms of feminism’- ways in which women use religion to gain greater freedom and respect.
She uses the example of the Hijab. Some young british muslim women choose to wear the hijab in order to gain parental approval to enter further education and employment. She says the Hijab symbolises a woman’s resistance to oppression and liberation so they can enter the public sphere without losing culture and history whilst increasing their power and influence.
