Feminist Theories Of Religion Flashcards
In what way are religious organisations evidence of patriarchy?
They are mainly male-dominated despite the fact that makes participate more in them
What do Feminists regard religion as?
A patriarchal institution that perpetuates the inequality between men and women
In what way are places of worship evidence of patriarchy?
They often segregate the sexes and marginalise women, for example, seating them behind screens while the men occupy the the more scared spaces
In what way are sacred texts evidence of patriarchy?
They largely feature the doings of male gods and reflect anti-female stereotypes
In what way are religious laws and customs evidence of patriarchy?
Women are often given fewer rights than men e.g access to divorce
What does Karen Armstrong argue about early religions?
She believes that early religions placed women at the centre
How does Linda Woodhead criticise feminist explanations?
She argues that in some cases, women use religion to gain greater freedom and respect such as the hijab or veil worn by many Muslim women
According to Woodhead, why do some muslim women wear a hijab or veil?
They wear it as a symbol of resistance to oppression, and they wear it to escape the confines of the home and enter education and employment without losing their culture and history
Give an example of how the position of women within some religions is changing
The Church of England has permitted women’s ordination into the priesthood since 1992 and about a fifth of all its priests are now female
What does El Saadawi argue about the oppression of women?
She argues that it is not the direct cause of their subordination, but that it is instead a result of patriarchal forms of society coming into existence
What is the main thesis of de beuvoirs ‘The Second Sex’?
The idea that the woman has been held in a relationship of long-standing oppression to man through her relegation to being the mans “other”
