Feminist theories of Religion Flashcards
Feminist view of religion
- Religious institutions are patriarchal. They reflect and perpetuate gender inequality
- Religious beliefs are patriarchal ideologies that legitimate women’s subordination
Examples of patriarchy in Religion
1. SACRED TEXTS
Largely feature the doings of male Gods and prophets and often reflect anti female stereotypes, e.g. having been commanded by God not to eat fruit from the tree, it was Eve whom the serpent persuaded to disregard God’s command. Furthermore, God created women only after Adam, birds and animals. Eve was created out of one of Adam’s ribs- merely as a helpmate.
- FEMALE EXCLUSION FROM LEADERSHIP
In all religions, the majority of religious professionals are male. In Christianity females are not eligible to become priests in the Roman Catholic, Greek or Russian Orthodox churches, and only became eligible since 1992 in the Church Of England. Nor can they become rabbis in Judaism
- WORSHIP
In most religions, women are likely to be the main attenders, yet they play a secondary role. They don’t participate actively in the service., e.g. not being allowed to preach or read sacred texts. Taboos that see pregnancy, menstruation and childbirth as polluting may also prevent participation
- LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS
In many religions, females are limited to where they can go, both at home and outside the home, in centres of worship. In orthodox Judaism, the women sit in the balconies at the back of the main space, so as not to distract the males. Sometimes they can’t see or hear properly. In everyday life too, limitations exist with regards to where women can go and associate with.
- DIFFERENTIAL TREATMENT OF WOMEN
In many religions, women have less favourable and fewer options than men in daily life. For instance, in Christianity, a wife is the property of her husband and required to offer him long life obedience. In some versions of Islam, the male is allowed up to four wives and can divorce them by declaring so three times, though the female cannot divorce her husband. Such inequalities exist in Christian and Hindu cultures too, where more severe punishments exist for females and are often applied unofficially, by male family members.
Evaluation
- GODESSES
According to many feminists, religion has been a major institutional means of controlling women. Yet in many ancient and folk religions, females have had key positions. In ancient Greek, goddesses were uncommon nor unimportant, and these remain important in Hinduism
- FEMALES IN LEADERSHIP ROLES
Religion has also been a means through which some women have developed leadership roles. For example, the first female bishop was audaned in 2015.
- RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Where feminists claim subordination, there are those who argue that freedom and fulfilment for women can only be found in religious institutions.
+ ADVANTAGES OF FEMINISM
In terms of religion, it highlights those aspects of belief and practice which supports male dominance and keeps women in their place
