Feminist Theory Of Religion (conservative) Flashcards
Male dominated organisations
-based around men
-Armstrong= women’s exclusion from priesthood is evidence of this
Place of Worship
-often segregate the sexes
-in some religions menstruation is taboo
Sacred texts
-largely feature male Gods and prophets
-usually written by men
-e.g. eve blamed for fall of humanity
Religious laws and customs
-Give women fewer rights than men e.g. dress codes
-may legitimate and regulate women’s traditional abs reproductive role e.g. abortion bans
Fundamentalist religions
-stress importance of women playing a traditional subordinate role
-committed to challenging women’s rights to education and decisions on reproduction etc
-motherhood should be women’s main source of fulfilment
Examples of inequality in religions pt1
-christianity= most ppl in Bible are male, only priests can be male
-islam= men relig leaders & legal judgements
-hinduism= only men Brahmin priests. Can’t approach shrines if preg/ menstruating
Examples of inequality in religions pt2
-Chinese folk=men associated w/ yang which are seen as more important
-Orthodox judaism= only men can be rabbis
-Sikhism= all positions open to both genders but men in most senior positions
Armstrong
-early religions had women at the centre e.g. earth mother goddesses
-However from 4k years ago monotheistic religions saw establishment of an all-powerful male God
El Saadawi
-Women oppressed in Islamic states e.g. FGM
-religion is not the cause of their subordination, rather this is bc of patriarchal societies coming into existence
-However patriarchy began to influence religion
-Thus religion now contributes to women’s oppression and monotheism legitimates power of men
de Beauvoir
-portrayed religion as an instrument of male domination
-men control religious organisations and claim authority comes from God
-Religion gives women a false belief that their suffering will be rewarded in heaven
-religion gives women a false consciousness which keeps them in their place
Why are not all religions equally oppressive? etv
-gender neutral language introduced
-requirement for women to ‘obey’ taken out of marriage ceremonies
-Quakerism has never been oppressive
Woodhead (etv)
-women can use religion to gain greater freedom and respect
-e.g. Hijab may be seen as oppressive but muslim women may see it as a means of liberation or approval to go into wider society
Brusco (etv)
-religion is used to gain status and respect
-e.g. Pentecostal group= men have to respect women which gives women to power to influence mens behavious
Piety movements (etv)
-these are conservative movements that support traditional teachings abt women
-Rinaldo=in conservative relig women still have own interests
Liberation Protestant Organisations (etv)
-Quakers & Unitarians are committed to gender equality
-e.g. CoE= female priests (1992) female bishops (2015) 1/5 priests are women
