feminist views on beliefs in society

Question 1

feminist view on religion

Answer 1

• see religion as a patriarchal institution
• mechanism of social control for women
• benefits men and supports male dominance

Question 2

SIMONE DE BEAUVIOUR - oppression

Answer 2

• religion oppresses and controls women
• women are like the proletariat
• religion gives the belief that women will be rewarded in heaven for their suffering

Question 3

EL SADAAWI - abuse of power

Answer 3

• muslim feminist
• doesn’t blame religion itself
• males have abused religion to assert power

Question 4

KAREN ARMSTRONG - replacing females

Answer 4

• argues that early religions often placed women at the center
• ancient religions had lots of female gods (polytheism)
• 4000 years ago replaced by a single male ‘god’ (monotheism)

Question 5

the sacred texts

Answer 5

• written by males
• focus on male activity
• eve was created from adam’s rib
• in the bible women are portrayed using gender stereotypes
• virgin mary (mother) - caring, suffering
• mary magdalene (prostitute) - temptress
• the qur’an states that men are in charge of women
• ‘stained glass ceiling’ - low position of women in religious organisations

Question 6

patriarchal religious rules

Answer 6

• muslim and hindu females are not to enter sacred places or touch sacred objects during menstration
• in most religions women tend to have stricter norms to govern their behaviour
• in some versions of islam, a man can have up to 4 wives and is allowed to divorce them
• in saudi arabia and iran women face serious punishments for wearing inappropriate clothes and being in the company of non-related men

Question 7

LINDA WOODHEAD - changing times

Answer 7

• criticises feminist explanations that simply equate religion with patriarchy
• while accepting that much traditional religion is patriarchal, times are changing
• there are now some ways in which women can use religion to gain respect and status
• for example, in the church of england 1/5 of all priests are now female

Question 8

women in religious organisations

Answer 8

• in 1992 women were allowed to be ordained as priests in the church of england
• women can now be bishops in c of e
• however, many religions still refuse female participation in their hierarchies, e.g. orthodox jews, roman catholics and islam