gender and religion Flashcards
what are the 7 ways in which religion is patriarchal?
-religious scriptures
-being barred from priesthood
-stained glass ceiling
-patriarchal religious doctrines
-veiling of women
-the portrayal of women as sexual predators and corruptors
-women have fewer rights
how do religious scriptures make religion patriarchal?
women are typically below men in them
De Beauvoir 1953 - scriptures suggest ‘man is master by divine right’
what does stained glass ceiling mean in relation to religion being patriarchal?
women have obstacles in their career progression
how are religious doctrines patriarchal?
the ideology emphasizes subordination of women and their role as wives/mothers eg the virgin mary
what does ‘veiling of women’ mean in relation to religion being patriarchal?
-Aldridge
-for instance, hijabs/niqabs , keep women invisible and anonymous
how does religion portray women as sexual predators?
teach that sex is only for reproduction, and women are out to seduce men to divert them from this, eg Jezebel and Eve
give an example of a woman having fewer religious rights than men
in islam, men can have multiple wives but a woman cannot have multiple husbands
briefly evaluate the idea of religion being patriarchal
-ancient polythetic religion (female Goddesses were equally worshiped in ancient greece, rome and egypt)
-changes in monotheistic religions (female bishops in 2015)
-religion as a resistance to patriarchy (Ahmed, Watson and Woodhead argue veiling protects women from the male gaze and sexual harassment)
what are the 5 reasons for gender differences in religiosity?
-gender role socialisation
-greater life expectancy
-social deprivation + marginality
-status frustration
-NRM’s
how does gender role socialisation explain gender differences in religiosity?
-Walter + Davie - women feel closer to God because they can also create life
-Miller + Hoffman - women are more religious because they’re socialised into traits such as submissiveness and empathy
how does greater life expectancy explain gender differences in religion?
-women generally live longer, meaning they’re more likely to be widowed and live on their own, so they may turn to religion for support and comfort
how does social deprivation and marginality relate to gender differences in religion?
women are more likely to face such, as well as more alienation and disillusionment from society, so they may turn to religion for support and solace
how does status frustration explain gender differences in religion?
can be experienced by women who lack personal fulfilment as a result of being confined to the home or lower middle class jobs, in which case religion may compensate
how do new religious movements relate to gender differences in religion?
three reasons women are more likely to join NRM’s:
-organismic deprivation (women are more likely to suffer ill health so look to NRM’s for healing)
-ethical deprivation (women tend to be more morally conservative, so more likely to see the world in a moral decline and share the views of sects and cults)
-social deprivation (NRM’s tend to attract poorer groups, and women are more likely to be in poverty than men)
what does Linda Woodhead contribute to gender and religion (2015)?
she identified three types of women with regards to religious participation
1-home centred - women who stay at home, more likely to be traditionally religious because they subscribe to conservative values
2-work centred - work in demanding jobs, more likely to be secular because they don’t have time and can’t relate to how women are portrayed in trad religions
3-jugglers - balance work and family life, seek some form of spiritual guidance, more likely to be involved in NAM’s
