Gender and Religion

Question 1

Liberal feminsts

Answer 1

Aim for more equality for women in existing religions, by seeking to remove obstacles that prevent them from taking authority

Question 2

Radical feminists

Answer 2

See most contemporary religions as existing for benefit of men, and either seek to present fundamental challenge to religion or reshape it like earlier times with centrality of women

Question 3

Marxist feminists

Answer 3

Emphasise view religion acts as ‘opium of the people’, focusing on way it acts as means of compensating women, particularly W/C due to double exploitation.

Question 4

Evidence for patriarchy in religion:

Answer 4

1. Religious scriptures
2. Being barred from priesthood
3. Stained glass ceiling
4. Veiling of women
5. Portrayal of women as morally polluting

Question 5

Women more likely than men to:

Answer 5

1. Express greater interest in religion
2. Stronger personal faith
3. See private prayer as more important
4. Involve themselves in New Age movements

Question 6

Reason for women being more religious: socialisation, motherhood and femininity miller and hoffman

Answer 6

1. Guardians of family life
2. Visions of God (Davie- associate with love, comfort, forgiveness)
3. Nurturing
4. Life, death and changes in life

Question 7

Other reasons for women being more religious

Answer 7

1. Greater life expectancy
2. Social deprivation, marginality and theodicies of disprivildge- more likely to experience poverty and personal problems
3. Status frustration

Question 8

Declining participation of women

Answer 8

Aune et al suggests due to:
1. Womens movement and feminism- religion seen as oppressive to modern attitudes
2. Changing roles of women
3. Changing families and relationships
These all alienate women to their religion