gender and society (9) Flashcards
Family in the 20th century
first seen as traditional nuclear family, but later underwent huge changes. Christians may say there is pressure for them to change with that
20th century family changes
divorce rates led to single parents, IVF increased so same sex parents, decrease in marriage
3 waves of feminism
1st- legal equality (vote)
2nd- law put into practise
3rd- 1990s, intersectionality and individuality
feminism and family
many see families as an institute for oppression of women over time. 1991 was when marital rape became a crime and idea of ‘home maker’ and a ‘double shift’
Family is cultually determined
- everything is as cultural norms fuel society
- different cultures have different views on how families should be
- many aspect of our character is defined by our culture which is why we can be “typically” something
family is not culturally determined
- some may say that family cannot be defined by culture as it is defined by biology
- Christianity teaches that order is formed by God, not society
- Christians also say family is determined by church teaching, such as sacrament of marriage
Ephesisans 5:22 at face value
- women are inferior to men in marriage
- men have God given superiority value of men
- men need their authority to take care of their wives
traditional gender teachings
1 Corinthians 14:34, women should remain silent in church
1 Timothy 2:12, women should not have authority over a man
Ephesisans 5:22 ideas
- talks about free giving one partner in marriage to the other. wife submits and a man must sacrifice everything
- marriage an offering to God
- may be read that authority means “head”, suggesting women were made from men and men were the source of female energy
Biblical teachings are outdated
- Biblical texts (like Ephesians) rely on societal norms that are no longer relevantg
-they are outdated because the Bible is contradictory and not to be taken seriously - Biblical teachings can no longer cover all the needs of people today
Biblical teachings arent outdated
- Todays society is no longer Christian and so has lost sight of real christian truth
- they still have importance when read with skill and a mistake too ever read them at face value so cant eb outdated
- Bible is God’s revelation
Muleris Dignitatem context
published in 1988 by Pope John Paul II and called ‘On the dignity of women’. aims to set out the catholic response to the rapidly changing role of women
Muleieris Dignitatem teachings
- humans find themselves by giving to other and give themselves to God
- motherhood is a gift a woman gives by creating life and connects them with God
- both parents experience it but mainly mother so she lads the way parenting and her decision holds more weight
Muleieris and Mary
gift of motherhood seen through Mary’s acceptance of Jesus, every birth now links to Mary and is an immense privilege.
Muleieris Dignitatem emphasis
motherhood as a reversal of the Fall and assumption that parents will be a man and a woman as well as the catholic sacraments
church teachings shouldnt conform to modern views on gender
- MD expresses the normality of man and woman, the starting point of a family and linked to Mary
- the two sexes are fundamentally linked up with creation
- any deprature from this could lead to instability within society
church teachings should conform to modern views on gender
- Christian teachings promote acceptance and love, it is wrong to remain stuck in the past
- christianity is declining in population and opening up may allow for conversion
- chidren brought up in non-secular settings live just as happily
who, historically, slagged off women?
Aristotle, Plato , Aquinas called women “defective”
equality
like in MD, people now believe in equality. saying that due to the order of creation there are roles better suited to each gender. this leads the argument that there are roles is what is used for Catholic priests.
modern society
this rejects view that there are male/female characteristics and an emphasis on not bringing up children to think of these.
Protestants
conservative= emphasis on creation and a womans role as a mother and not working
liberal= emphasis on validity of God’s love and want to work with the changes of society.
Old testamant family
figures had concubines and wives, there is no set way to live
secular views of gender have undermined christian gender
- range of approaches to gender there is a decline in people feeling welcome within
- they may have been but this is not a bad thing because it allows change
- some may say is shows how dysfunctional Christian views are and how their approach is restrictive
secular views of gender haven’t undermined christianity
- some may say their teachings are secure and are backed by the Bible so no threat
- chnages show how damaged society is when moving away from religion
- effects of the fal continue to be felt within society and shows how we need to go back
catholic motherhood
mothers are spiritually linked to creation and Mary
christians and motherhood
beleive it is a reflection of God’s love on earth and some say it is a vocation and the decision should be respected. Some define moterhood along with fatherhood, a shared experience
motherhood as social conditioning
society expects women to give evrything to their children and women often feel bored or unfilled at home all day
motherhood is liberating
- John 10:10, motherhood allows women to “live life to the full”
- to be connected with mary makes their role incredibly special and liberating
- women should know motherhood is a gift
motherhood isnt liberating
- emphasises traditional gender roles and makes women feel imprisoned
- society has made women accept that they are to be mothers
- it is restrcitive to say that womens only role should be as a mother and not in. wider society
biblical patriarchy
idea the bible is man made with aim of subjugating women
Simone de Beauvoir
rejects Dignitatem idea that motherhood is a woman’s purpose, also says that mary shows that it is only by being “man’s docile servant that she will also be a blessed saint”
4th wave of feminism
upcoming that tries to remove gender norms pushed onto children. Beauvoir says “One is not born, but rather becomes a woman”
Anne Oakley
interviewed many women who said that mothers instinct as cultural rather than biological. This could conflict with Paul 11 dea that women have a natural born instinct.
