Gender and society + theology Flashcards
Biological Sex and Gender
Biological
Determined by physical attributes such as chromosomes, sex organs and hormone levels
Gender
Refers to a more sophisticated relationship between someone’s physical characteristics, the way people perceive themselves and the ways in which they choose to behave
Socialisation
The process by which we learn the norms of our society
Patriarchy and Feminism
Patriarchy
When men dominate social structures and domestic relationships
Feminism
A diverse movement united by an aim of improving rights and opportunities for women
Christianity and feminism
two ideas
Focus on God as feminine and change the language to make it more inclusive
We should reject it as incompatible with feminism
Women are superior to men
Mary Daly: women’s abilities and knowledge are superior to men. Women should govern. This would be better for environment and would bring more peace
Men and Women are equal in worth
Some feminist would agree that mean and women are different but neither gender is better
Some christians use this to argue that women should not have leadership roles in the Church, Especially roles where they represent Christ
Others have both men and women
Traditional Christian teaching in the roles of men and women in society
Not a single view
The traditional view is biblically based.
Argues that men and women have different but complementary roles
Thinking of Mary Daly
argued idea of a father-god sustains a patriarchal view of society
religion was and still is a tool used to oppress women
patriarchal view of God combines sexism, racism and classicism to create a three headed monster
Daly’s unholy trinity of rape, genocide and war
rape:
wrote emotively of how rapism is part of a culture which represses and imprisons women through culture, professions and the media
genocide:
there is a gender ‘caste system’ giving men unequally large share of power
male sexual violence underlies military conflict
war:
is a result of male-dominated society
men justify war by using “phallic morality”
Daly and spirituality in nature
Instead of worshiping God the Father, Daly wrote in terms of quintessence
Criticism of Daly
Chan:
Daly glosses over the importance of symbolism
God exhibits qualities in Bible that are not typically male
Reuther
argues patriarchy has had a damaging effect on Christianity
eco-feminist
Reuther and wisdom
notes that the biblical idea of wisdom would have emerged from Greek culture and the feminine idea of wisdom
Reuther an feminine language
challenges the use of exclusively male terms for God
Criticism of Reuther
Chan:
wrong to try and rewrite Christianity
Hampson
Christianity and feminism are incompatible
