OMM > religiosity & social groups Flashcards
1
Q
What are the trends related to gender & religiosity?
A
- more women than men say they have a religion
- women are more likely than men to practice their religion
2
Q
According to Miller & Hoffman what are the three main reasons women are religious?
A
- gender differences in risk taking > by not being religious people are risking that religion might be right and be condemned to hell > men are less risk averse compare to women, so more likely to take the risk of not being religious (women face more risks in society e.g. death in childbirth etc)
- socialisation > more religious as they are socialised to be more passive, obedient & caring > qualities valued by most religions
- **roles **> more likely to work part-time or be fully time carers > have more time to participate in religious activities
3
Q
Evaluation of Miller & Hoffman
A
- postmodernists > traditional theories of socialisation & roles fail to account for the individualized & fluid nature of religiosity in modern society > may choose spirituality as a from of self expression
- interactionist > argue religiosity is context-dependent & shaped by individual experiences
- El Saadawi > interpretations use to oppress women
4
Q
According to Bruce why are women more religious?
A
- access to paid work
- argues that their **lower participation levels in paid **work makes them more religious
- over the past centuries relgion has moved out of the public sphere & become confined to the private sphere of the home which is the sphere women are more concerned with
- As relgion has a strong affinity to values such as caring for other > imitates the primary role of women in caring for the young & old in the private sphere (celebrates their role)
5
Q
How does Woodhead argue similarly to Bruce?
A
- looks at the greater appeal of the new age from women
- argues that those women in paid work may experience a role conflict between their instrumental role in the public sphere & expressive role in private sphere
- NA beliefs are attractive as they appeal to a thid sphere one that’s concerned with individual autonomy & personal growth
- allows them to create new source of identity
6
Q
Evaluation of Bruce & Woodhead
A
- does not consider how structural factors shape women’s religiosity > low level of participation in paid work may be due to social class inequalities or systematic inequalities e.g. wage gaps > religion in Marxist view serves as a coping mechanism for structural marginalization rather deliberate creation of identity in third sphere
- PM > women can explore new age movements as a way expressing individuality
7
Q
According Stark & Bainbridge why are women more religious?
A
- women more involved in sects as they offer compensators for organismic, ethical & social deprivation which are more common amongst women
- Organismic > physical & mental health problems
- Ethical > women more morally conservative
- social deprivation > women are more likely to be poor > sects attract poorer groups
8
Q
Evaluation of Stark & Bainbridge’s view of women’s religiosity
A
- if social deprivation leads to religiosity, men in poorer social groups should also exhibit high levels of religious participation > studies how that men are less religious even in these contexts
- theory based on western contexts and does not apply universally e.g. Islamic cultures religiosity is more public amongst men
9
Q
What is the explanation for the Pentecostal gender paradox?
A
- women more attracted to patriarchal religion > promotes family reformation
- Bruscos > because Pentecostalism demands that its followers adopt an ascetic lifestyle > resembles protestant work ethic
- thus the women use these ideas to combat a widespread culture of machismo in Latin America
> men pressured by the pastor & community to change their ways e.g. stop drinking, spending on gambling, prostitutes etc which means they redirect the income back into the home for women & children
10
Q
Evaluation of Brusco’s view on Pentecostalism
A
- implies women join Pentecostalism for pragmatic reasons (reform their husbands) > overlooks spiritual agency & personal faith
- Feminist> P reinforces patriarchal structure by emphasising male leadership & traditional gender roles, women gain short term benefits
11
Q
What are some trends related to ethnicity & religiosity?
A
- ethnic minorities have a higher participation rates in religions
12
Q
What is one reason for ethnic differences in religiosity?
A
- religion is used as a cultural defence
- Bruce argues this is because being a minority in a new society can give religion a new role of offering support & a sense of cultural identity in an uncertain & hostile environment
- According to Bird > religion can be a basis of community solidarity & a way of coping with oppression in a racist society e.g. black African & Caribbean Christians felt white churches did not actively welcome them so turned to black led churches e.g. Pentecostal
13
Q
What is another reason for ethnic differences in religiosity?
A
- used as a cultural transition
- religion used to ease the transition into a new culture
- Pryce > argues this has been important for the African Caribbean community in Bristol, in which Pentecostalism has helped them to adapt to British society by playing a kind of Protestant Ethic by encouraging members to succeed by encouraging self-reliance & thrift-
- Brought hope of improving their situation
14
Q
Evaluation of cultural defence & transition as an explanation for ethnic differences in religiosity
A
- overly deterministic > some ethnic minorities may turn to religion out of genuine faith or a source of personal meaning not merely as a reaction to hostility
- Functionalist > religion can serve as a bridge for integration into mainstream society rather than a defence against it
15
Q
What are the trends related to age and religiosity?
A
- older a person is the more likely they are to participate in religion
- young people less likely
