Religion as a conservative force (Feminism)

Question 1

5 Key concerns of feminists

Answer 1

1. Leadership roles in religious organisations are male dominated
2. Sacred texts are interpreted by men in a way which justifies their position of power
3. Religion portrays women as a distraction to men and use this to control female sexuality
4. Religious laws and values restrict what women can and cannot do
5. Religious fundamentalism openly denies women rights

Question 2

Leadership positions are male dominated

Answer 2

• Although more women practice religion, more leadership roles re held by men
• Holm : Men tend to dominate the public sphere of religion eg leadership roles within the community. Only men in Islam can perform the role of an Imam and only a man can be the Pope in Catholicism
  In the private sphere women are dominant (role behind the scenes eg socialisation of the children
  Women pass religion down through each generation but men receive the respect and hold the authority within faith

Question 3

Evaluation of leadership positions are male dominated

Answer 3

• Since 2014 women have been able to become Bishops
• Religion is less significant so it doesn’t matter if women have less power
• Quakers encourage women to take an active role in the church

Question 4

sacred teachings are interpreted by men in a way which justifies their power

Answer 4

• Catholic church is hypocritical in its stance on women eg. claims to focus on the worship of Virgin Mary (stereotype of a woman that men desire eg domestic needs)
  They aren’t looking up to Mary as a powerful being but rather what they think women ought to be like
• Emphasis on male heroes eg Jesus and his disciples yet Mary Magdalene has been distorted by Catholic leader eg rumours of her as a prostitute were made by Pope Gregory which diminished her reputation
• Maintaining the power imbalance

Question 5

Evaluation of scared teachings being interpreted by men in a way which justifies their power

Answer 5

• This isn’t exclusive to religion eg men in wider society create rules which benefit them
• Due to secularisation, people are less influenced by religious teachings so there influence is limited

Question 6

Some religions portray women as a distraction to men in order to control female sexuality

Answer 6

• Major religions can promote the view that men are at risk of being led astray by female temptresses
  This can be traced back to Eve in which Eve persuades Adam to taste the forbidden fruit suggesting Eve is the original sinner
• Strategies are employed by those in faiths to limit the risk men have to fall for female charms eg Priests vow celibacy to allow them to focus on God

Question 7

Evaluation of some religions portray women as temptresses

Answer 7

• All women are at risk of being sexualised and objectified by men, it is not an issue just for within religion
• Many women who choose to cover their bodies do so because they want to

Question 8

Religious laws and values restrict what women can and can’t do

Answer 8

• Men are typically put in an advantageous position eg Islamic societies permit men to have multiple partners/wives yet women who commit adultery are punished eg stoned to death and honour killings
• Women in catholicism find themselves in an unsustainable family life eg contraception is sinful yet it is a wife’s duty to reproduce
• Religion leads women in to a state of false consciousness where they are taught if they are a good wife/mother they will please god and be rewarded in heaven
• Women are the second sex (De Beauviour)

Question 9

Evaluation of the claim that religious laws and values control women

Answer 9

• Secularisation means religion has a limited impact on women today
• Quakers actively encourage women to be at the centre

Question 10

Religious fundamentalism openly denies women rights

Answer 10

• Conservative branches of mainstream faiths are openly oppressive of women eg believe the rising power of women is a threat to make authority
• USA Christians organisation ‘Moral Majority’ engages in violent attacks on women using their right to abortion
• Taliban have fought to prevent women from accessing their right to education
• The rise of anti-female fundamentalism tends to have more prominence in monotheistic religions eg in Ancient Rome, multiple Gods and Goddesses were worshipped however once Christianity took hold, Goddesses were erased eg paintings destroyed
• Notion of patriarchy has continued

Question 11

Evaluation of the view that religious fundamentalism openly denies rights

Answer 11

• Evidence shows women are more attracted to fundamentalist groups suggesting that some women want traditional roles
• Christian fundamentalists have a very limited impact on women’s equality in the US today