Religion as a conservative force- Feminism

Question 1

The Goddess

Answer 1

According to Feminists male dominated cultures imposed monotheism to justify patriarchal behaviour
- ancient civilisations had a different attitude to belief

Question 2

What does Armstrong say?

Answer 2

People worshipped gods of nature, who were more associated with females
- Polytheistic religions usually include female gods
- find objects to prove people worshipped goddesses

Question 3

What evidence is there to support the feminist claim that with many monotheistic texts there is evidence of patriarchy?

Answer 3

Orthodox Judaism- ‘blessed art thou O lord our God that I was not born a women’
New Testament- ‘wives be subject to your husbands’
‘the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church
- is it the way they are interpreted/used by men

Question 4

What are some examples in Christianity, extremes in the images of women portrayed that serve to justify patriarchal ideas?

Answer 4

Mary
- holy, pure, obtainable
Eve
- temptress, dangerous

Question 5

Why are monotheistic religions more patriarchal?
RADFORD REUTHER

Answer 5

Women’s body & blood, the sacred & the impure
- Ws body seen as impure and polluted
- blood shed in menstruation and childbirth

Question 6

Why are monotheistic religions more patriarchal?
ORTHODOX JUDAISM

Answer 6

Elaborate separation when women are menstruating

Question 7

Why are monotheistic religions more patriarchal?
SWEDISH CHRISTIANS

Answer 7

W shouldn’t be priests
- presence of women pollutes the sacred
- conduct a ritual of purification if W priests had celebrated mass there

Question 8

Why are monotheistic religions more patriarchal?
CATHOLIC CHURCH

Answer 8

W cannot image Christ, opposes the ordination of women

Question 9

Is religion patriarchal?
6 examples

Answer 9

1) Within religious organisations
2) Within places of worship
3) Control of the body
4) Family life
5) Within scared texts
6) Within religious laws and customs

Question 10

How is religion patriarchal within religious organisations?

Answer 10

Stained glass ceiling
Armstrong- priesthood as evidence of marginalisation of women
- male dominated
- Orthodox Judaism forbid women becoming priests
- Woodhead- exclusion

Question 11

How is religion patriarchal within places of worship?

Answer 11

Segregate the sexes
- W participation is restricted
- sit behind screens
Islam- cannot touch whilst menstruating
Holm- devaluation of W

Question 12

How is religion patriarchal in terms of how they control the body?

Answer 12

Foucalt- power is prominent
- thought and knowledge accepted in culture
- religion plays role in process of verification
- social institutions exert power by controlling the human body
- dietary arrangements, dress codes, family arrangements
e.g. consummating marriage

Question 13

How is religion patriarchal within family life?

Answer 13

Advocates traditional family structures
- place W in subservient role
- agency of social control
- service of family members, most important role (disguise)
Koran- ‘good W are obedient’
Bible- ‘Wives be subject to your husbands’

Question 14

How is religion patriarchal within sacred texts?

Answer 14

Kaden
- feature the doings of male Gods and prophets
- written and interpreted by men- reflect anti-female stereotypes
e.g. Eve in the garden of Eden

Question 15

How is religion patriarchal within religious laws and customs?

Answer 15

Give women fewer rights
- access to divorce, dress codes, decision making
- influences cultural norms = unequal treatment
- legitimate and regulate Ws traditional domestic/reproductive roles
Catholic Church- bans abortion, unease on the emancipation of women

Question 16

Marxist feminist: De Beauvoir

Answer 16

Role of religion, oppressive to women
W- false belief they will be compensated for their 2nd class status
- equal treatment in heaven, hope for a better future

Question 17

Difference feminist: El Sadawi

Answer 17

Does not blame religion for oppressive influence but the patriarchal domination of religion from monotheistic religions
- male orientated
e.g. W threat to male-dominated medical profession

Question 18

Butler

Answer 18

Common assumption in media that Muslim women are oppressed and isolated, subordinate to ‘their’ men, forced into arranged marriages and kept like prisoners at home
- these popular images are far from the truth
All follow the same Islamic laws, all possess different national cultural identities=separate from Islamic culture
- 30semi-structured interviews
- 1/2 customs to do with marriage, aspects of their culture
- commitment stronger than ever, returned to their faith once they’d gotten older
- ‘cultures are a mans invention I suppose’

Question 19

Swale

Answer 19

Studied Judaism
Evidence it is patriarchal
- Merlin Stone: Torah was written/interpreted by men and incorporates all traditional bias
- Ws most important role is at home and following Kosher food laws
LIBERAL OR REFORM
Evidence it is not patriarchal
X found new ways of interpreting scriptures, ‘sons’ could translate into ‘children’ instead
X similar ceremonies for both boys and girls

Question 20

What would liberal feminists suggest as a solution?

Answer 20

Change socialisation of traditional gender roles

Question 21

What do radical feminists suggest as a solution?

Answer 21

Abolish religion

Question 22

How do Holm and Bowker criticise feminism?

Answer 22

Becoming a nun may be considered highly liberating (separating from male society)

Question 23

How does Ahmed croioticise feminism?

Answer 23

Veiling can be considered liberating
Tarlo- ‘self-chosen visible declaration of their identity and faith’

Question 24

How does Brusco criticise feminism?

Answer 24

Many religions e.g. Pentecostals claim that men should respect women therefore women can use religion for empowerment

Question 25

How can Sikh Gurus be used as an evaluation point of feminism?

Answer 25

They speak out against gender discrimination and encourage women to have equal participation in the faith (liberation theology)

Question 26

How can Judaism be used to evaluate the feminist perspective on religion?

Answer 26

Allowed female Rabbis since 1972
- the C of E allows for female leadership
(female bishop 2017)

Question 27

Other evaluation pints of the feminist perspective on religion

Answer 27

X Women and NRMs and NAMs
X Ethnocentric/racist
X Armchair theorising, experiential approach necessary
X many W use church based activities to gain support, not subordination
X most converts to Islam are women