Religion promotes stereotypical gender roles

Question 1

Idealising the mother role

Answer 1

In most religions, women tend to be portrayed in terms of their “traditional” social characteristics. The “Virgin Mary” / “Madonna” in Christian religion is a good example here. Although a powerful figure - as the Mother of Christ - her power, is ideological rather than political - the virtues of purity, chastity, motherhood and so forth are personified through her as ideals for womanhood.

This reflects the way women are vital to religion because they do much of the work for religious organisations and introduce children to religious beliefs. Eg. Saying prayers with children, taking children to church services

Question 2

Religion provides a source of gender identity

Answer 2

Davie says men and women have a different view of God. For men God is a force of control and power, but for women God is a source of comfort, love and forgiveness.

The church, with its emphasis on caring for the needs of others, can be a source of gender identity for women. This may be particularly important for women who do not find personal identity from their employment. Bruce supports this argument as he says religion has an affinity with many aspects of feminity, such as being less goal orientated, more cooperative and more passive in their behaviour.