Theories Of Religion - feminism Flashcards
What does De Beauvoir argue about religion legitimating patriarchy?
-She suggests religion is an instrument of male domination
-Men usually control religious organisations and claim their authority comes from God
-e.g. Kings used ‘ divine right’ to justify their position
-Some religions may portray women as being closer to God but only if they are passive and don’t question male authority e.g. Virgin Mary.
-She suggest a gives women a false belief that they’re suffering will be rewarded in heaven giving them a false consciousness that keeps them in their place
-It is receive them and thinking they’re equal to men when they’re actually the second sex
-Genesis illustrates this as stories often reflect anti-female stereotypes e.g. Eve brought original sin to the world
How would de beavuvoirs view be evaluated?
El sadauri would argue it not religions but how it’s interpreted by a patriarchal society.
What would argue about religion maintaining patriarchy?
-Religious organisations are mainly male dominated
-Many religious organisations exclude women from status roles
-For example orthodox Judaism and Catholicism forbid women from becoming priests. Islam also doesn’t allow female imams
-Karen Armstrong sees women’s exclusion from priesthood of most religions as evidence of their marginalisation.
How could we evaluate that religion maintains patriarchy
Church of England churches have a loud female priest since 1992 and Bishop since 2014. therefore, women are breaking through the same class ceiling.
How does religion socialises generations into patriarchal norms and values?
-Religious laws and customs give women few rights and men for example access to divorce
-Religious influences on cultural norms need to unequal treatment such as female genital mutilation
-Many religions legitimate and reregulate women’s traditional domestic and reproductive roles
-For example, the Catholic Church bands, abortion and artificial contraception.
-Woodhead argues the exclusion of women from Catholic priesthood is evidence of the churches deepening unease about emancipation of women generally
Evaluation of the view that religion, socialises generations and patriarchal norms and values
Watson argues that hijab is liberating for women as it’s seen as an attempt to a certain independence and a rejection of western cultural imperialism. Therefore liberate rather than oppressing them.
What would feminist are you about? Religion helping women to fight back patriarchy?
-Would had criticises feminist explanations that are quite religion with patriarchy
-Although much of traditional religion is patriarchal is not true for all religion
-There are now religious forms of feminism
-For example, the hijab freeze women from the male gaze allowing them to enter the public sphere while retaining their culture
For example :
-islamic feminist use quotes from Islamic scripture such as “ the best of you is the best to family”
-These are used to fight for women’s rights in country such as Libya
