Topic 2: Gender, Ethnicity, Class and Age

Question 1

Images of God in Different religions

Answer 1

Grace Davie showed that:
- men see God more as a god of power and control
- women see God more as a god of love, comfort and forgiveness

Question 2

Sexuality and Religion

Answer 2

Women’s bodies and sexuality are felt to be dangerous by many religions
- because women menstruate and give birth they are considered to have greater capacity to ‘pollute’ religious rituals- AO2- mosques
- in addition, many religious believers argue that their presence may distract men from their more important roles involving worship

Question 3

How does sexuality and discipline link?

Answer 3

Turner 1983- suggests that a disciplinary role with respect to sexuality is central to religion
- degree of policing the body in religion
- Importance of asceticism in religion

Question 4

How is patriarchy shown in religion?

Answer 4

Most mainstream religions tend to be patriarchal and women and men are rarely treated equally
Evidence:
1. Religious scriptures
2. Religious organisations
3. Patriarchal doctrines
4. Places of worship
5. The veiling of women
6. Women polluting, temptresses
7. Women have fewer rights than men

Question 5

How do religious scriptures show gender

Answer 5

These largely feature the doings of male gods and prophets
They have usually been written and interpreted by men
Stories often reflect anti female stereotypes

Question 6

How do some religious organisations show gender inequality

Answer 6

Mainly male dominated- despite the fact that women participate more than men
Orthodox Judaism and Catholicism forbid women to become priests
Karen Armstrong 1993 sees that the exclusion of women from priesthood as evidence of marginalisation
Even the church of England have a glass ceiling on the levels of position a women can hold within the clergy, despite the fact taht official head of the church for over 75 years was a women
However since 2014 women have been allowed to be Bishops

Question 7

Places of Worship

Answer 7

• Often segregate the sexes and marginalise women- seating them behind screens or, in Islam menstruating women are not allowed to touch the Qur’an or enter a mosque
• Jean Holm 2001- describes this as the devaluation of women in religion

Question 8

Religious Laws and Customs

Answer 8

• These may give women fewer rights than men
• Religious influences on cultural norms may also lead to unequal treatment - genital mutilation, punishment for sexual transgression
• Many religions legitimise and regulate women’s traditional domestic and reproductive role- Catholic church bans abortion and artificial contraception
• Woodhead 2002- argues that exclusion of women from priesthood is evidence of the Catholic Church’s unease about the emancipation of women in general