Why are women more likely to be involved in NAMS/Cults Flashcards
NAM’s promote self-improvement
New Age cult activity involves a highly-individual, privatised, version of religious activity. It is mainly (although not exclusively) involved with the promotion of a personal notion of “self - improvement” and giving women the power to make themselves a better person through healing and spiritual guidance.
NAM’s also give women greater freedom. New Age emphasises the power of the ‘self’ as opposed to religions that seek to control women through its rules of worship and laws of behaviour. Therefore, women may be attracted to New Age because they are offered greater freedom and independence over their own actions.
NAM’s support female social roles
The “private sphere” of cult activity relates to traditional forms of gender roles for women (motherhood, the home, child-rearing and so forth).
Much New Age philosophy contrasts the concept of Nature (always portrayed as feminine in folklore - Mother Nature, for example) unfavourably with a modern technological world (which, interestingly enough tends to be characterised as masculine).
NAM’s are also described as being more feminine in nature. Historically, where concepts of Nature have been employed, the role of women, as Earth Mothers, spiritual healers and so forth, has tended to be seen in terms of their “essential femininity”; - more attuned to the supposed natural rhythms of life and so forth.
Thus, within New Age Cults, women tend to be afforded a much higher status than men which is one reason that explains higher female involvement. New Age activities and cults offer women the possibly of empowerment through the exploitation of the “natural superiority”. This is important as they are denied power in patriarchal society.
