Why are women more religious than men? Flashcards
Religious values are feminine
Miller and Hoffman put forward the following points to explain the greater religiosity of women;
In gender role socialisation women are taught to be passive caring and obedient. As these qualities are valued by religion it is not surprising to find more women attracted to religion.
Women are more likely to be carers and will have more time to participate in religion and especially get involved with church activities with their children.
Women are more risk averse than men; not being religious can be seen as risk taking as people may be putting their entry to heaven in jeopardy.
Religion can increase women’s domestic status: Woodhead says women can use religion to gain status and respect in the home. Evidence from the USA shows women being to attracted Orthodox Judaism and evangelical Christianity because these religions place a high value on the domestic position of women in the home. In this position women are able to influence and restrict the patriarchal nature of the hom e
Women use religion as compensation for deprivation
As women tend to be more ethically conservative, they use religion for reassurance and protection of their moral values. Glock and Stark refer to this as women suffering from ethical deprivation. Bruce said women tend to be more supportive of religion as they have a particular interest in the socialisation of their children and women may also value the church’s emphasis on the control of sexuality.
Glock and Stark say that women also suffer from social deprivation, as women are more likely to be poor, they use religion as a means of comfort and support when they are faced with hardship and disadvantage in society.
A03
In recent years some women are said to be losing their religion.
Brierley notes that there has been a decline in women’s attendance at church in the last 20 years. He explains this through the pressures of family, home and work. Eg 1in 3 Sunday workers are women.
As many women have rejected their traditional gender role, they have also rejected traditional religions as these were closely associated with the promotion of such roles.
