Feminist theory of religion

Feminist key idea of religion

• Religion promotes patriarchal institutions

• Conservative force

Feminists who say religion is patriarchal

• Daly - said that Christianity is a ‘patriarchal myth’. It eliminates other ‘Godless religions’. Christianity’s cross is a ‘torture cross’ symbol. It embodies women hating.

• Beauvoir - said that religion is oppressive to women – used by men to control women. Religion compensates women for their second class status. They get a false belief that they will be rewarded in heaven and gain equality there.

• El Saadawi - said that religion is not oppressive itself. It is the male dominance of religion that is the problem. This is due to the rise of monotheistic religions which are male dominated and where scriptures are interpreted/written by men.

Feminists who say religion is not ALWAYS patriarchal

• Woodhead said that there are forms of ‘religious feminism’ – when women use religion to gain freedom and respect e.g. the hijab/veil;

  • It can be a symbol against oppression

  • It is a means to escape the confines of the home and enter education/employment; this allows women to enter the ‘public sphere’ (escape from home/liberation) without losing their cultural identity.

  • It eliminates the male gaze.

• Watson - interviewed three women about what the veil meant to them. Different views but generally positive, liberating, avoid lecherous stares, the male gaze.

Armstrong evidence AGAINST patriarchy in religion

a) Women have not always been subordinated. Early religions often placed women at the centre.

b) There has been evidence of earth mother goddesses , female priestesses and fertility throughout the Middle East until 6000 years ago.

However….

a) From 4000 years ago, the rise of monotheistic religions- meant that people were encouraged to worship a single all powerful male God.

b) E.g. Hebrews- Jehovah, male prophets in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Sadawi evidence against patriarchy

a) Religion oppresses but was not the root cause of female subordination.

b) Patriarchy began to re-shape religion- men reinterpreted the teachings and beliefs to favour men.

c) The rise of monotheism legitimates power over women.

Evaluate feminism

Strengths;

• Functionalists say that religion is the worship of society and society is patriarchal, therefore worship patriarchy.

Weaknesses;

• Ignores class Marxist

• Ignores male views

• Ignores the positive psychological functions

• Majority of religious participation is women, therefore it cannot be that bad.

• Secularisation of western society means that religion is no longer a patriarchal tool.

• Postmodernists say that religion has no meaning to individuals anymore.