Gender and Religion

religious scriptures & doctrines

women are presented as temptresses

religious texts are full of male Gods, male prophets - written and interpreted by men

barred from priesthood

• women are often excluded from priesthood

• Orthodox Judaism

• some regions of Christian Church allowed recently

veiling of women

Aldridge believes this practice with Islam is a way of keeping women invisible

gender role socialisation

Miller & Hoffman: women are socialised to be more dominant, less happy to simply accept what they are told in the Dulpit

greater life expectancy

women are significantly more likely to attend church than men= live longer

social deprivation and marginality

women are more likely to suffer from poverty, family problems, be less confident, lack of power/ prestige etc

sects and NRMs can help overcome this

status frustration

women who lack personal fulfilment or status as a result of being confined to the home or lower MC jobs turn to religion as a solution

Heelas and Wood

• 80% of those in NAMS were women

• some suggest they celebrate the natural and give women a sense of self-worth

Brown

appeal to wish for autonomy - NAMs emphasise subjective experience

Aldridge

‘Goddess Religion’ gives women a central role offering a more positive image of feminity than traditional religion

polythetic religion

Gods worshipped equally

Changes in monotheistic religions

El Saadawi- not the direct cause of women’s subordination = patriarchal form of society within last few thousand years

religion as a resistance of patriarchy

women can use religion to increase their power or influence e.g. Pentecostalism