RS a level DCT - gender and society

ao1 and ao2

2 areas of Christian teaching on the spec for this topic

role of men and women in the family and society

responses to contemporary secular views about the roles of men and women in the family and society

2 areas of changing gender roles that Christianity has to respond to

motherhood/parenthood

different types of family

Ephesians 5:22-23 on gender roles in the family

“wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church”

evidence from Genesis 3 that gender roles are different

gendered punishments for the fall

Galatians 3:28 on equality

‘there is no longer male nor female; for all of you are one in Jesus Christ’

quote from 1 Timothy 2:11 (letter from Paul) on gender power dynamics

“I permit no woman to teach or have authority over a man; she is to keep silent”

is the Catholic response to secular gender ideologies flexible or rigid?

rigid

4 key points of Mulieris Dignitatem (open letter from Catholic Church) clarifying their position on gender and feminism

defended the Church against accusations of sexism

begins with a reminder that man and women are equal in being made in the image of God: “both are created in God’s image”

maintains that the man should be the “head of woman” but not in a dominating sense

men and women equal but different in majesty: “the personal resources of femininity are certainly no less than the resources of masculinity: they are merely different”

argument from Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza on centrality of women in Christianity

women do play a central role equal to men but have been historically eradicated because of patriarchal systems/churches

“the Christian marginality of women has its roots in the patriarchal beginnings of the Church and in the androcentrism of Christian revelation”

what does Theotokos mean? who used this term to describe Mary’s position?

God-bearer

Pope John Paul II, showing Mary to be instrumental in salvation: “a woman is to be found at the centre of this salvific event”

quote from John Paul II suggesting motherhood gives women dignity

“what is feminine… [Mary is] the archetype, of the personal dignity of women”

3 key ideas from Mulieris Dignitatem on motherhood

Motherhood is a special gift

Mary is a model of motherhood, illustrating the special value of this role for all women

a father’s nature is ‘not so psychologically predisposed to parenthood’ as a mother’s

what is a socialisation

being a product of the society within which you live, in turn perpetuating its ideals e.g. patriarchy

summarise the three waves of feminism in order

1850-1920: status-focused

1960s-1980s: exemplification of femininity and celebrating female contributions

mid-1990s-2010s: intersectionality; comprehensive

Aquinas on gender equality

women naturally inferior, albeit exalted through motherhood as exemplified by Mary

Germaine Greer quote on feminist goals

"men shouldn’t be the standard to which women aim”

Mary Daly quote on feminist goals

“getting what men have, being what men are, is decidedly unambitious”

what did Pope John Paul II call motherhood/having a child

“a woman’s gift of self”

what is gender traditionalism

the view that traditional gender roles are natural and best followed

argument from Jessie Bernard on importance of family-type

when children feel loved and secure family structure doesn’t matter

argument from Daphne Hampton on motherhood

forces women to crush their personalities and tend to others; promoting motherhood is reinforcing sexism and patriarchy

Titus 2:4 on role of women

“train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands'“

how might one define how a family is culturally determined

families are often microcosms of society

when was Mulieris Dignitatem published

1988

when did the CofE first ordain women

12th March, 1994

4 points from Simone de Beauvoir’s ‘second sex’ suggesting motherhood is restricting

a woman gives up her own life, interests, and personality to look after children

slows down the progress of careers

affects bodily health

when a child leaves the home the woman is left without a purpose

When did homosexual marriage become legal in the UK

2014

Ephesians 5:33 on marriage

“love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband”

Ephesians 5:25-26 on the husbands duty

“husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy"

what is the biblical model of a family

married, heterosexual parents having their biological children