Gender and religion

Differences between men and women in terms of religiosity

→ Women **view religion as more important**, more religious/practice more generally

→ Men **more atheist**, less likely to believe in life after death

Miller & Hoffman - gender differences

→ **Men are less risk averse**; willing to take risk of not being religious and going to hell

→ **Different socialisation**; women are raised to have qualities valued by religion (passive, obedient, caring)

→ **Different roles**; more likely to work part-time, so more time for religion

Davies - women becoming less religious

As dangers of childbirth disappear in Western societies, women are less religious

Greely - women becoming more religious

Women are **more religious after having children**

→ Involves responsibility for their ‘ultimate welfare’ as well as daily needs

Davie - gender differences

Women see God in terms of **love/forgiveness**, men see God in terms of **power/control**

Bruce - gender differences

Women are **more religious because they’re more likely to be at home**

→ Secularisation has placed religion in the ==private sphere==, which women are mostly involved in

New Age Movements

Attracts **middle class white women**

→ Celebrates naturality, gives women **higher self-worth/status**

→ Socialisation **makes them non-aggressive/cooperative/caring**

* Fits with New Age ==expressive emphasis==

→ Emphasis on **authenticity**; not just acting out gender roles **which women may perceive as restrictive**

→ Appeals to their ==individual sphere==

What is the individual sphere?

→ Concerned with personal growth and autonomy

→ **Bypasses women’s role** (in the home theyre expected to care for others, not themselves)

Why are women more likely to join sects?

Because of the **types of deprivation** they experience

→ ==Organismic==; physical/mental health problems

→ ==Ethical==; more morally conservative, regard world as declining (sects may agree)

→ ==Social==; sects attract w/c, women more likely to be w/c

The Pentecostal gender paradox

→ The Pentecostal church is patriarchal; men are **heads of house and church**

→ Pentecostal ideas of traditional labour **may benefit women**

* They combat the Latin American ‘==machismo==’ culture of spending money on gambling/prostitutes
* Instead, **spend it on family - raise standard of living**

Aune et al - womens participation

Reasons womens participation has declined:

→ **Fertility levels**; women have less children, so older generations of churchgoers arent replaced

→ **Feminist values**; challenges traditional religious view of womens roles

→ **Paid employment**; more women work, less time for religion

→ **Family diversity**; churches discourage non-traditional families

Holm - gender inequality

In the ==public sphere== of religion, men dominate

→ holding important positions

In the ==private sphere==, women dominate

→ socialising children