Gender, feminism and religion

Gender, feminism and religion

1. Images of God in different religions

   • - Women see god more as a god of love, comfort and forgiveness
   • - Men see God as a god of power and control
   • In the Jewish religion, a person can only automatically be Jewish if their mother is. Recognition of the female connection with spirituality.
   • Christianity- men made in 'the image and glory of God' and women made 'for the glory of man'
   • In biblical texts women portrayed as acting charitably or bravely, but primary roles reserved for men.
   • The most prominent females in the Bible, can be interpreted as reinforcing patriarchal ideas. The dangers of female sexuality, the virtues of motherhood.

2. Sexuality and religion

   • Women's bodies and sexuality are felt to be dangerous by many religions.
   • Because women menstruate and give birth, they are considered to have a greater capacity to 'pollute' religious rituals.
   • A women's presence may distract the men from their more important roles involving religion.
   • Sexuality is an important issue. Bird (1999)
     • Roman catholic priests are expected to be celibate.
     • Christianity and Islam are apposed to homosexuality.
   • Turner (1983)- a disciplinary role with respect to sexuality is central to religion.
     • The presence of women makes it harder for priestly duties to be carried out properly.
     • Widespread importance is given to asceticism, a self-disciplined existence in which pleasure is repressed.

3. Women in religious organisations

   • Until recently, due to patriarchal attitudes, women have been barred from serving as priests in many of the world's great religions.
     • The more traditional factions continue to bar them.
   • Simon and Nadell (1995) conducted research about women in religious organizations.
     • Drawing on evidence from in-depth interviews with 32 female rabbis and 27 female members of the Protestant clergy.
       • They concluded that the women conduct themselves in totally different ways to male members of their religious organizations.
         • Describing themselves as less formal, more approachable and more people orientated etc.

4. Feminism and religion

   • Many Christian feminists argue that there will never be gender equality in the church so long as the notions of God continue to be associated with masculinity.
   • Mary Daly (1973, 1978)
     • Suggests that Christianity itself is a patriarchal myth.
     • The Christian story eliminated other 'goddess' religions.
     • Christianity is rooted in male 'sado-rituals' with its 'torture cross symbolism', and it embodies women-hating.
   • Simone de Beauvoir
     • Saw religion in a similar way to Marx.
     • Oppresive to women, religion is used by the oppressors (men) to control the oppressed group (women).
     • It also serves as a way of compensating women of their second class status.
   • El Sadaawi (1980)- a muslim feminist
     • Patriarchal domination of religion, that came with the monotheistic reloigions, is to blame.
     • Men wrote their scriptures, and the interpretation of them was almost exclusively male-orientated. This has enabled men to use religion as an abuse of power.

5. Is religion necessarily patriarchal?

   • Gender-neutral language has been introduced to many hymns and prayers.
   • Gross (1994)
     • Detects signs of a post-patriarchal Buddism developing in the West, which doesn't differentiate roles for males and females.