Feminism (beliefs)

Question 1

Armstrong

Answer 1

• male aggression exhibited through male dominated cultures meant that male gods became increasingly important- male aggressive spirituality- decline of goddess
• monotheism; belief in one male God

Question 2

Daly

Answer 2

• never will be gender equality in church so long as notions of gender are attached to meaning of God
• christianity as a patriarchal myth- eliminated other goddess religions and rooted in male ‘sado-rituals’ with ‘torture cross symbolism’ and embodies women hating

Question 3

De Beauvoir

Answer 3

• role of religion is oppressive to women- oppressors use it to control the oppressed group
• serves as a way of compensating women for their second class system- giving women false belief they will be compensated for their suffering on Earth by equality in Heaven
• confirms the social order by giving a better future in a sexless heaven

Question 4

El Saadawi

Answer 4

• doesn’t blame religion itself for oppressive influences, but instead the patriarchal domination of religion that came with the development of a monotheistic religion
• claims religion drew inspiration and guidance from the patriarchal and class prevalent at the time, men wrote scriptures and the interpretation of them was male orientated

Question 5

Woodhead/ Watson

Answer 5

• criticises feminist explanation that simply equate feminism with patriarchy- showing religious forms of feminism
• women use religion to gain greater freedom and respect eg veils/ hijabs used by Muslim women as a form of liberation
• meaning of the veil is individualised to all and can’t be generalised as oppressive

Question 6

Cohen and Kennedy

Answer 6

• increase in women’s freedom of choice and action will undermine the foundations of tradition, religion, morality and could be argued, male control
• fundamentalism