Gender and Society Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is socialisation?
How we learn the norms of society- from which we develop our gender identification and expression
What did Plato believe about men and women?
‘It is only males who are directly by the gods and are given souls
women are inferior, but should be treated fairly
What did Aristotle believe about men and women?
Women are inferior since women cannot produce semen, so males are active in reproduction whilst females are passive
(he did not know about women having eggs)
What did Aquinas believe about men and women?
women are inferior to men physically and intelligently
(women naturally weaker than men by default, women weren’t educated- so was he wrong?)
women are ‘defective’
women have a special place in the afterlife with the Virgin Mary
The Book of Common Prayer
original wedding vows
a bride’s vows ‘obey’
‘plight/give thee my troth’
What does Christianity (generally) believe about men and women?
Men and women equal, but different- so their skillsets differ and women
Jesus only had male disciples (or did he? were these only the recorded? he visited Mary Magdalene a disciple- he was very close with her and this would make sense?)
The Church of England ordains women
Genesis 1:27
in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them
God is described as male (‘he’)
Eve created as a ‘helper’
Eve first succumbed to temptationE
Ephesians 5:22
Wives, submit to your own husbands as you do the Lord … Husbands, love your wives’
context: once women lost their virginity they were discarded- this condemns male attitudes, comanding ‘love’
Who wrote Mulieres Dignitatum and what does it mean?
Pope John Paul II
On the dignitiy and rights of women
Response to accusations of Christianity as sexist
Fulfilment of female experience = virginity and motherhood
Women are ‘naturally disposed to mother’ physically and psychologically
Husbands ‘owe a special debt to the woman’
Simone de Beauvior
Ann Oakley
birth experience theyfelt powerless
maternal instinct
frustratin of stay at home mother
Daly
women ability and knowledge are superior to men, so women ought to govern men and this would be lead to a more peaceful society and be better for the environment
`
