theories of belief: feminism Flashcards
(10 cards)
outline sociological views on whether or not religion is patriarchal
Many feminist sociologists regard religion as a patriarchal institution that reflects and perpetuates inequality between men and women.
They therefore see religious beliefs as functioning as a patriarchal ideology that legitimates or justifies female subordination.
radical feminism: AO2: patriarchy in religious organisations
Orthodox Judaism & Catholicism forbid women to become priests – Armstrong (1993) sees this as evidence of women’s marginalisation
radical feminism: AO2: patriarchy in places of worship
Women’s participation may be limited e.g. when they are menstruating they cannot touch holy books or they may be seated behind screens while men occupy the more sacred spaces. Holm (2001) describes this as the devaluation of women in religion.
radical feminism: AO2: patriarchy through religious laws and customs
Women are given fewer rights than men & cultural norms may lead to genital mutilation or punishments for sexual transgressions e.g. stoning for adultery.
Some religions ban contraception meaning women have no control over their own fertility e.g. Catholic church
Woodhead see’s this as** unease about the emancipation of women**
AO2: patriarchal quotes
- “Blessed art thou O Lord our God that I
was not born a slave”
“Blessed art thou O Lord our God that I
was not born a woman” - Judaism - “ Wives be subject to your husband, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church’’ - Christianity
AO3: women are the centre of religion
However, some feminists argue that women have not always been subordinate to men within religion. Armstrong (1993) argues that early religion often placed women at the centre. For instance, in the middle east female priesthoods, fertility cults and earth mother goddesses were found 6000 years ago. Later we saw a rise to a single all powerful male God found in the Abrahamic religions (Christianity, Islam and Judaism)
AO3: Nawal El Sadaawi > adultery in Islam
For example: Islamic society developed in a patriarchal way because authority in Islam was hijacked by men. Although the Koran stipulated that both men and women could be stoned to death for adultery, this fate was very unlikely to befall men. > Arab culture permitted men to have several wives and allowed men to divorce their wives. There was therefore little need for men to commit adultery.
This is a clear example of how cultural norms benefit men
AO3: Nawal El Sadaawi > female circumcision
women are seriously oppressed in Islamic states. For example, she herself experienced female circumcision, in which she was genitally mutilated. > female circumcision is not the result of Islam itself but of male misinterpretations of the Qu’ran which distort true beliefs and which are used to justify the exploitation of women.
AO3: religious forms of feminism
Linda Woodhead (2002) argues that women can use religion to obtain status, freedom and respect in patriarchal societies. She argues that there exist ‘religious forms of feminism’. For example, belonging to an Pentecostalist church or the Jehovah’s Witnesses church can be empowering for women due to their religious practices.
AO3: religion has become less patriarchal
- the requirement in the Christian marriage ceremony for the bride to promise to obey her husband is now also optional.
- Judaism has allowed women to become rabbis in its non-orthodox denominations since 1972.
- Some Christian religions, particularly Quakerism, have always valued the contribution of women.
-
Sikhism regards men and women as equal (although in practice most of the senior
positions within Sikhism are still held by men). - Leila Badawi (1994) has noted aspects of Islam that are positive for women, such as being able to keep their own family name when they marry. Most converts to Islam are female.
