Feminist theories of religion
- Created by: candiceball
- Created on: 24-05-15 15:30
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- Feminism
- Feminists see society as patriarchal - that is based on male domination.
- Religious institutions are patriarchal as they reflect and perpetuate gender inequality.
- Religious beliefs are patriarcial ideologies that legitimate womens subordination.
- Some feminists argue that women have not always been subordinate to men within religion - early religions often placed women at the centre.
- Although the formal teachings of religions often stress equality between sexes, there is considerable evidence of patriarchy within many of them.
- Religious organisations are mainly male dominated despite the fact that women often participate more than men in these organisations.
- Orthodox Jews and Catholics forbid women to become priests.
- Places of worship often segregate the sexes and marginalise women.
- In Islam women are not allowed to to touch the Qur'an when menstruating.
- Sacred texts largely feature the doings of male Gods, prophets etc and are usually written by and interpreted by men.
- Religious laws and customs may give women fewer rights than men, for example in access to divorce or how many spouses they marry.
- Catholic churches ban abortion and artificial contraception.
- Religious organisations are mainly male dominated despite the fact that women often participate more than men in these organisations.
- Woodhead argues that although much traditional religion is patriarchal, this is not true to all religion.
- There are religious forms of feminism - ways women use religion to gain greater freedom and respect.
- Whilst western feminist often see the Hijab as a symbol of oppression, to the wear it may symbolise resistance to oppression; a symbol of liberation that enables her to enter the public sphere without loosing her culture and history.
- Women may use religion to gain status ad respect for their roles within the home and family; evangelical christian men must respect women.
- The position of women within some religions is changing for example the church of England had permitted women into priesthood since 1992.
- There are religious forms of feminism - ways women use religion to gain greater freedom and respect.
- Feminists see society as patriarchal - that is based on male domination.
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