feminist view of religion

Bruce: women continue to be excluded from key roles- despite being the main users of religion

Armstrong: none of the major religions have been particularly good to women- become male affairs, relegated to a marginal possession

Daly: Christianity is an ideological force –spreads a patriarchal myth

Holm: classical teachings stressed equality, in practice women usually have been far from equal  - related to female sexuality

 De Beauvior: religion is used to control women- then compensates women for their second class status   

religion acts a powerful and ideological foce in 4 ways

Religious images: dominated by men e.g. god the farther of Jesus who took a male form

Religious teachings: Catholic Church refuse’s abortion

Exclusion from religious hierarchy: male dominated 92 COE allowed women to move up the hierarchy however not a lot of women at the top

Oppression and deception: religion still historically oppress women, Daly sees deception a key thin to distract women

Aldridge: suggests that gender equality can be found in some contemporary groups

Badawi: some aspects of Islam are positive for women e.g. keep their own name- keep their own identity

Wright: reform Judaism – allowed women to become rabbis since 1972

Watson: non Muslim women see the veil as a symbol of oppression, highly ethnocentric view point, interviewed 3 Muslim women they see the veil as advantageous 

• Critical of those feminist who equate religion with patriarchy and the oppression of women
•  Accepts that tradition religions are patriarchal/ oppressive she believes there are religious forms of feminism
• Argues that Muslim women wear the veil may symbolize resistance to oppression- escape the confines of the home
• Women also use religion to gain status and respect