RELIGION AND GENDER

GENDER AND RELIGION

TRENDS:

• Women have higer levels of religiosity
• More women participate in relgious activity than men
• More women believe in God than men
• This applies to all ages and religious organisations and faiths
• Heelas and Woodhead found more women belonged too the holistic milieu (NAM)
• Bruce estimated twice as many women than men belong to sects
• A few religious organisations appeal mainly to men e.g. rastafarianism

WHY ARE THERE GENDER DIFFERENCES?

• Miller and Hoffman : women are socialised to be more passive and obedient
• They are more likely to work part time or be carers so have more chance to organise their time to participate in relgions
• Greeley: attracted to the church as a source…