Gender
Sullins: Global Religious belief: - In his samples of 65 countries from 7
different religions and sects, he found that women are more likely to be
religious than men
Glock & Stark: Relative deprivation -
= A feeling of being disadvantaged compared to others
-Women feel relative to men and therefore seek comfort in religion
-religion is a belief system which offers them solace and redemption
3 types of relative deprivation:
1. Social deprivation = lack of social power, social status and social
prestige that women have compared to men, sects will value their
membership more than society. Feel a sense of importance from the
religious groups they join
2. Organismic deprivation = physical and mental health problems, women
are more likely to be concerned by ill health and thus seek healing
through religion
3. Ethical deprivation = losing faith in the values of society, women are
more likely than men to be morally conservative + see the world in moral
decline
Miller & Hoffman: Differential socialisation -
= males and females are socialised into different norms + values, men
are encouraged to be more aggressive whereas women are to be
nurturing
-females are socialised into these following characteristics far more than
men
(Submissive + Passive)
(Obedient)
(Nurturing)
(cooperative + caring)
, Miller & Hoffman: Risk Behaviour
= tendency of an individual or group to choose a more dangerous or less
dangerous option
-men are more willing to take risks than women + high levers of religiosity
are in the risk avoidant
- Not being religious is risky because it is risks going to heaven
-women are less willing to take the risk that there is not a God
-Argue that believing in God is less dangerous because if there is one,
then you are likely to go to heaven, rather than not believing in God and
risking going to hell
Evaluation: Gender:
Sullins: Gender gap is not universal – Argues that there are notable
exceptions
-Both Jewish and Muslim men are more religious than women in their
religions
-Argues there is a difference between affective religiousness (Personal
piety) + Active religiousness (Participation in organised religions)
- Gender differences are much larger in affective religiousness
-’Social factors explain most of the gender differences in religiousness’
Pew research centre: Women and men are more equally likely to believe
in heaven, hell and angels
-47/63 countries: Both genders are equally likely to believe in Heaven
52/63 countries: Both genders are equally likely to believe in Hell
HOWEVER,
Men are more likely to believe in hell and heaven than women in Lebanon
Sullins: Global Religious belief: - In his samples of 65 countries from 7
different religions and sects, he found that women are more likely to be
religious than men
Glock & Stark: Relative deprivation -
= A feeling of being disadvantaged compared to others
-Women feel relative to men and therefore seek comfort in religion
-religion is a belief system which offers them solace and redemption
3 types of relative deprivation:
1. Social deprivation = lack of social power, social status and social
prestige that women have compared to men, sects will value their
membership more than society. Feel a sense of importance from the
religious groups they join
2. Organismic deprivation = physical and mental health problems, women
are more likely to be concerned by ill health and thus seek healing
through religion
3. Ethical deprivation = losing faith in the values of society, women are
more likely than men to be morally conservative + see the world in moral
decline
Miller & Hoffman: Differential socialisation -
= males and females are socialised into different norms + values, men
are encouraged to be more aggressive whereas women are to be
nurturing
-females are socialised into these following characteristics far more than
men
(Submissive + Passive)
(Obedient)
(Nurturing)
(cooperative + caring)
, Miller & Hoffman: Risk Behaviour
= tendency of an individual or group to choose a more dangerous or less
dangerous option
-men are more willing to take risks than women + high levers of religiosity
are in the risk avoidant
- Not being religious is risky because it is risks going to heaven
-women are less willing to take the risk that there is not a God
-Argue that believing in God is less dangerous because if there is one,
then you are likely to go to heaven, rather than not believing in God and
risking going to hell
Evaluation: Gender:
Sullins: Gender gap is not universal – Argues that there are notable
exceptions
-Both Jewish and Muslim men are more religious than women in their
religions
-Argues there is a difference between affective religiousness (Personal
piety) + Active religiousness (Participation in organised religions)
- Gender differences are much larger in affective religiousness
-’Social factors explain most of the gender differences in religiousness’
Pew research centre: Women and men are more equally likely to believe
in heaven, hell and angels
-47/63 countries: Both genders are equally likely to believe in Heaven
52/63 countries: Both genders are equally likely to believe in Hell
HOWEVER,
Men are more likely to believe in hell and heaven than women in Lebanon
