Feminism and Religion
- Feminists regard religion as a patriarchal institution that reflects and perpetuates male
domination
- Religious beliefs function as a patriarchal ideology that legitimates female subordination
Evidence of Patriarchy
Religious Organisations
- Mainly male dominated despite fact that women often participate more than men in these
organisations
- Example: Orthodox Judaism and Catholicism forbid women from becoming priests
- ARMSTRONG sees women’s exclusion from the priesthood of most religions as evidence of
marginalisation
Places of worship
- Often segregate the sexes and marginalise women
- Example: Seating them behind screens while men occupy central and more sacred spaces
- Women’s participation may be restricted
- Example: Not being allowed to preach or read from sacred texts
- Taboos that regard menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth as polluting may also prevent
participation
- Example: In Islam, menstruating women are not allowed to touch the Qur’an
- JEAN HOLM describes this as the devaluation of women in contemporary society
Sacred texts
- Largely feature the doings of male-gods, prophets etc. and are usually written and
interpreted by men
- Stories often reflect anti-female stereotypes
- Example: Eve, in the story of Genesis, caused humanity’s fall from grace and expulsion from
the Garden of Eden
Religious laws and customs
- May give women fewer rights than men
- Example: Access to divorce, how many spouses they may marry, decision making, dress code
- Religious influences on cultural norms may also lead to unequal treatment e.g. FGM or
punishments for sexual transgressions
- Many religions legitimate and regulate women’s traditional domestic and reproductive role
- WOODHEAD argues that the exclusion of women from the Catholic priesthood is evidence
of the Church’s deep unease about the emancipation of women generally
Early Religions
- However, feminists argue that women have not always been subordinate to men within
religion
- ARMSTRONG argues that early religions often place women at the centre
- Example: Earth mother goddesses, fertility cults and female priesthoods were found
throughout the Middle East until 6,000 years ago
- However, the rise of monotheistic religions saw the establishment of a single, all-powerful
male God
- Feminists regard religion as a patriarchal institution that reflects and perpetuates male
domination
- Religious beliefs function as a patriarchal ideology that legitimates female subordination
Evidence of Patriarchy
Religious Organisations
- Mainly male dominated despite fact that women often participate more than men in these
organisations
- Example: Orthodox Judaism and Catholicism forbid women from becoming priests
- ARMSTRONG sees women’s exclusion from the priesthood of most religions as evidence of
marginalisation
Places of worship
- Often segregate the sexes and marginalise women
- Example: Seating them behind screens while men occupy central and more sacred spaces
- Women’s participation may be restricted
- Example: Not being allowed to preach or read from sacred texts
- Taboos that regard menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth as polluting may also prevent
participation
- Example: In Islam, menstruating women are not allowed to touch the Qur’an
- JEAN HOLM describes this as the devaluation of women in contemporary society
Sacred texts
- Largely feature the doings of male-gods, prophets etc. and are usually written and
interpreted by men
- Stories often reflect anti-female stereotypes
- Example: Eve, in the story of Genesis, caused humanity’s fall from grace and expulsion from
the Garden of Eden
Religious laws and customs
- May give women fewer rights than men
- Example: Access to divorce, how many spouses they may marry, decision making, dress code
- Religious influences on cultural norms may also lead to unequal treatment e.g. FGM or
punishments for sexual transgressions
- Many religions legitimate and regulate women’s traditional domestic and reproductive role
- WOODHEAD argues that the exclusion of women from the Catholic priesthood is evidence
of the Church’s deep unease about the emancipation of women generally
Early Religions
- However, feminists argue that women have not always been subordinate to men within
religion
- ARMSTRONG argues that early religions often place women at the centre
- Example: Earth mother goddesses, fertility cults and female priesthoods were found
throughout the Middle East until 6,000 years ago
- However, the rise of monotheistic religions saw the establishment of a single, all-powerful
male God
