Write down as many religious prophets and key religious figures as you can. Individually (2mins)

Compare your list with a partner. Share your ideas to extend your individual lists. Pairs (3 mins)

Combine your lists to collate a single, definitive group list. In your groups, sub-divide your list by gender. Groups (3 mins)

Religion, Feminism & Gender G672

1. Feminist Arguments Does Religion Oppress Women?

Learning Objectives Describe three feminist views on the oppression of women by religion. Explain the two sides of the debate over whether or not the Muslim veil oppresses women. Identify at least three evaluative points regarding feminist views of religion.

Women & Religion Significant prophets, apostles etc. tend to be male. Where women feature, they tend to represent patriarchal ideas of femininity (e.g. dangerous sexuality, virtues of motherhood). Even in Buddhism, the feminine is mainly associated with the secular, powerless, profane and imperfect. This is just one reason why many feminists argued that religion is patriarchal and discriminates against women. But it wasn’t always this way... Is religion unfair to women? The History of the Divine Feminine

Until around 4000 years ago, men were subordinate to women in religious matters. Humans worshipped nature, and women were seen as being closer to nature. Around the world, effigies of naked, pregnant mother-goddess figures have been uncovered by archaeologists. The Fall of the Goddess

The invasions of such societies by male-dominated cultures (esp. from the Middle East) needed a patriarchal rationale to justify such behaviour. Therefore, male gods and aggressive narratives became increasingly important, culminating in monotheism – a single, male, God. The Fall of the Goddess

Discuss: What do you know about the Genesis story – what might the portrayal of Eve suggest about views of women in Christianity?

“ Blessed art thou Lord our God that I was not born a slave. Blessed art thou Lord our God that I was not born a woman. ” – Orthodox Jewish Prayer “ Wives be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is head of the church. ” Ephesians 5:22-24 Women in Religion

Feminist Perspective #1 Notions of God are associated with masculinity – there can never be gender equality. Christianity is a patriarchal myth (Daly; 1973), rooted in male ‘sado-rituals’ and ‘torture-cross symbolism’, embodying woman-hating. htm

Feminist Perspective #2 ‘The Second Sex’ - Simone de Beauvoir (1953) Marxist-Feminist approach Religion is used by male oppressors to control women. Compensates women for their ‘second-class’ status: giving false belief that their suffering will be compensated for in Heaven.

Feminist Perspective #3 El Sadaawi (1980) Muslim-feminist Religion itself does not oppress women, but rather it is the patriarchal nature of monotheistic religions. Scripture was written and translated by men, and they have thus used religion to justify abuse of power (e.g. witch-burnings)

The Muslim Veil According to the Qu’ran, women should exercise religious modesty (‘hijab’) because their seductiveness can lead men astray. Some muslims interpret this as meaning the whole body should be covered. There is ongoing debate in the West as to whether or not the ‘full’ veil is a symbol of oppression.

On your mini-whiteboards, identify three reasons for each of the following (based on what you have learned and/or your own ideas): 1.The Muslim veil can be seen to oppress women 2.The Muslim veil can be seen as a positive thing that liberates women 5 minsPairs

The Muslim Veil Ahmed (1992) points out that the veil means that Muslim women can practise modern ways but still retain their modesty.

Some other issues include: 1.Many religions are strongly anti-abortion 2.Some religions have strong views against the use of artificial contraception 3.Many religions do not believe that women should hold powerful positions (e.g. Women priests) 4.Many religions believe only in the most traditional forms of marriage (one man and one woman) and that children should not be born out of wedlock. In pairs, identify how one of the above issues could be argued to discriminate against women. Are there any arguments that each might benefit women? 5 mins – then feed back Pairs: Debate

Evaluation Points Catholic nuns can be viewed as oppressed or liberated (e.g. same argument as the muslim veil) Gender-neutral language increasingly used in Christian ceremonies (e.g. the woman no longer has to vow to ‘obey’ her husband). Many Christian religions e.g. Quakerism have never oppressed women. Female rabbis have been allowed in non-orthodox Judaism since the 1970s.

Evaluation Points Most converts to Islam are female, and elements of Islam are favourable to women (e.g. females keep their names after marriage) (Badawi; 1994) Post-patriarchal Buddhism is developing in the West, whereby there is no differentiation between men and women (Gross; 1994)

Written Task Identify and explain two feminist views on the treatment of women by religion [17] 15 mins

Homework Is religion unfair to women? The History of the Divine Feminine Watch one of the above films and write a 500 word summary of the key points on your blog (or to hand in). Due: This time next week

Gender & Religiosity If religion is so bad for women, why are so many more women than men religious?

Learning Objectives Identify two different ways of viewing God according to Davie. Describe five reasons why women are more religious than men. Give at least one detailed example of a sect founded by a women. Briefly explain the following: a)The popularity of the New Age Movement for women b)Fundamentalist attitudes to women

Why are Women more Religious? According to Miller & Hoffman (1995), women… Express more interest in religion Have a stronger personal commitment Attend church more often Discuss: Why?

Davie (1994) Within monotheistic religions, women and men view God differently. Women see a God of love, comfort and forgiveness. Men see a God of power and control. Men and Women see God differently… For Davie, this may be why women accept the monotheistic religions that appear to be patriarchal in nature…

Activity: Indivudally Study Britt’s article on Gender & Religion in your workbooks. Using the article, describe 5 reasons why women are more religious than men. (10 mins)

Women & NRMs The ratio of female-to-male involvement in sects is about 2:1. (Bruce; 1995) Women are more likely to experience poverty – those who suffer economic deprivation are more likely to join sects, due to the promise of salvation. (Thomson; 1996)

Group Research Many sects were actually founded by women, which counters the view that religion is always patriarchal. In small groups, choose and research one of the following to present to the class. Seventh-Day Adventists Christian Science The Shakers The Spiritualist Movement 15 mins Research!

Women & NAMs The New Age Movement places emphasis on nature and ‘the natural’. Women tend to gain higher status and prestige in many NAMs… In many cases, they may be seen as a return to the Goddess-worship religions of the past…

Women & Fundamentalism Fundamentalism has attempted to reverse the increase in women’s independence. Religious fundamentalist groups in the USA use terrorist tactics to close abortion clinics; opposing the right of women to control their fertility. Fundamentalist groups around the world insist on conserving/reinstating traditional feminine positions (e.g. mother, housewife)

Women & Fundamentalism “The desire to restore fundamentalist religious values and social practices is associated with the fear that any real increase in women’s freedom of choice and action will undermine foundations of tradition, religion, morality and, it could be argued, male control.” (Cohen & Kennedy; 2000)

Essay Outline and evaluate the view that religion is a patriarchal force that oppresses women [33]