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Beliefs in society - negative consequences for women essay

Assess the view that religion in general has negative consequences for women (33)

Feminists see religion as having negative consequences for women as society is patriarchal. Religious institutions are patriarchal as they reflect and perpetuate gender inequality. Religious beliefs are patriarchal ideologies that legitimate women's subordination. However, this is not the case in all religions.

There are many examples of patriarchy in religion. Religious organisations are mainly male dominated, for example Orthodox Judaism and Catholicism forbid women from becoming priests. Armstrong (1993) sees women's exclusion from the priesthoods in most religions as evidence of their marginalization. Places of worship often segregate the sexes and marginalise women in acts of worship, for example not being allowed to preach or too read from sacred texts. Taboos that see menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth as polluting may also prevent participation. Sacred texts largely feature the doings of make gods and prophets and often reflect anti - female stereotypes, for example Eve who in the Judaeo Christian story of Genesis, caused humanity's fall from grace and expulsion from the garden of Eden. Finally religious laws and customs often give women fewer rights than men, for example in access to dress codes etc, they may also lead to unequal treatment, for example, genital mutilation, punishment for sexual transgressions. So these provide evidence for religion having negative consequences for women.

Liberal feminist argue that differences between men and women in religion are due to differences in socialisation. For men and women to have equal positions in society we need non gendered socialisation of children, equality laws and women should be allowed to have the same religious jobs as men. Radical feminists argue that men are responsibe for women's oppression and men directly benefit from women's lie social status. Also, men dominate women in society and religions have specific rules for women, for example Muslim women have to wear a Burqua in public. Lastly, Marxist feminists argue that capitalism reinforces women's inferior social status. Women provide free domestic labour, for example cool and clean. Capitalism benefits from this, as husbands are able to work longer hours. Religion is the tool of women's oppression under capitalism. These provide explanations of how religion could have negative consequences for women.

Simone De Beauvoir (1953) holds a Western - Christian perspective. He argued that religion is used by the oppressors, which are men, to control the oppressed which are women. Religion compensates women for the second class status and men have control over religious beliefs. Divine authority supports male dominance, "men is master by divine rights, the fear of god will repress any impulse towards revolt in the downtrodden female." Women are deceived by religion into thinking of themselves as equal to men, despite all evident inequality.

The Feminist theories are useful in explaining the negative consequences religion has for women as it accounts did evidence against female insubordination in that women are being celebrated. Also, female freedom would be positive as it does show a decline in patriarchal control and women controlling their own lives. However, some feminists argue that women have not always been subordinate to men within religion, for example Armstrong (1993) argued that early religions often placed women at the centre.

Woodhead (2002) argues that although much traditional religion is patriarchal, this is not true of all religion. There are 'religious forms of feminism' - ways women use religion to gain greater freedom and respect. While Western feminists often see the hijab worn by Muslim women as a symbol of oppression, to the wearer if may symbolise resistance to oppression, a symbol if liberation that enables her to enter the public sphere without losing her culture and history. Also, women may use religion to gain status and respect for their roles within the home and family., for example a strongly held belief among evangelical Christians is that men must respect women. Finally, the position of women I'm some religions is changing, for example since 1992 the church if England has admitted women to the priesthood; about a fifth of its priests are now female. Other Protestant denominations, Reform Judaism and Sikhism all allow women priests.

Nawal El Saadawi (1980) holds an Arab - Egyptian perspective. She had a personal experience of oppression as she had to have female circumcision at age 10. She argues that men distort religion to serve their own interests, justify positions and legitimate the oppression of women. However, she argues that oppression of women isn't directly caused by religion, Islam for example, female circumcision is practised in a variety of countries but they aren't all Islamic.

Female bishops have recently been allowed in the Church of Wales. Members of all three strands of the Church in Wales governing body. Bishops, clergy and Laity - voted overwhelmingly to approve the change after a two day meeting in Lampeter. It overturns a decision five years ago which failed to pass by just three votes. The decision means that the Anglican Churches in Ireland, Scotland and Wales have all now accepted women as bishops. This means that women's position in religions is improving.

In conclusion, it could be argued that religion in general has negative consequences for women, due to religious organisations being mainly male dominated, women have fewer rights than men in religion etc, however, this is not the case in every religion and it could be said that women's position in religion is improving so it could provide positive consequences for women.

I was just wondering how many marks do you think I would get for this essay / what grade? Thank you I'm advance


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Heya, just wanted to ask what level this was being written at? The inclusion of some light references suggest it might be Uni level, but content wise I'd guess A levels. It might be worth including a mark scheme to make it easier for someone to mark it with knowledge on the subject.


From my knowledge on the subject, I'd say the argument was pretty weak mainly because you don't consider any of the alternatives to religion in order to truly assess whether it's actually isolated to that. For example Mike Davis's exploration of Human Surplus or Aesthetic dimension exclusion from Herbet Marcuse (Marcuse might not have outlined it explicitly, but I vaguely remember some argument tied to his exploration of arts role indicating negative implications for gender class and race groups).


That's not really relevant if it's an A level essay though, kind of important to know :h:
Seriously? You're in a study help section posting full essays asking other students what grade/how many marks you'll get?

The fact that we don't even know what level this is at (high school/undergraduate) only hinders any possible advice further.

You should have a course handbook outlining ILOs/marking guidelines. Consult that and apply a bit of thinking.

TSR have an excellent study section and a sister website called Marked by Teachers - I don't know if this would be more helpful for you. But for the record, I'd consider deleting this post - I'm assuming you'll be submitting the essay via an electronic plagiarism-checker? It'll show up...
Original post by pmc:producer
I'm assuming you'll be submitting the essay via an electronic plagiarism-checker? It'll show up...




I'm kinda assuming / hoping that it's just general work. Not only would it be a shame to have their cached essay plagiarised, but it would be pretty crummy whatever level the essay is set at to have the ridiculously broad question 'Was Religion in General This' :lol:


I mean it would almost be tempting to write about the liberations involved in isolated paganism on some random and obscure isle, just to ridicule whoever set the question.
Reply 5
Original post by pmc:producer
Seriously? You're in a study help section posting full essays asking other students what grade/how many marks you'll get?

The fact that we don't even know what level this is at (high school/undergraduate) only hinders any possible advice further.

You should have a course handbook outlining ILOs/marking guidelines. Consult that and apply a bit of thinking.

TSR have an excellent study section and a sister website called Marked by Teachers - I don't know if this would be more helpful for you. But for the record, I'd consider deleting this post - I'm assuming you'll be submitting the essay via an electronic plagiarism-checker? It'll show up...


if you look, it says that it was posted by a sixth form student, i.e its obviously A level? this was just a homework I got.. so its not going to show up as plagiarism..
Reply 6
Original post by Hal.E.Lujah
Heya, just wanted to ask what level this was being written at? The inclusion of some light references suggest it might be Uni level, but content wise I'd guess A levels. It might be worth including a mark scheme to make it easier for someone to mark it with knowledge on the subject.


From my knowledge on the subject, I'd say the argument was pretty weak mainly because you don't consider any of the alternatives to religion in order to truly assess whether it's actually isolated to that. For example Mike Davis's exploration of Human Surplus or Aesthetic dimension exclusion from Herbet Marcuse (Marcuse might not have outlined it explicitly, but I vaguely remember some argument tied to his exploration of arts role indicating negative implications for gender class and race groups).


That's not really relevant if it's an A level essay though, kind of important to know :h:


It's a level. sorry I shouldn't have posted this thread, I just wanted a bit of help!

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