FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE

Feminist theories of religion often follow Marxist theories in arguing that religion can
be an instrument of domination and oppression. However, unlike Marxism, they tend
to see religion as a product of patriarchy rather than as a product of Capitalism.

Anthony Giddens (1997) argues: “The Christian religion is a resolutely male affair in
its Symbolism as well as its hierarchy. While Mary, the Mother of Jesus, may
sometimes be treated as if she had divine qualities, God is the father, a male figure,
and Jesus took the human shape of a man. Woman is portrayed as created from a rib
taken from a man.”

Karen Armstrong (1993) argues: 'None of the major religions has been particularly
good to women. They have usually become male affairs and women have been
relegated to a marginal position. “

Fang-long Shih (2010) distinguishes two main feminist perspectives on religion: the
radical feminist perspective and the liberal feminist perspective.

RADICAL FEMINIST PERSPECTIVES ON RELIGION

Radical feminist approaches argue that gender inequality is the central type of
inequality in society. Furthermore, they argue that a radical transformation of society
is necessary to remove this inequality.

Simone de Beauvoir - religion and ‘the Second sex’

The French feminist Simone de Beauvoir in her pioneering feminist book ‘the second
sex’ provided a radical feminist explanation for the existence of religion. To de
Beauvoir, religion acts for women in very similar ways to those in which Marx
suggested religion could act for oppressed classes.

Women are deceived by religion into thinking of themselves as equal to men, despite
their evident inequality. In some ways, religion portrays women as being closer to god
than men, even if they are unlikely to hold positions of power within religions. Like
Marx’s proletariat, religion gives women the false belief that they will be
compensated for their sufferings on earth by equality in heaven.

Nawal el Saadawi -The hidden face of Eve

Patriarchy, Islam and the limited Role of religion

Nawal el Saadawi is an Egyptian feminist writer and a leading advocate of women's

rights in the Arab world. In the hidden face of eve (1980) she discusses female
oppression in the Arab world and elsewhere, and considers the role of religion in
creating and perpetuating oppression. However, she does not see religion itself as the
main cause of oppression; instead she sees it as just one aspect of a wider patriarchal
system which needs to be overthrown through struggle.
For example, she describes in chilling terms her terror as a young girl when her
parents forced her, without warning or explanation, to undergo female circumcision,
where part of her clitoris was amputated. She argues that Arab girls are often victims
of sexual aggression by men

EVALUATION OF RADICAL FEMINISM

i. There is a tendency to generalize about religion in much radical feminism,
seeing it all as equally patriarchal. However, some liberal feminists have
identified certain religions that are not clearly or strongly patriarchal.
ii. Radical feminists also tend to ignore evidence that progress has been made
and that aspects of patriarchal ideology within religion have been successfully
challenged.
iii. In some cases, radical feminists have not backed up their views with detailed
research.

LIBERAL FEMINIST PERSPECTIVES ON RELIGION

Radical feminists tend to believe that patriarchy is so built into existing religions that
only their destruction or replacement with an alternative can lead to the
furthering of feminism. However, liberal feminists, while also regarding existing
religions as patriarchal, see more mileage in reforming them to eradicate patriarchal
elements from them.

Jean Holm - inequality in major religions

She argues that, while the classical teachings of many religions have stressed equality
between men and women, in practice women have usually been far from equal.
In Japanese folk religions, women are responsible for organising public rituals, but
only men can take part in the public performances. In Chinese popular religion,
women are associated with yin and men with yang. However, yang spirits are more
important and powerful. In Hinduism only men can become Brahmanic priests.
Sikhism is perhaps the most egalitarian of the major religions, since all offices are
equally open to men and women. However, even in Sikhism only a small minority of
women has significant positions within the religion.

Although they identify a range of inequalities within various religions, many liberal
feminists suggest that the patriarchal oppression of women within religion is not
universal. For example, Leila Badawi (1994) notes aspects of Islam that are positive
for women. Unlike Christian women, Islamic women keep their own family name
when they get married. Also there are a few religions, which have less amount of
male oppression over female. According to Alexandra Wright, Quakerism has never
been oppressive to women.