Women s Role As A Patriarchal Institution Essay - 1453 Words

Religion is a cultural system of behaviors and practices that have been around from society itself has existed. It also plays a pivotal part in sociology especially with regards to social control and socialisation. The role women occupy within religion has changed drastically in the last few decades. There are competing sociological arguments as to whether or not the subordination of women is due to religion as many feminists would suggest. For the purposes of this essay I will evaluate and discuss key points about the role women play in religion. Sociology is interested in religion and continues to have a big influence in it. Feminists see religion as a patriarchal institution, this refers to the maintaining of male dominance over women by making them believe that it is their divine right to be dominated. Along with this, they believe that religion functions as a patriarchal ideology that acts as an agent that legitimates inequity and such beliefs approve female oppression. However, functionalists believe otherwise and argue that its function is not to oppress women but necessary to keep society stable whilst Marxists believe that religion is used to keep the powerful in control over the powerless, not females and patriarchy. These sociological approaches act as a force in religion to maintain and reproduce research that focuses on how religion oppresses women. A critical feminist argument by Anderson and Gordon in 1978 that identifies a strong relationship betweenShow MoreRelatedOppression Of Women In The Handmaids Tale1732 Words   |  7 PagesThe Oppression of Women that is shown in The Handmaid’s Tale When describing the newly established society in The Handmaid’s Tale, the Commander states that â€Å"better never means better for everyone [...] it always means worse, for some† (Atwood, 244). This accurately describes the nature of patriarchal societies, such as the society that is described by Margaret Atwood in The Handmaid’s Tale. 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