Women in Religion

By Jesse Carpenter

November 27, 2019

Abstract:

Introduction:

From the beginning of time, religion has treated women unfairly. Some religions allow

women to have similar rights to men, while other religions treat women unfairly. I will

provide information and examples from religions that have treated women unfairly, such as

Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. I watched a Ted Talk given by Alaa Murabit

about women in religion and the rights of women. Alaa summed it up very nicely when she

says, “Religious institutions are dominated by men and driven by male leadership and they

create policies in their likeness.” If we take a look at religions, we see men in the dominant

roles and leading the congregations. Where are the women? Women are taking care of the

families and serving everyone.

Hinduism:

Let’s first take a look at Hinduism. The Hindu religion gives a mixed message on the role of

women. Our textbook talks about how women are highly respected in Hinduism compared to

other religions. However, the text then goes on to say that Hindu women are like servants to

their husbands and considered an economic burden. Hindu women are expected to live with

their husband’s family when they are married. This breaks the woman’s ties to her family. If

a woman becomes a widow, she loses everything and becomes exiled. The Hindu religion
 goes as far as to abort female infants intentionally because they are a financial burden to

families. Hinduism places men in that dominant position and women are just there to serve.

​Buddhism:

Buddhism shares some of the same thoughts on the role of women as Hinduism. Buddhism

considers women to be a burden on their family because the husband has to take care of

them. They also see female infants as a misfortune, but do not abort them. The males carry

on the family name, traditions, and religious rites for the family. Men have all the rights and

women are just to be taken care of, but women care for the family members such as the

children and elderly while the man works. Our text refers to women as a hindrance to monks’

spiritual development, because they are to be celibate and women may entice them (Fisher,

Section 5.3). This to me is interesting because the women are not doing anything to entice

the men. The women just exist, but somehow that is the woman’s fault. Again the men are

dominant with religious and family roles.

​Christianity:

There have been important women in Christianity, but women have still not been viewed equally

to men. The woman’s role in Christianity is to take care of the household and be submissive

to her husband. The rules were not always the same for both women and men. My mom grew

up as a Mormon and my dad is Catholic. So I have two views of Christianity in my family.

My mom talks about how the men are in the bishopric and the women take care of parties,
 teaching and funerals. My mom converted to Catholicism and my sisters and I attended

Catholic school growing up. There are important women throughout history with saints and

women like Mary Jesus’ mother. If we look back at them, they did not hold powerful

positions; they were servants or took care of people. To this day women are not allowed to

hold higher positions in the church, for instance they cannot be priests, but they can be nuns.

Women are always serving and helping others.

Islam:

Islam gives women some legal rights, but they were not available until the nineteenth century.

Polygyny is allowed for men so that they can bring women under their protection (Fisher,

Section 10.7). The Islam women are only allowed to inherit half of what men can inherit,

because the man has to financially support the woman. The woman’s job is to take care of

the household, children, and be a good housewife. The woman should dress modestly and be

a good submissive wife. Islam tries to make it sound nicer when they treat women badly; by

saying the men are protecting the women. This is just another way for men to dominate

women and tell them what to do.

Opposing perspective:

There are a couple of religions that treat women with a little more respect: Sikhism and Judaism.

Sikhism respectfully remembers women in history. Guru Nanak states, “Why denounce her,

who even gives birth to kings?” (Fisher, Section 11.5). Guru Nanak is saying, women bare

our children and bring about life, why are we treating them badly. The Sikhs view women as
 courageous and faithful. Judaism gives women significant roles in faith, such as serving as

ministers on the cabinet. Women are thought to be intellectual with men being more

physical. Judaism takes it a step farther for women and shows that they can do things that a

man can do.

Conclusion:

As we look back at religions, we can see that women have always been treated unfairly.

Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam all share a common belief that women belong

in the home taking care of the family, including the elderly. They also believe that the

women should serve the husband while the husband works. Buddhism and Hinduism take

women’s rights away so that they cannot even own land the same as men. If a woman ends

up divorced or widowed she is exiled or left on the street with nothing.

Sikhism and Judaism view women with more respect, but there are still a lot of men in power.

People are trying to change religion in our world today, but it is a slow process. Men are still

dominant and hold leadership positions in most religions. Women are standing up for

themselves, but change is difficult and they will have to continue to fight for their rights

every day.

Works Cited:
Buddhist Studies: Buddhism & Women: Position of Women​,
http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/history/position.htm.

​Fisher, Mary Pat. ​Living Religions.​ Pearson, 2017.

Frazier, Kelly. “What Is the Role of Women in World Religions? [Infographic].” ​World Religion
News,​ World Religion News, 19 Feb. 2018,
https://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/christianity/what-is-the-role-of-women-in-wo
rld-religions-infographic.