Question

The two religions with the largest number of followers are Christianity (31.2% of the global population) and Islam (24.1%) Many (most?) of the leaders within each faith are male. Focusing on the world’s two major religions, how is religion used to oppress women? How does this religious control impact women’s access to other human rights?

Answer 1

One of the key players in determining the gender roles in almost all the societies is religion. Religions always treated women as subordinate to men by making them serving men, children and take care of the household chores. They also introduced used religious texts to inform about the dressing, behaviours and attitudes of women. It also supported the leadership roles of men and made women in low level jobs that would assist men. For long religions supported the idea that women are sexual pleasure centers and child bearing machines thus oppressing them from gaining access to education, employment, housing, healthcare, politics etc. However, it was only after the countries overcame the influence of religions, they were able to ensure equality. The problem still remains with the Muslim nations because they don’t regard women as equals still today due to their increased attachment towards their religion.

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