Is Religion in general anti-woman?

[momof7-2nheaven]

I just wanted to know how many people out there believe that most religions treat women as a second class citizen, a lower status than men?

[Guest]

Not me.

[Guest]

Some religions possibly do. I feel respected and loved as a woman in the LDS church,

[momof7-2nheaven]

Why? You have none of the privileges awarded to the male counterpart...

[Dravin]

I'm not familiar with most religions, I have a decent grasp on some forms of Christianity, and know a little bit about some forms of Judaism and Islam but my knowledge of religions is a small percentage of the religions out there, or even moreso those who have been out there.

Edited December 28, 2011 by Dravin

[Bini]

Overall I think women are respected and treated well within the LDS church. Just because the church may promote gender roles doesn't equate to anti-womanism. And as far as the males holding the priesthood, I personally have no issues with this. I certainly don't feel as if it's a slap in the face. Actually, it's nice that men and women have different roles and callings because it encourages us to work together, as nothing is a one-man-show within the church.

[MarginOfError]

It probably has less to do with the church, and more to do with the people guiding the church.

[Bini]

I should add that my perspective is from an outsiders POV. I am not an active LDS nor have I stepped foot inside a church for many many years.. But I have parents and siblings that are very active, and I witness a lot of love and respect towards the LDS sisters. In fact, I think it was the old bishop across the street from us that shared the phrase: A happy wife is a happy life. The church really does cherish womanhood and motherhood. I don't see where it even "hints" to belittling us..

[Bini]

I agree with MOE.

[Connie]

I have every privilege my husband has. I just don't have some of his responsibilities and quite frankly don't want them as i've got enough of my own.

[Jennarator]

I have never felt less imprtant than men in the church.

[Guest mirancs8]

Don't feel that way at all. In fact I feel that I am respect more as a mother, wife, and a woman. If anything the church expects us to respect each others roles etc.

[Guest]

Why? You have none of the privileges awarded to the male counterpart...

Just like the males don't have the privileges awarded to the female counterparts.

What really irritates me about the feminist movement is that they feel that if you're not doing what men are doing you are not equal. My husband has much bigger muscles than me - he is much bigger... as men tend to be by virtue of their masculinity. I don't see that as "he was awarded more privileges" because he is stronger.

And guess what - fact is - he is stronger. So he gets to do muscle stuff, like push a lawn mower. I get to do non-muscle stuff, like - cook. Nothing unequal about that at all.

And guess what, men doesn't have to struggle for 9 months carrying a kid. So he gets to go do priesthood stuff instead.

But then, one thing that most people are very wrong on - they seem to think that they got the priesthood so it's like an Oscar Trophy or something. Priesthood is service. If anything, it's closer to work than trophy.

[annewandering]

Why? You have none of the privileges awarded to the male counterpart...

What privileges would those be?

[jayanna]

I have found a few things since my hubby has recieved the priesthood...and is a HP, he honors me quite a bit more. We are more equal, not less. His preisthood means he is equipped to serve me, not the other way around. He learns spiritual things much quicker now. Before I was always waiting for him to 'catch up' but now he leads our family scripture study, and I nurture. We are equals.

[Backroads]

From my limited knowledge of world religions, I don't think any of them intentionally place woman and men on different levels of importance. We might, from our current cultural perspective, disagree with certain things; but that gives us no right to claim to know the original thought and intent.

[classylady]

I've been LDS all my life, and within the church I have never felt second-class or less than a man. I wouldn't trade my role as a wife and mother for anything else in the world. I've held many responsible positions within the church and those positions mean very little to me compared to my role as a woman. Even if I was never able to have children, I still would not feel second-class. I simply love being a woman.

Now, with that said, have I ever met a man who may have used unrighteous dominion? Yes. But, how a man (or woman) behaves, I do not equate with the gospel. I am not going to base my testimony of the gospel on how Brother So-and-So acts. I received a witness to the truthfulness of the Gospel, and I am perfectly aware that men and women are not perfect. No one is, except for our Savior, Jesus Christ. One of my favorite passages of scripture is when Jesus leaves the tomb and the first person he shows himself to is Mary Magdalene--a woman. "John 20: 14-16 ...she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself and saith unto him, Rabboni; ..." I can see this so vividly in my mind, Mary recognizing the voice of Jesus and then turning to see him. It truly brings tears to my eyes.

I also have a little more to add. I have seen injustice in the world in regards to how women are treated. Is that religion? Or is it the misconceptions of men? There have been times when I have questioned Heavenly Father on sending his daughters to this world where there can be such terrible abuse afflicted on them by men--rape, intimidation, physical violence, failure to allow women to reach their full potential through education, etc. I know that Father abhors these acts against his daughters. And I fully believe that all those who have mistreated women (or anyone) will someday pay the price, and will pay for these sins. For reasons, which we probably don't fully understand, it was necessary for our Father to send us to this world where men (I believe because of testosterone), behave, at times, inappropriately. For me, personally, I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for allowing me to come to the earth in these, the latter days, and into a home where the Gospel was practiced, and where there was righteous, priesthood stewardship--where I have had the opportunity to reach my full potential through education, missionary service, church service, civic responsibilities, and motherhood. I apologize if I'm jumping to conclusions, but I'm sorry if you have been mistreated in any way by the men in your life.

Edited December 29, 2011 by classylady
clarification

[momof7-2nheaven]

Thanks for all the responses. I am certainly not a women's rights gal but on the other hand I have a hard time swallowing the fact that some men in the church are given so much responsibility when in the real world you would have a hard time giving them responsibility for your shopping list.

[Suzie]

I just wanted to know how many people out there believe that most religions treat women as a second class citizen, a lower status than men?

I don't know about "most" but YES. Many do.

[Guest mirancs8]

Thanks for all the responses. I am certainly not a women's rights gal but on the other hand I have a hard time swallowing the fact that some men in the church are given so much responsibility when in the real world you would have a hard time giving them responsibility for your shopping list.

I find this very funny and true. At the same time it’s sad.

I wonder if we actually left them alone with the responsibility rather than micromanaging and criticizing the way they choose to take it on might we find that they are in fact very much able to handle it. I know I've been guilty of doing that countless times. How many of us wives have said, "I'll just do it myself otherwise it will never get done right." I know I've said it hundreds of times in my mind... if not out loud.

If you keep tying your children’s shoes they’ll never know how to tie it themselves. It might take them 20 times of repetitively tying their shoes to get it right, but we continue to trust eventually through us teaching them they will soon be able to tie it correctly themselves.

Say it enough times and the person will start to believe they are incapable of doing anything right in your eyes. Do we in a sense contribute to this notion that “husband” can’t handle a simple task? Unbeknownst to us maybe we are creating the problem?

[Dravin]

How many of us wives have said, "I'll just do it myself otherwise it will never get done right."

And a fair amount of the time 'right' isn't somehow the objectively correct way of doing things but rather a stand in for 'how I would do it'. Now sometimes there is a objective incorrect way (leaving the dishes to get moldy in the sink is not the right way to clean them) but other times it's our perfectionism or even pride getting in the way. It's something both sexes do. My wife was trying to start a fire in the fireplace the other night and I had to hold back (probably a bit unsuccessfully) that she was doing it "wrong". But she wasn't doing it wrong, she just wasn't doing it how someone who grew up camping every summer as a kid would do it, she got the fire started she just did it differently than I would have.

Edited December 29, 2011 by Dravin

[PrinceofLight2000]

Feminists need to stop thinking that because women have different responsibilities than men that they somehow have fewer, less necessary, or less societally significant responsibilities.

Edited December 29, 2011 by PrinceofLight2000

[bluedreams]

I just wanted to know how many people out there believe that most religions treat women as a second class citizen, a lower status than men?

Me.

But not because of the religions themselves (generally speaking), but interpretation within cultures that generally have women at a lower status than men. Religion isn't bad, it just collects a lot of baggage.

Second class citizen/lower status may also go too far in description for a number of religions. It may be close to simply lower/different status. That's probably closer to some of the views within our own faith that can sometimes irk me. I'd also call it the pedastal effect. Women are placed on a pedestal, above many of the woes that trouble mankind.... ergo they don't have the same need to be engaged in solving mankind's problems, etc. It leads to distinctive moral standards....women expected to live a higher one than men and can receive greater social consequences when they fall short. It can also lead to an expectation of less sociopolitical engagement within the work and community environment. This to me stems from an interpretation of things like the family Proclamation to traditionalist familial relationships, which traditionally extolled gender roles that were scaled on status. Within the doctrine of the faith itself these things aren't found....but it's our culture's interpretation that bring status and stricter gender expectations to it. Basically we use religion to justify our worldly views of men and women.

With luv,

BD

[applepansy]

Why? You have none of the privileges awarded to the male counterpart...

I don't want male privileges. I'm more than happy with the female privileges I have.

[applepansy]

I have every privilege my husband has. I just don't have some of his responsibilities and quite frankly don't want them as i've got enough of my own.

Well said Connie.