Introduction
The tenet of religion dwells on the boundary that exists between mystics and thought in the unstable, tenuous, and difficult to identify human culture. The teachings and lineages define religion, notions, practices that are synergistic within a self-contained the system. Women are as religious as men. In the process of practicing religious freedom, there are several issues that affect them.
These issues revolve around the society, marriage, beliefs, and artifacts which define behavior and religious orientation. Thus, this analytical treatise attempts to explicitly discuss ten issues that affect women in religion concerning religious groupings such as Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam.
The ten issues that affect women in religions
Limited participation in religious functions
Across the global religious sphere, women are often limited in their roles during religious functions. Despite being committed and distinct followers of religious beliefs, women have lesser roles in most religious groupings as compared to their male counterparts. For instance, in the Islamic religion, women are not allowed to preach and must sit behind the men in the Mosque.
Besides, these women are not allowed to lead in any prayer or major events that involve the male counterpart. In the Christian context, the women belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church cannot preach or lead in any function in the church. The same is practiced in the Buddhist and Hindu religions (Inman, Iceberg, and McKeel 39). This represents women as lesser beings in society.
Limited freedom of choice in terms of family planning
Religion has played a major role in limit the freedom of choice among the womenfolk. Even though religion is a product of the freedom of choice, several religious groupings have used clauses and teachings to control the productive health of women. These teachings are derived from the ‘divine’ books used in these religious groups.
Since these books are considered holy and the epitome of sanctification, women have been programmed to follow the literature in them. For instance, in the Catholicism orientation, women are not allowed to practice family planning.
Women in other religious affiliations such as Hindu, Buddhist, and other Christian groupings are discouraged from practicing family planning (Inman, Iceberg, and McKeel 41). This has negatively affected the health of such women due to constant and unplanned childbearing, which results in increased poverty levels.
Religion as defining roles in society
In all religious affiliations, there are teachings on the roles of different gender in society. These teachings have been internalized and turned into the universal laws governing the conduct of the males and females in society. In most cases, religion has been used to restrict women on their roles in society to the advantage of their male counterparts.
In the major religious affiliations such as Hindu, Buddhist, Islam, and Christianity, women are expected to blindly serve their husbands even when subjected to constant physical and psychological abuse. For instance, in the Islamic affiliation, women are treated as the property of the man and have to dedicate their entire life in the service of these ‘superior’ beings at the expense of their happiness.
In the religious context, the religious books have been used to justify the defined roles, even when it is against the rights of women (Grasswick 31). Though religion is a matter of choice, the aspect of limited roles and position in the society is demeaning to the womenfolk in terms of psychological orientation.
Religion and dress code
Every religious affiliation is defined by the unique culture, dress code, values, and artifacts. Irrespective of the size of such a religious affiliation, the dress code is a significant element since it defines the unique identity of the members of such an affiliation. Religion has limited the womenfolk in terms of the accepted dress code. For instance, in the Islamic religion, women are expected to cover their body and their faces, even when it is against their will.
The long veil is worn by Islamic women sometimes denies them the opportunity to explore the freedom of fashion and to look attractive.
In the other religious groupings such as Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, there are dress code rules which limit the women in terms of personal freedom of expression through their attire. In the Islamic faith, women who disobey the dress code are often subjected to psychological humiliation besides risking being disowned by their families (Inman, Iceberg, and McKeel 42).
Religious dogmatism
Religion has been used for several decades by some men to radicalize the members into practices that undermine women. Religious dogmatism is characterized by ideologies that serve selfish interests, but are justified through religious propaganda.
For instance, in the Islamic religion, the Al-Qaida and its affiliate groups have deliberately misrepresented the teachings in the Koran to openly abuse women psychologically, physically, and economically (Grasswick 37).
Several international media houses have reported the incidence of women being stoned to death, being married off by force, and having to endure heavy fines for disobedience or sexual immorality in countries dominated by the Islamic militias. These actions deny women the right to fair judgment, freedom of choice, and the ability to live without fear in their religious lives.
Religion and marriage
Although some of the major religious affiliations allow the males to marry more than one wife, none of the world religious affiliations permit women to be married to more than one man. This is a clear indication of differences in status between males and females. Besides, in most religions, the element of divorce is only declared successful when the male approves it.
For instance, in the Islamic faith, the Koran allows men to be polygamous and may divorce their wives by just repeating a proclamation four times to that effect. In this religious affiliation, the woman has to beg for a divorce from the husband even when they have lived apart for more than a decade.
Most men have used this loophole to deny such women the choice of happiness. Women who become a victim of such practices may end up in depression or suicidal death. Besides, they are denied their rightful share of the family property in the event of a successful divorce due to flaws in the sharia laws (Inman, Iceberg, and McKeel 44).
The conflict between religion and personal principles
Across the global religious function, there are teachings that may go against personal beliefs and principles. These teachings are often justified in religious symbols and artifacts. Despite the conflicting relationship between religious beliefs and personal principles, the subscribers to these religious affiliations must adhere to the set of beliefs to be declared righteous. Women are the worst victims of the conflict between religious beliefs and personal principles.
For instance, in the Islamic faith, the males have the final say in the family, business, and social aspects of life. Women are only expected to nod in accord (Inman, Iceberg, and McKeel 45).
This is against personal principles such as choosing what is right without influence from the third party. The same practice is common in most of the religious affiliations. As a result, women find it difficult to break the poverty cycle and empower themselves financially, socially, and politically due to limiting religious beliefs.
Religious manipulation and cultism
The major religious affiliations are characterized by a deep commitment to a set of beliefs which define, control, and determine the thoughts and behaviors of the subscribers. Women often become victims of religious manipulations and cultism due to their emotional nature and deep commitment. Despite such deep commitment, the major religious affiliations do not give women the leadership roles in determining the directions of beliefs.
Some the religious cons have exploited the vulnerable status of the women to create occult movements that interfere with the psychological development of the women. For instance, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hindu affiliations discourage women from questioning the sense in some of the teachings (Grasswick 22). Obedience is viewed as religious maturity despite its psychological effects on the womenfolk.
Male chauvinism as a religious ideology
In the paper, religious affiliations stand for unity and equality among their members. The major religious groupings such as Hindu, Buddhist, Christianity, and Islam function on the scale of love, unity of purpose, and shared values.
However, in reality, the male subscribers often call the shots and are considered more superior to their female counterparts. The male members of these religious affiliations often exercise chauvinistic characteristics in allocating duties and leadership. For instance, in Catholic, Anglican, Baptism, and Seventh Day Adventist churches, there has never been a female bishop, despite the ideology of equality (Inman, Iceberg, and McKeel 45).
In the Islamic and Buddhist regions, there has never been a female teacher or sheik even though women have equal numbers to men. This disparity has created an inferiority complex among the women as justified by religion.
Religion versus biological changes in women
Most of the religious groupings have radical teachings on the cleanliness of women as determined by their hormonal changes. Although women have no control over these hormonal changes, several religious kinds of literature have been used in the religious groupings to limit and control the position, behavior, and roles during such periods. For instance, in the Islamic faith, women are not permitted to go to the Mosque during their menstruation period.
The same practice is common in the Greek Orthodox Church, which limits the activities of women in the church during the menstruation period. Women in this church are not allowed to stand or sit in the synagogue during this period they are considered unclean (Grasswick 41).
Women in these religious affiliations suffer in silence as a result of the hormonal prejudice in a place they consider ideal in enhancing spirituality. In the Buddhist and Hindu affiliations, women are expected to exercise maximum restraint during the menstruation period, even in their own homes. As a result, this practice has a negative psychological impact on the belief structure of women.
Conclusion
The above discussion reveals ten issues that affect women in religions. These issues revolve around the tenets of the family unit, religious beliefs, and religious dogmatism. These issues are directly related to economic and psychological theories of the emergence and transformation of patriarchy.
Works Cited
Grasswick, Heidi. Feminist Epistemology and Philosophy of Science: Power in Knowledge, New York, NY: Springer, 2011. Print.
Inman, Mary, Erica Iceberg, and Laura McKeel. “Do Religious Affirmations, Religious Commitments, or General Commitments Mitigate the Negative Effects of Exposure to Thin Ideals.” Journal for Scientific Study of Religion 53.1 (2014): 38- 55. Print.