Discuss the feminist perspective on religion. Critically evaluate it.
What will be an ideal response?
Answers will vary. Feminist theorists agree with conflict theorists that religion can foster violence and inequality. They go further, however, by criticizing organized religions as sexist, patriarchal, and shutting women out of leadership positions. From a feminist perspective, most religions are patriarchal: They emphasize men's experiences and a male point of view and see women as subordinate to men. Many religious teachings and institutions continue to propagate such beliefs. Roman Catholicism, Orthodox Judaism, and the Mormon Church do not allow women to be ordained because "women should serve and not lead."Feminist perspectives on religion is limited in several ways. First, some feminist Muslim scholars have criticized Western feminists for misreading Islamic and other sacred scriptures, and reducing practically all discussions of gender to the hijab (a veil or scarf that Muslim women wear) instead of focusing on justice for both women and men in marriage, employment, and other areas.Second, religious women are not as oppressed as many feminist scholars claim. Even in the most conservative religions, women do not blindly submit to religious dogma.
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