Religion has over the years been used as a positive force of change when genuinely offered, regardless of the existence of gender differences. Most if not all world religions have been extensively patriarchal with systematic exclusion of women from authority, women oppression and devaluation with notable numbers of enslavement. Women have been considered inferior to men, no rights and are prohibited from utilizing their gifts and abilities (Gage 147). These forms of discriminations have been noted in various religious books including the Bible where Paul says that women are servants to their men who are their masters. In the Quran, men are said to be above women as Allah has given them superiority. Feminist movements addressing issues of morality and ethics where women are treated as less human being have been employed to reduce this inequity although their progress is slow.
Islam has been portrayed as one of the worst offenders in the role of their women with a high majority of non-Muslims voicing their representation as second class citizens. There are some quotes in the Quran that portrays how women are to be treated such as; men have the permission of control as well as correction of disobedience which would amount to beating their wives. A woman’s testimony and inheritance are worth half that of a man’s. Men ought to stay away from menstruating women who are regarded unclean, and they have also been represented as a property. Men can have sex with them as they please which highly supported by the issue of polygamy. The most common form of oppression viewed by the West is the wearing of the veil that is constituted to a voiceless being, denied of rights and forced into silence. However, Muslim women have responded to the wearing of the hijab as a choice, not a burden. Equitable verses in the Quran and other sacred books are greatly ignored to retain the possession and oppression of women. The Quran demands respect, justice, and honor towards women by condemning unfair treatment for all. Women in Islam based on the Quran’s teachings have their rights to own property, access to education, accept or refuse marriage and should be held with high regard (Badawi 102).
Christianity treats men and women differently with the belief that the role of a woman is secondary to that of the man. Nevertheless, Jesus through his actions respected and valued women by including them among his closest companions. In modern Christianity, some denominations have begun allowing women in positions of authority in the church although some are still opposed to this. Contrary to its teachings of equality and fair treatment Christianity has always placed women under man’s authority both in the church and marriage. This is clearly expressed by traditionally excluding them from church leadership that would bestow to them some form of authority (Ruether 209). In the New Testament, Jesus is seen trying to abolish the discrimination against women through his teachings. We are all in Christ without any secondary distinctions be it slavery, race or gender. Gender roles need to be equal even though different as male dominance has been expressed in the scriptures the two should be complementary not discrimination.
Judaism also expresses religious sexism with men being taught to pray in thankfulness of not being born as women (Swidler 80-81). Women on their menstrual periods or those who have newly given birth are considered unclean and should stay away from men. They are also discouraged from leadership positions, denied education apart from basic religious teachings and maintain the household. These practices are mainly observed in the conservative sects of Judaism. The Torah quotes the unworthiness of women leadership and access to education (Swidler 115). Women are also represented as possessions of men to be treated at their will and forced into submission when need be. Their primary responsibility is maintaining the home by conducting all the directives of the Torah and making it truly Jewish. Women have a sacred role of bearing children and raising them according to the Jewish values. Though the aspect of women oppression is evident, in modern society some of the Jewish women are educated, and equal treatment for all has been empowered.
These three religions are characterized by some similarities as well as differences on the subject of the role of women. Some of the similar aspects include the issue surrounding Eve. In Christianity and Judaism, the creation story correlates with God creating Adam and Eve. Eve is portrayed as a seducer and deceiver who seduced Adam into eating the fruit form the forbidden tree (Ruether 209). God in turn punishes both man and woman. The Quran, however, places blame both to the man and woman for their faults. The negative treatment bestowed on women is said to stem form Eve’s legacy as a temptress. The Bible commands women to learn the act of submission and quietness and are perceived as the devil’s gateway since Eve was seduced by the serpent. The birth of a male child has been treated differently form that of a female who are referred to as shameful daughters (Swidler 140). While male children are received with joy and happiness daughters are received with darkened faces filled with grief. Female education has also been denied, and religion requires silence with the overall submission from women to their husbands (Gage 141).
Women in all the three religions have been considered unclean and impure during their menstruation all after childbirth and gravely considered secondary to men. Men have been commanded to stay away from them with no form of contact. The issue of the bearing witness also confirms these aspects of discrimination as their testimonies are only considered half to that of men. Women are as well not entitled to an inheritance that results in the predicament of widows (Gage 147). In the Jewish population, widows have been very vulnerable. Though most of these practices have been abolished in modern society widows and divorcees, have been looked down upon and stigmatized.
Polygamy forms one of the major differences in the three religions. Both Christianity and Judaism were traditionally characterized by polygamous practices. In the Bible King Solomon and King David had many wives, however, the New Testament is based on monogamous marriages. The Quran, on the other hand, has allowed polygamy with restrictions of up to four wives as long as they are properly and justly taken care of. Most people have viewed this as a form of women degradation. Another evident difference is the wearing of the veil in Islam, which is considered as one of the greatest forms of women subjugation. Islam considers the veil as a way of incarnate superiority and dignity. Although debatable by other religions the Quran points out that the veil is for modesty and protection of a woman rather than the expressed notion of men’s authority. It is debatable on how protection ought to be spread maybe through the use of education and civilization.
Conclusion, religion has denied women dignity and fair treatment that is highly represented in the sacred books. They have a secondary position to men with denied rights and freedom. This is a sad fact though a norm across the globe not only in light of religious beliefs but as well as our societies and ethnicities. Most religious beliefs center more on the authority accorded to man over the woman and disregard the equitable aspects addressed. Islam, Christianity, and Judaism with all their differences fail to acknowledge the worth of a woman declared in their sacred books. A woman deserves respect and right to be free of discrimination. All human beings are entitled to have a decent life regardless of their gender differences. Religion boundaries should not be used to decide what a woman can and cannot to do as well as what to wear or not to wear. Women are entitled to their free will and should be rendered platforms that promote these sentiments. Religion teaches fairness and thus no one has the right to force another to be anything less than they desire to be.