Monday, October 12, 2015

Gender Equality & Religion in the US

Gender Equality and Religion:

“woman's condition, would have desired too gladsome (not to say too ostentatious) a style of dress; so as not rather to go about in humble garb, and rather to affect meanness of appearance, walking about as Eve mourning and repentant, in order that by every garb of penitence she might the more fully expiate that which she derives from Eve, — the ignominy, I mean, of the first sin, and the odium (attaching to her as the cause) of human perdition. "In pains and in anxieties do you bear (children), woman; and toward your husband (is) your inclination, and he lords it over you." And do you not know that you are (each) an Eve? The sentence of God on this sex of yours lives in this age: the guilt must of necessity live too. You are the devil's gateway: you are the unsealers of that (forbidden) tree: you are the first deserter of the divine law: you are she who persuaded him whom the devil was not valiant enough to attack. You destroyed so easily God's image, man. On account of your desert— that is, death— even the Son of God had to die.”
 -Father of Latin Christianity and the early Church- Tertullian (c. 155 – c. 240 AD)

                            
When discussing the topic of gender equality one of the most important information in order to understand the current status quo, is to look into the history of women in the early ages, specifically the times of “Abrahamic religions”(Christianity, Islam, and Judaism), and the influences of religion in our culture.

Before this (3) religions became the most influential form of reference for culture, government, and politics, women possessed many important roles in society.

History teach us about how, before the "Abrahamic religions," there were the existences of Queens, female Warriors, Head of States, female Elders in ethnic groups, and women leaders. There were some bias but not as much as now. Regardless, women fought for equality even then.

For many centuries women held important roles and were the sources of reverence and admiration in all part of society. However; with the rapid expansion of the world and the curiosity for the unknown, humanity started to create ways and new forms of beliefs to cope with the reality.

Polytheistic religion started to fall, lost followers, and create despair and controversies. People started to question their existences and this new change gave birth to a more monotheistic view of the world and religion at large.  With the new monotheistic view and religions, humanity found a different way to answer the questions of their surroundings and to organize themselves, political, and culturally.

Unfortunately when those question arises there wasn’t any modern scientific tools to explain and
verify the answers. Because of fear of the unknown and lack of verification men invented new
forms of religion to cope with their uncertainties and curiosity. The creation of new
monotheistic religions change the way humanity look at women and they became a sources of
hate, blame, and shame.

These religions from the beginning perpetrated women as evil and
deceiving creatures who were the reason for all problems and disaster happening in the world.

The largest monotheistic, “Abrahamic religions” in chronological order of founding are:

 Judaism (1st millennium BC),
 Christianity (1st century AD),
 Islam (7th century AD).

The influences of those religion in humanity is so great that even in the 21st century there is a
54% of the world population approximately (3.8 billion) people who still follow some form of
these religions. This statistic show us that still now more than half of the current population has
some type of bias towards women, including women themselves, because of the great influence
of those religious teaching, our society still view women as immoral creatures who shouldn’t
have a voice nevertheless make decisions and/or held positions of power.

Here are some examples by religion of the view towards women in their teaching:

Judaism:
“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to
children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”
- Genesis 3:16 Thora

Christianity:
“(34) Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak;
but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
(35) And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for
women to speak in the church.”
Corinthians 14:34-35 Kings James Bible

Islam:
“The Prophet said, "I looked at Paradise and found poor people forming the majority of its
inhabitants; and I looked at Hell and saw that the majority of its inhabitants were women."
- Hadith 4:464 Koran

After reading those early scriptures anyone will then conclude that misogyny, hate, and unfair views of women have influence and polarized the world at large.

The United States regardless of its foundation and forefathers intention of creating a secular, unbiased, and non-religious society; has been polarize by people in power who has transform the country into a platform for religious views were women are demonized, criticized, and attack for their constant desire for equality.

Women in the US too often are deprecated if they show any signs of intelligence and power. Even women attack each other because the glass ceiling is so high everyone feels the need to step over other women to reach it. Furthermore, conservatives and religious fundamentalist still hold the beliefs that women should not have the right nor they have the intelligence to make their own decisions about their body, their political views (women were only allowed to vote after 1920), the status in society, and their religion.

The patriarchal world has a male figure as the ruler of all and women have no place in it. We can verify this finding just by looking how any women who can dare, even has the intention, or idea of holding any higher political place, is demean, belittle, criticized, and humiliated. Moreover, a male candidate is questions about his career, experiences in politics, and future views; women are question for the personal lives, sexual desires or preferences, and attitude.

A man who is assertive is view as a leader a woman who dares to be powerful is portrait like a bitch.

There are many examples of how misogynistic our society is:
In a very racist society it was easy for the public to allow a black man to held the higher office of the land (President Barack Hussein Obama 2008 - 2016), than even consider a woman to run (Hillary Rodham Clinton – Primary contender-2008).

Sarah Palin (2008 vice-presidential nominee- Republican Party), was a vivid example of the hate that our society held towards women. Regardless of the facts that after many interviews and checking her records it was concluded that she was not educated and/or ready for the position the attacks were directed at her personal life and family.

Currently in the future presidential run for the white house the percentage of women is minimal at best. Carly Fiorina (Republican) and Hillary Clinton (Democrat) are the only women seeking the nomination in the primaries to run for the presidency.

Leaving aside the fact that many of us may not agree with the political views of neither candidate, the truth is we can easily see how the media is attacking, hating and destroying the reputation of both women. It is appalling to see the disgrace and disrespectful way many people use when referring to either candidate.  Almost no one question their strategies, political intentions, and future ideas to run the country. The media criticized their personal views, political mistakes, personal lives, religious views, and ethics.

This current situation is a clear representation of how The United States has to become more secular and view women for what they really are; intelligent, powerful, kind, entrepreneurs, capable of doing the same job men created for themselves.

We live in a Patriarchal, misogynistic, religious fundamentalist society who will need a great change, re-education, starting with us women, to then embrace the capabilities and power of women.


"Life is the result of our choices" -Brava <3 p="">