Women's Roles

Patriarchy in Religion

Patriarchy (male dominance) has been the norm both in universal world religions and in indigenous religious tradition for most of recorded history. Almost all religions articulated the primary role of women as wives and mothers, limiting their participation and leadership in religious institutions and subordinating them to male authority in both the private and the public domain. By designating women's roles as divinely ordained, religion provided powerful justification for gendered norms.

The three great monotheistic religions have historically been patriarchal in structure. Jewish women were not counted in the minyan (the quorum of 10 men that is necessary to have public worship) and were excluded from the rabbinate. While observant male Jews are bound by 613 mitzvoth (commandments), the Talmud exempts women from all positive time-bound commandments, including synagogue attendance on holy days. The only exception, three women's mitzvoth (weekly preparation of bread and lighting of Sabbath candles and the observance of purity laws during menstruation), do not challenge the assumption that women's primary role is to take care of the home and children.

Christian women were similarly excluded from the priesthood in the Catholic Church and from ministry among Protestants. While women were included in public worship, the Bible admonishes women to be silent in church and to submit to their husband's authority. The ideal role for women was modeled on Mary, either a virgin or a mother. Proper motherhood required marriage, which meant that the only role available to most Christian women was to be somebody's wife. Monastic life offered alternative religious roles for women as a scholar or teacher or even as leaders in religious ritual. But such roles were limited to the confines of the monastery and the company of other women.

The separation of female space was also important in Islam, even without a monastic tradition. In some Islamic cultures, women went to separate prayer services. More commonly, the mosque was considered male space (like the synagogue), while women prayed at home. As does the Bible, the Qur'an stipulates male authority in both the home and religious institutions. The imam has always been male, even when he is leading a female prayer service. A wife should be obedient and can be punished if she is not; and the custom in many cultures of women's seclusion to the private quarters of the home along with wearing a covering (hijab) in public spaces further reaffirmed her primarily domestic role.

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