Women and Religion

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how studying and analyzing Abrahamic religions such as Judaism and Islam confirms that, within these religions, women were believed to be inferior to men, had very limited rights, and were expected to be completely subservient. It looks at how over the centuries, the rights of Jewish women have been gradually recognized and acknowledged and how, in contrast, in most Islamic societies, women are still considered inferior to men and still have very limited rights.

From the Paper:

"The limited rights of women in Abrahamic faiths is reflected in the Old Testament trend of gender bias, which was established immediately in the Book of Genesis, when Eve was portrayed as someone whose only reason for existence was to be Adam's companion and helpmate and to keep him from being lonely. The author or authors of the Book of Genesis then proceeded to depict Eve as a gullible creature who defied God and provoked Adam to do the same, thus ruining their blissful life in the Garden of Eden. By blaming all of the consequences of this act on Eve, and through her on all women, the ancient Jewish religious authorities established what they considered justification for restricting the rights of women. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Abugideiri, Hibba. "The Renewed Woman of American Islam: Shifting Lenses Toward 'Gender Jihad?'" Muslim World, Volume 91. Spring 2001.
• Derayeh, Minon. Gender Equality in Iranian History: From Pre-Islamic Times to the Present. New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 2006.

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