Overview

1
Overview

• Quiz 5
• Religion as an Institution
• Place of oppression
• Place of empowerment
• Spirituality
• Movie Clips from Flowers for Guadalupe and Not
  For Ourselves Alone

2
Religion as an Institution

• Family, Marriage, Politics, Economics, Education,
  etc.
• Like every other societal institution, it can
  oppress (keep status quo) or it can empower
• What are the roles of religion in society?
• Why do you think the control of women is a
  central component in many religions?

3
Oppression

• Women have been denied leadership in religion-
  defined as worshippers
• Excluded from language and image of God
• Reading from The Red Tent
• Religion is connected to the patriarchy
• Upholds womens personal and professional
  oppression- economics, family, sexuality
• Elizabeth Cady Stanton
• Many religious ideas devalue women
• Regulates good behavior and constructs a good
  woman
• Controlling womens lives and sexuality

4
Empowerment

• Womens Community
• Social Activism
• Justice, equality, liberation
• Flowers for Guadalupe
• Reinterpretation/Reconstruction
• Rediscovery of ancient religions, women centered
• Reinterpreting religious texts and images of God

5
Spirituality

• Unique, personal versions of beliefs and
  practices
• Personal moral code
• Connection with self, others, nature
• Blending- take what fits, and leave the rest
  behind
• thou shalt not lessen the humanity of women
• we need help in accepting ourselves as organic
  creatures enmeshed in our world rather than
  continuing to posture as cerebral masters granted
  dominion over it

6
Discussion Questions

• What did you learn about relationships between
  women and men from religion?
• What did you learn about being a man or woman
  from religion?
• How do you find places of empowerment in religion
  or spirituality as a woman, lesbian, etc.?
• How can religion and/or spirituality be used in
  social change and social justice?