Is any religion that declares different behavioral rules for men than for women OPPRESSIVE? Why or why not?

Question

Pastor Art: I graduated from High School 35 years ago, and even then, we had boy cheerleaders, and on of our opposing football teams had a girl kicker.

I think you're being presumptuous.

^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^ ^v^

Answer 1

Any religion that declares behavioral rules at all is oppressive to me.

Answer 2

Not necessarily. Being different doesn't translate in to one group being better than another or that one group should rule over another. But, as I was thinking about your question, I had a hard time finding any religion in the world in which men don't have authority over women. I am not a scholar in theology and I would never claim to know all of the religions that are out there in the world. But the ones that I am familiar with, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, do have different behavioral rules for men verus women and they [religion] are oppressive towards women.

Answer 3

As found in a previously stated answer, there are two different bathrooms for men and women. Behavioral rules state that men can only enter the men's room, and women can only enter the women's room. All society behaves within the limitations of certain behavioral rules. So behavioral rules can be a good thing.

It is only when behavioral rules go beyond the limitations found in the Bible that the behavioral rules become oppressive.

Answer 4

I'd say it's only oppressive if the people feel it like that.

Take for instance the Islam. Some say muslim women are oppressed "because they HAVE to cover their hair" - they don't. It's an individual choice for each woman, but a lot of the time there is family pressure saying "you really have to wear a headdress or you'll bring shame to the family" - that's where it gets oppressive.

Nothing to do with religion though - it's happened in Christianity too: "You have to become a nun, the second oldest girl in the family always goes into the nunnery to make sure the family gets into heaven".

So I'd say different behavioral rules for men and women don't constitute oppression as a definition, not for culture, nor for religion.

Answer 5

To some extent, there is no such thing as an "oppressive" religion, only oppressive cultures and governments. Take Islam, for example. Many people point to the niqab or burqa as examples of oppression of women in Islam, but many of the women who wear those articles of clothing will tell you, in all honesty, that they want to wear them, and many will continue to wear them even if they move to a country that does not require them.

If a person genuinely wishes to do something difficult for their religion, that is not oppressive. It is when the surrounding society or government *requires* that they do it that it is oppressive.

(And in particular, when they require you to subscribe to their exact interpretation of their religion. In Iran, for example, you do not have to wear the niqab if you are a Jew or Christian. It is still oppressive, as many Muslims, even if they do not believe in wearing the niqab, would prefer to wear it than to commit apostasy by converting to a religion they do not believe in.)

The short, purely logical answer to your question is no. The Qu'ran, for example, specifically requires women to cover their chests with clothing, while it does not require the same for men. If this were the only rule regarding men and women, this would not be seen as oppressive -- most governments have the same double standard.

Answer 6

No And YES but any rule even laws can be considered OPPRESSIVE ....But the fact is everyone can not be allowed to do whatever they wish whenever they wish..If there were no laws
to many people would do anything to each other to get what they want ....as for men and women we are different and we have different mindsets so therefore we need different rules

Answer 7

Yes, it is.

Because there are GLBT and there is NO exact rule on how men or women should act.

I think you'd find more sense here, my dear fellow midget:

The Eight "I'd Really Rather You Didn'ts"

1. I'd really rather you didn't act like a sanctimonious holier-than-thou *** when describing my noodly goodness. If some people don't believe in me, that's okay. Really, I'm not that vain. Besides, this isn't about them so don't change the subject.
2. I'd really rather you didn't use my existence as a means to oppress, subjugate, punish, eviscerate, and/or, you know, be mean to others. I don't require sacrifices, and purity is for drinking water, not people.
3. I'd really rather you didn't judge people for the way they look, or how they dress, or the way they talk, or, well, just play nice, Okay? Oh, and get this into your thick heads: woman = person. man = person. Samey = Samey. One is not better than the other, unless we're talking about fashion and I'm sorry, but I gave that to women and some guys who know the difference between teal and fuchsia.
4. I'd really rather you didn't indulge in conduct that offends yourself, or your willing, consenting partner of legal age AND mental maturity. As for anyone who might object, I think the expression is go **** yourself, unless they find that offensive in which case they can turn off the TV for once and go for a walk for a change.
5. I'd really rather you didn't challenge the bigoted, misogynistic, hateful ideas of others on an empty stomach. Eat, then go after the bitches.
6. I'd really rather you didn't build multi million-dollar churches/temples/mosques/shrines to my noodly goodness when the money could be better spent (take your pick):
1. Ending poverty
2. Curing diseases
3. Living in peace, loving with passion, and lowering the cost of cable
I might be a complex-carbohydrate omniscient being, but I enjoy the simple things in life. I ought to know. I AM the creator.
7. I'd really rather you didn't go around telling people I talk to you. You're not that interesting. Get over yourself. And I told you to love your fellow man, can't you take a hint?
8. I'd really rather you didn't do unto others as you would have them do unto you if you are into, um, stuff that uses a lot of leather/lubricant/Las Vegas. If the other person is into it, however (pursuant to #4), then have at it, take pictures, and for the love of Mike, wear a CONDOM! Honestly, it's a piece of rubber. If I didn't want it to feel good when you did it I would have added spikes, or something.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gospel_of_the_Flying_Spaghetti_Monster

RAmen~!

Answer 8

No.

The key is that oppression implies that it is forcible. Religion, generally speaking, is voluntary.

However, a religiously based society (unlike the U.S.) that uses the guidelines of that religion to determine laws and punishment... that would probably be oppressive. But the religion itself is only theory. It's the implementation that is oppression.

Answer 9

Yes, I simply believe it's wrong.

Why should a person be treated differently than someone else, because of something they have no control over? It's not fair. Some may simply declare that "life is not fair," but in reality, if life isn't fair, then there's something wrong with life.


I know women that DESERVE the rights than men say they shouldn't have. When it comes to the mind, all are equal: perceived gender should never play a part in it.

Answer 10

Of course it is.
Why? Because if they are attempting to teach that one sex is better than the other, they are oppressing one of them, aren't they? Men's religions will never treat women as equal human beings.

Racist Answer Man, yes there are. One tradition of Wicca does cater to the feminine (Dianic), but most traditions treat the male and female equally. (Speaking of both the deities and the followers of the tradition).

Steve H, not all religions congregate in a "church".

Answer 11

You don't really want to have an institution making up rules based on a sex/gender stereotype. Any time there is an assumption about sex determining behaviour it is oppressive in some way, whether the rules is a big one or not. We do not need to be confined by what society has determined to be our sex and therefore place.