Religion as a Method of Improvement for Gender Equality Essay -- Chris

Religion as a Method of Improvement for Gender Equality Although women were still viewed and treated as second-class citizens, the status of women seemed improve under Christianity, especially in regard to social interaction and Islam, especially in regard to legal rights such as inheritance laws. The improvement of women’s situation was particularly pronounced when compared to the even lesser status of women during the Greek and Roman periods. Improvement in the treatment of women under Christianity and Islam is evident in the religious texts of both of the religions. Christianity’s The Gospel According to Mark and The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians and Islam’s central religious text, The Koran, provide concrete evidence as to how women’s treatment under Christianity and Islam was relatively progressive. During the Greek period, women were viewed as inferior citizens, with no real rights. Although Greek drama portrayed many strong, remarkable women, like Antigone, what women in Greece actually experienced was much different. The role of free women in Athens, and many other places in Greece, was confined to the private sphere of the household. Women were restricted to childbearing and supervising the work done in the household; a woman’s value was based on her ability to produce legitimate heirs and to be a homemaker. Young girls were confined to their homes and received no formal education. Instead, their mothers taught them domestic skills, which were viewed as the only appropriate education for a woman at the time. Athenian women were considered unintelligent and submissive, and thus could not vote, buy or sell property, or press legal charges. Thus, Athenian women were viewed as ‘idiots’ because they were unable to... ...ren (Cow 2:233). Letting a man dictate a woman’s personal choices like this may seem surprising in today’s society; however, at the time, Islam was viewed as relatively progressive for women. Like with Christianity, Islamic women are not men’s equals, but instead are provided by Islam with additional rights than before. Under Islam, women experienced more progress than complacency. Thus, women’s situation under Islam is more beneficial than their situation under Greek and Roman rule. Overall, women’s status in society improved in many different aspects—social, legal, and otherwise—under both Islam and Christianity, especially when compared to the Greek and Roman periods. However, women’s strive toward equality did not stop with the improvements that came from the religions. Women today are continually struggling worldwide to receive rights equal to that of men.