Religion and Women Empowerment

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Is religion made for human or only for man? Religion is often the most vital and considerable aspect in most of the people’s life throughout the world but often plays a negative role for women empowerment. Women are suppressed, disregarded and abused by every religion in the world. Most of the religions consider women as the second class human that refers men are the first who will be benefited by the religion (Tanzim). The patriarchal society is structured in such a way where women actually have less power to raise their voice against the society which is dominating them and always being an obstacle in their way of freedom and prosperity. However, surprisingly, it is conspicuous that comparatively women are more religious and involved in rituals and religious activities than men (Crandall). In return, the religion itself or by taking the name of religion the patriarchal society restricts women from doing development works which may open the path of women empowerment. A gendered perspective on religion and development simultaneously draws out the aspects of religion that are problematic for women while also pointing to its importance in many of their lives (Bradley). Therefore, religion becomes an imperceptible hindrance for women empowerment whereas, some of them are happy with their status in the society. Even though there are positive religious arguments and evidences which stand for women empowerment and give them equal rights as men but most of the time those are hidden by the pressure of patriarchal society. The patriarchal society never wants women to have power and therefore, they do all possible things to stop women from having authority. They never acknowledge women’s contribution and power in the history. Arguments whic...

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...ecember 2013
Shehabuddhin, Sarah. “Female Leadership in Islam.” Female Leadership in Islam. Islamic
Research Foundation International, Inc., 2012. Web. 25 November 2013.

Sinclair, Tara Jernigan. "Beyond Their Control: The Disempowerment of Women in Middle
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Sutherland, Sally J. “Sita and Druaupadi: Aggressive Behavior and Female Fole-Models In the
Sanskrit Epics.” Journal of the American Oriental Society. American Oriental Society.
N.d. 63-79. Print. 13 May 2013.
Tanzim, Juhayer. "RELIGION: Empower Women OR Disempower?" Academia.edu, 2012.
Web. 8 Dec. 2013.
Young, Serinity. “Female Mutability and Male Anxiety in an Early Buddhist Legend.” Journal of History of Sexulity. University of Texas Press, N.d. (14-39). January 2007. Print. 13
May 2013

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