Gender Inequality In Religion

There are many socially constructed beliefs that help feed gender inequality. One of the primitive and initial source that influences gender inequality is tradition developed by religion.

Regardless of the one's religion, or if one believes in a god, religion is known to set a systematic patriarchal society.

While some view religion and the Bible as a form of liberation, many others think otherwise. In fact, Elizabeth Cady - Stanton, a women's rights leader once said, "The Bible and the Church have been the greatest stumbling blocks in the way of women’s emancipation."

To further explain, Cecil L. Franklin states that throughout the history of the Christian religion, Scripture has used and promoted by many individuals. Unfortunately, a handful of people have been misinterpreting Scripture and have been manipulating what the Bible truly states. In causation, women have been portrayed on both positive and negative roles. The problem arises when those who are interpreting and teaching Scripture, educate solely on the negative

personification of women. When this happens, Scripture is used to limit the role of women not only in the church but in the world as well.
The use and misinterpretation of Scripture have been used to manipulate gender roles leading to women's oppression. Elizabeth E. Johnson, a feminist theologian also believes that Scripture, precisely the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the vocabulary use to describe God, all serve to as a form to oppress women. In the reading "The Living God in Women’s Voices," Johnson states that women’s oppression and gender inequality is established when God is exclusively male. In fact, she states that when the speech of God is male, the gender exclusivity of God bringing destructive effects to humanity.
The speech of God, however, is not the only variable that indicates gender inequality, Johnson also considers the Gospel of Jesus Christ as an additional cause.
In the text "The Maleness of Christ," Johnson expresses that the emphasis placed on Christ’s maleness as essential and divine, leads to the marginalization of women and puts them at a greater state of oppression.

To explain, through the Gospel of Jesus, Jesus is depicted as the Holy Son, incarnation of God -His Father, and the one who served as the salvation for humanity. The vocabulary and metaphors that is used to describe Jesus sets a patriarchy as is bears "unique characteristics" to males, hence "casting women and men as polar opposite." In addition, the the Gospel of Jesus sets gender binaries. The vocabulary used to describe Jesus, insinuate men hold a closer identity with Christ. As a result, the gendered vocabulary and metaphors used to describe Jesus, and the speech used to describe God exclusively male has without a doubt marginalized women granting men the role that carries greater dominance, power and

responsibility.