- I am interested in researching the role of women in religious practice. I will focus specifically on Christianity, Paganism, and Islam.
- because I want to find out what the expectations of women in religion are in contrast to men. This includes how punishment is varied in men and women for the same crimes; the level of status women can attain within their religion; and the freedom (or lack thereof) that women possess as members of their religion.
- and this is important because of religion’s heavy impact on society, and the treatment of women within their religion greatly impacts society’s treatment of them.
1. Which religion of the three allot the most power to women? Which of these the least? Why (for both questions)?
2. In a modern world where women are now of nearly equal status of men by way of social hierarchy, why are religious views not modernized to fit that equality?
3. ( A skeptical teacher question) Are you focusing on only America or the entire world? In the same vein, are you focusing on only one branch of each of the religions mentioned or are you making a general analysis of all three?
The writer is interested in researching how women have played into religions of Christianity, Paganism, and Islam because she wants to find out about how the sex of a person affects his or her treatment within that religion, as well as the level of status that can be achieved, depending on the sex. The writer believes that the treatment of women in a religion could parallel how the society treats them.
1. Why have you chosen those three religions? Are there very distinct variations in the treatment of women between the three that could lead to an example of every side of a woman’s treatment in the religion?
2. Will you be focusing on a specific time period in a religion’s/society’s history, or will this be an expansive research paper that covers the history of women’s treatment in each of the religions?
3. Perhaps you could look at how women are portrayed in stories from each religion?
The Bible/The Qur’an…?
Thank you for the feedback!
First of all, your rephrasing of my topic is fantastic. It is spot on to where I want to take my research paper.
To answer your questions, I’ve chosen those three religions for exactly that reason. Paganism is at the most liberal end of the spectrum when it comes to feminine rights. In fact, many of those who are Pagan worship goddesses. From there Christianity is in the middle (how far in the middle will depend on which sect of Christianity I focus on) and Islam is very harsh on women (again depending on which sect I decide to use.)
There may be references to the treatment of women within religion in the past, but I will be focusing more towards the modern-day treatment since I am investigating their treatment within religion compared to their treatment within society at large.
I was considering using both literary sources in my research, although I will probably use less stories and more of the rules within the books. These questions are definitely helping me to narrow down my topic!
I will be researching the role of women in Paganism, Christianity, and Islam. I am interested because the gender roles in religion reflect the feeling towards those roles in modern-day society.
I will be researching the role of Pagan, Christian, and Islamic women within their religions. The need for more feminine power within many religions is under constant speculation and even protestation. The way women are treated by their respective religions will also leech into how they are treated in every day social interactions outside of their worship. A more equalized the status between genders are in religion, the more they will be in society.