Gender & Religious Beliefs

• Who is more likely to attend church, men or women?

  Women
• What percentage of women believed in God according to a 1990 opinion poll?

  84%
• What role is traditionally associated with women that aligns with religious faith?

  Expressive role (nurturing and caring)
• Why might women pray and seek spiritual support more than men?

  Due to proximity to childbirth and caregiving
• How does traditional gender role affect men's church attendance?

  Men have less time due to work
• What demographic trend contributes to women's higher religiosity?

  Women live longer than men
• How are men and women socialized differently regarding religion?

  Women are socialized to be compliant and passive
• What do traditional religions expect from their congregations?

  Compliance, conformity, and passivity
• What ideology do some feminists argue women are sold by religious teachings?

  False ideology about rewards in heaven
• According to Glock and Stark, why do women join religious sects more than men?

  Women experience more deprivation due to patriarchy
• What trend has been noted by sociologists like Linda Woodhead regarding women's involvement in religion?

  Women are more involved in cults and New Age movements
• How do men's and women's rates of drifting away from established religions differ?

  Men drift away faster than women
• What do Woodhead and Heelas call the attraction of women to alternative spiritual beliefs?

  The holistic milieu
• What might attract women to New Age beliefs?

  Female-oriented practices or therapy-like activities
• What do Miller and Hoffman suggest about attitudes to risk between genders?

  Men are more willing to take risks than women
• Why do Miller and Hoffman argue that lack of religion is risky?

  It risks not going to heaven
• What has Woodhead suggested about the feminization of churches?

  Secularisation has impacted men more than women
• How does Bruce view the changing nature of religion?

  It is becoming more private than public
• What is a potential flaw in the data regarding women's church attendance?

  Attendance does not equal belief in faith
• Why might women respond differently to surveys about religious belief than men?

  Women may see faith as socially desirable
• What is a characteristic of some male-dominated sects?

  Extreme and conservative views on women's roles
• What are the reasons women are more likely to attend church than men?

  • Women's expressive role aligns with religious faith
  • Proximity to childbirth and caregiving
  • More time due to traditional domestic roles
  • Longer life expectancy leads to more older women
• What are the key factors influencing women's involvement in religious sects and movements?

  • Experience of deprivation due to patriarchy
  • Attraction to cults and New Age movements
  • Socialization to be compliant and passive
  • Risk aversion compared to men
• What are the critiques of the view that women are more religious than men?

  • Attendance does not equal belief
  • Social desirability may influence survey responses
  • Male-dominated sects may deter women