gender

• despite the fact that religion tends to disadvantage women statisitics suggest that they express higher levels of religiosity
• global study by PEW says that 83% of women identify with a faith compare to 79% of men
• UK churches are attended by 65% women and 35% men
• Grace Davie: women feel closer to god because they are involved in the creation of life
• being pregnant and carrying new life around makes women reflect on spiritual matters such as the meaning of life and religion is one place where the answers can be found
• child birth is a very intense emotionally charged experience so it could be the event itself that makes women seek out religion more
• HOWEVER:

  is it possible to isolate the fact that women give birth from the traditional gender role of primary care giver? it is a possibility that conformity to this role is just what makes women more religious, caring nurturing makes them think more about others and thus ethical issues which is the domain of religion

  but, NAMs are made up primarily of women and they celebrate biological aspects of femininity such as motherhood
• role theory:

  many religions stress that ideal women would take on the role of primary care giver willingly and supporting the husband by being a homemaker, if women do accept these roles then religion can act as a guide for comfort and reward
• the traditional role of women also places them as primary end of life carers, caring for the sick and elderly thus making them experience death more than men and religion could offer comfort
• religion compensates women for their second class status by giving mother divine status - de Beauvoir
• limitations of gender role theory:

  women live longer than men so could just be more religious because the elderly are more religious

  doesn't explain higher levels of religiosity among women new agers who don't always conform to traditional feminine roles