Keywords:
RELIGION, SYMBOLISM, INTERPRETATION, WOMEN, GENDER
Abstract:
“Humans are in need of symbolic sources of illumination to orient themselves to the system of meaning in a particular culture.” (Clifford Geertz-1973).
Women have played a remarkably active and influential role in religions across diverse cultures since ancient times. Many practices tied to religion and rituals are deeply interwoven, reflecting the profound connection of women with religious beliefs and ritual practices. This historical depth and richness of women and religion make our discussion compelling and relevant.
Recently, anthropologists and social scientists have been actively engaged in studying varied roles of women as new area of emerging research.(Raheja & Gold,1994; McCarthy Brown, 2011;Gavin,2022). Rather than being narrowly approached, researchers have discussed both religion and gender from a multitude of angles, sparking intriguing debates and compelling us to rethink and reimagine women and sexuality symbolized and interpreted in cross-cultural religions(Saba, 2005; Lewis,1971).
The cultural construction of binary framework of masculine and feminine in religion has served as a source of prejudice for gender inequality. Religious institutions prescribe rules for women establishing gender disparities and women’s subordination to males in social, economic, and political realms in affirmation and reinforcement of patriarchal dominance. In contrast, many religions establish women as symbols of power and strength, known as Sakti (Hindu), Fitna (Islam), Sophia (Judaism), and Ezili (Vodou) among others. The new direction indicates multiple ways of interpreting religion to recognize the elevated status of women as empowered and actively involved in socio-economic and political leadership, serving as role models to people irrespective of gender and sexual orientation.
In this round table, we propose to ask how women are represented in a myriad of religions, such as Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Jainism, and Islam throughout world. Scholars and researchers are invited to discuss multiple ways of constructing gender and religion from a cross-cultural perspective.