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CHARACTERISTICS OF JUDEO-CHRISTIAN SOCIETY WHICH ARE ANTAGONISTIC TO WOMEN &

PROMOTE GENDER DISCRIMINATIONDr. Mary C. Sengstock

For SOC 3300 – “Inequality”http://users.wowway.com/~marycay910

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Purpose of Presentation• Describe Historic Approach to Women in

Judeo-Christian Tradition• Follow This Approach into the 21st Century• Analyze the Impact on Society Today:

– Both Religious – And Secular• Major Source: Terry Davidson, Conjugal Crime

– Her History of Family Violence

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EARLY HEBREW TRADITION

• Nature of God: – God As a Patriarchal Figure:– God the FATHER

• Comparison to Other Religious Traditions of Same Historical Era: – The “DIVINE” Often Seen As Mother Figure – Other Middle Eastern Societies & Elsewhere

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Biblical Stories As Compared With Other Societies

• Creation Story: • Male God Is Creator• MAN Was Created by God in His Likeness • Woman Was Made From Man & For Man

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Alternate Traditions: “People” Were Created; Mother Figure

• Mission Indians (CA): “Tamaiawot” (Mother of All Peoples) Gave Birth to All People/Things

• Early Greeks: “Eurynome” (Goddess of All Things)– Mated With North Wind (Serpent “Orphion”)– On Mt. Olympus, Orphion Brags About Fathering All

– Eurynome Banishes Him for This (MOTHER is Key!)• Sumeria (Hebrew Neighbors – Babylonian Captivity)

– “In Beginning, Goddess Tiamat Brought Forth All Things”

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Summary of 2 Views

• Most Early Creation Myths (Stories)– Based on MOTHER God– Spoke of Creation of “All People,” “All Things”

• Hebrew Bible Judeo-Christian Tradition– Based on FATHER God– Spoke of Creation of MEN– Women/Other Things Subordinate

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Alternate View in Hebrew Bible

• Other Section of Hebrew Bible• No Mention of Hierarchy of Sexes • “Male & Female He Created Them”

– (Gen 1:27-28)

• Which View Is Usually Quoted?

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Consequences for Society Today• Most Often Quoted: Male 1st Story• Emphasized By Most Religions • Particularly the Most Conservative • Also Those Who Believe in Literal Truth of Bible• Which Story Is Perpetuated in Society? • Which Story Has Impact?• Why Quote in a SECULAR Society?• PART OF OUR CULTURE – NOT JUST RELIGIOUS!

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Fall of Humanity Story• Q: Why Is There So Much Misery in Society?• Hebrew Bible Answer: Fall of Man• Cause of Fall of Man: WOMEN!• Woman Was Fooled by Serpent/Devil• Tempted Man into Going Against God• Man’s Fall – Result of Women’s Actions• Has Lead to MUCH Discrimination Re Women• “Can’t Let THEM Do That to US Again!”• Most Societies Just Say: “Misery Is Part of Life.”

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Hebrew Treatment of Women

• Status: Chattel, Property• Role: Men Had Religious Roles, NOT Women • Daily Prayers:

– Man: “God I Thank Thee for Not Making Me a Woman!”– Woman: “God I Thank Thee for Making Me What I Am.”

• Women As “Unclean”: – Ritual Bath After Menses, Childbirth – Not Educated – True into 20th Century

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Hebrew Treatment of Women (ctd)• Women Always Considered Children:

– Never Able to Pray As Adult Jew – Not Counted In “Minyan”

• Punishments More Severe Than for Men: – Woman Defending Husband – Touches Man’s

Privates – Cut Off Her Hand – “Do Not Pity Her” (Deut 25:11-12)

– Wife Who Can’t Prove Virginity – Stone Her – “Put Evil Away from Among You” (Deut 22:13-21)

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Women As Medium for Man’s Pleasure

• Levite’s Stranger/Guest (Judges: 19-20):– City Demanded Him – For What?– “Do Not So Wickedly” – Substitute “Maiden Daughter” & Concubine – Took Concubine, Raped & Left on Doorstep

• Husband Divided Body: – 12 Parts for 12 Tribes – Demand for Revenge for Property Damage

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Alternate Views of Women in Bible

• More Positive Views of Hebrew Women:– Judith, Naomi, Ruth, Esther– “Valiant Woman” NOT Shy, Retiring! (Prov 31: 10-31)

– Widow “Anna” – Served in Temple

• Not Publicized By Today’s Religious Ministers• Why Quote in a SECULAR Society?• PART OF OUR CULTURE – NOT JUST

RELIGIOUS!

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Summary of Judeo-ChristianTradition WOMEN ARE:Inferior to Men – Evil – Childlike • These Beliefs Are: • Rooted in Religious Doctrine• Considered to Be Ordained by God• Impact on Little Boys/Girls in Sunday School?• Impact on Adult Men/Women Today?• Only True in Religious Groups?

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Early Christian Tradition:Jesus the Founder

• NOT Misogynist in Misogynist Culture! • Violated MANY Hebrew Traditions Re Women• Miracles for Women:

– Miracle at Cana for Mother (John 3:3-5)

– Raised Lazarus for Martha, Mary (John 11:1-44)

– Woman Cured of “Unclean Spirit” – Touched Him (Menstrual Dysfunction?) (Luke 13:11-13)

– (See Also: Mark 6; Mark 7; Luke 7; Luke 9)– Note Importance of Luke – Got Data from Jesus’ Mother

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Early Christian Tradition:Jesus the Founder (ctd)

• Jesus Used Women As Good Examples:– Widow’s Mite (vs. Pharisees) (Mark 12; Luke 21)– Woman Who Washed His Feet with Her Hair

(Touched Him!) (vs. Impolite Host) (Luke 7; Matt 26)

• Often Interacted with Women: • Martha, Mary; Samaritan Woman at Well;

Protected Woman Taken in Adultery • Protect Woman’s Right to Message (Luke 10)• 1st Appearance After Resurrection Mary of

Magdala (John 20) – Best Proof of Resurrection?

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IRRELEVANCE OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS FOR IMPACT

• YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A BELIEVER IN CHRISTIANITY – OR JUDISM FOR THESE IDEAS TO IMPACT ON YOU!

• YOU DO NOT EVEN NEED TO BELIEVE IN GOD!• THESE IDEAS HAD & STILL HAVE ENORMOUS

IMPACT ON WESTERN & AMERICAN CULTURE!

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Early Apostles: Peter & Paul • Paul Continued Many Aspects of Patriarchy• “Man is Not of the Women but Women of the

Man.” (1 Cor 11:8,9)

• “Wives Submit to Your Husbands as to Lord” (Ephes 5)

• “Adam Not Deceived – Eve Was” (I Tim 2)

• “Better to Marry Than to Burn.” (1Cor 7:9)

• Peter: “Wives Be Subject to Husbands.” (1 Peter 3:1)

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Less Known – Less Quoted

• Peter: “Husbands, Be Good to Your Wives”(I Peter 3:7)

• Paul: “Husband & Wife Have Power Over Each Others’ Bodies” (Ephes 6: 28-33; also I Cor 7:4;)

• Paul: “Husbands, Love Wives as Christ Loved Church & Gave Self Up for It.” (Ephes 6)

• Modern Religious Ministers ALWAYS Quote 1st Part – RARELY Quote 2nd Part!

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Continuation By Early Church Leaders

• Augustine (354-430):– Great Sinner; Converted Late– “Man Created in Image of God, Not Woman”

• Constantine – 1st Christian Roman Emperor– Became Emperor Through Marriage to Fausta

(Daughter of Maximian) – Presided over Council of Nicea (325)

• Fate of Fausta at Hands of Constantine

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Continuation in Medieval Times• Abbe de Brantome Deplored:

– Christian Lords’ Murder of Wives vs. Pagans

• Common Use of “Chastity Belts”• Archbishop of Mainz (1500s):

– “Stinking, Putrid,Private Parts of Woman.”

• Gratian – Coded Church Law in “Decretum”:– Women Must Be Subject to Men – Eve Beguiled,

Not Adam; Cannot Allow This Again

• Quoted in Text in British Museum As Defense of Men’s Right to “Chastise Wives”

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Protestant Reformation

Martin Luther (1517):• Generally More Positive Toward Women Than

Other Clerics• Criticized Archbishop of Mainz’ Remarks• Wrote to a Friend:• “When Kate [Wife] Gets Saucy, She Gets

Nothing But a Box on the Ear.”

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Early Modern Tradition: France

• Old Aristocracy: – Gave Women Considerable Freedom:– Separate Property Rights– Influence in Society

• French Revolution Broadened These Rights• This Changed With Napoleon

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France – Napoleon

• “Strong Family Tradition” (e.g., Men in Charge”)• “Women, Like Walnut Trees … Beaten Everyday”• To Council of State: “Husband Must Possess Absolute

Power Over Wife’s Actions … The Children You Bear Must Be Mine.”

• Only 3 Grounds for Divorce: Murder, Adultery, Impotence

• Wife-Beating NOT Grounds – Unless Attempted Murder or Husband Wanted Divorce!

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France – Napoleon (ctd)

• Adulterous Woman Should Be Punished By Criminal Law (Unless Punished By Divorce)

• Only Equity Between Husband & Wife: When Husband Committed a Crime – She Should Join Him in Prison – Because Probably to Blame for It!

• Influenced Laws of France, Belgium, Luxemburg, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Bolivia, Japan … & Louisiana!

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Early Modern Traditions: England• 1874 Report, Abuse of Women, Children Ignored • John Stuart Mill (1806-1873):

– Essay on “Subjection of Women”: Nearly All Women in State of Bondage to a Man

– Vilest Malefactor Has Some Poor Woman Over Whom He Has Total Power – Can Do Almost Anything to Her With Impunity

– Petition to Parliament re Women’s Rights – No Impact

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Early Modern Traditions: England (ctd)

• Frances Power Cobb (Upper Class):– “Wife Torture in England” (Contemp Rev, 1878)– London: Severe Thrashing With Fists– Liverpool: “Kicking District” – “Purrings” With

Hob-Nailed Boots– Compared to “Negroes” in U.S.A. in Slavery Days

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U.S.A. FOUNDERS• Declaration of Independence

– Abigail Adams to John: “Remember the Ladies!”– John Adams: “We Know Better Than to Repeal

Our Masculine Systems!”

• U.S. Constitution • Citizenship Not Awarded to Slaves or Women

• British Common Law – Base for Most U.S. Law

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Early Modern – Reactions

• Blackstone: Defense of Wife Beating Law: – Man Is Responsible for Wife’s Behavior – He

Should Have Power of Chastisement Over Her As Over a Child

• “Compassionate” Introduction of “Rule of Thumb”

• These Are SECULAR LAWS – NOT RELIGIOUS!

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Wife Abuse In Most State Courts

• North Carolina (1874): • Rule of Thumb Does Not Apply – Cannot Chastise• Better to Shut Out Public Gaze – Forget & Forgive

• Pennsylvania (1886): Spouse Abuse Law Failed

• Alabama, Massachusetts (1871) • “Privilege to Beat w Stick, Pull Hair, Choke, Spit in

Face, Kick on Floor .. Like Indignities No Longer Acknowledged By Our Law. (They Obviously Had Seen Such Things to Mention it! – Little Done)

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Early U.S.A. – Summary

• 1800s-Early 1900s: Numerous Attempts to Prevent Spouse Abuse – All Failed

• Greater Proof Required than Normal A&B – Either Permanent Injury or “Malicious Spirit”

Often Required (Stanford Law Rev, 1954)– 1971 Hastings Law Journal: Harm Required >

Simple Assault, < Aggravated Assault– Provocation By Wife Often Allowed As Defense

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Women’s Inequality: Women’s Suffrage

Early 20th Century: Enormous Opposition to Women Getting the Vote

Demonstrations Vehemently – Even Violently Repressed

[Photos from records of National Women’s Party, Library of Congress: American Memory Women of Protest]

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Forgotten Women Who Fought for the Vote

Women Not

Granted Right

To Vote Until 1920

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Suffragists Dared to Picket White House

33 Convicted: “Obstructing Sidewalk Traffic” 40 Guards With Clubs Beat Them Almost to Death

Warden Encouraged It

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“Night of Terror” – Nov. 15, 1917

White House Pickets Were Sent to …Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia

Warden Ordered Guards to “Teach Lesson”Water from Open Pail

Food Was Worm InfestedAffidavits: Guards Grabbed, Dragged, Beat,

Choked, Slammed, Pinched, Twisted, Kicked Women

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Lucy Burns Beaten

Hands Chained to Cell Bars Over Head

Left Hanging Overnight

Bleeding, Gasping for Air

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Dora Lewis

Thrown Into Dark CellHead Smashed Against Iron Bed

Knocked Unconscious

Cell Mate, Alice Cosu,Thought She Was DeadSuffered Heart Attack.

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Alice Paul – Leader

Embarked on Hunger StrikeTied to Chair

Tube Forced Down Throat Liquid Poured Until Vomited

Tortured For Weeks Until Word Smuggled to Press

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Mrs. Pauline Adams

In Prison Garb Served 60 Day

Sentence

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Miss Edith Ainge,Jamestown, NY

Berthe Arnold CSU graduate

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Helena Hill Weed, Norwalk, CN

3 Day Sentence, D.C. Prison Carried Banner:

“Governments Derive Their Just Powers From Consent of Governed.”

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Conferring Over Ratification: 19th Amendment

Mrs. Lawrence LewisMrs. Abby Scott Baker

Anita PollitzerAlice Paul

Florence Boeckel Mabel Vernon

National Woman's Party headquarters, Jackson Place, Washington, D.C.

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Political Influence & Psychiatry

President Woodrow Wilson:Tried to Persuade Psychiatrist to Declare Alice Paul

Insane Have Her Permanently InstitutionalizedPsychiatrist Refused – He Said:

Alice Paul Was Strong & Brave. Didn't make her crazy.

“Courage in Women Often Mistaken for Insanity.”

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Value of Women’s Vote Today?

• Some Women Don't Vote – Carpool duties? Get to Work? – Vote Doesn't Matter? It's Raining?

• What Would They Say?– Dora Lewis, Lucy Burns, Alice Paul?

• What Would Our Grandmothers Say?

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Acknowledgements

Photos from records of National Women’s Party, Library of Congress: American Memory

Women of Protest

See also: snopes: http://www.snopes.com/politics/ballot/wome

nvote.asp

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Other Dimensions of Wife InequalityIn 20th/ 21st Century

• Titles for Women: Based on Relation to Men– Father’s Name as Child; Husband’s Name Later– Changes Each Time She Marries

• Enforced By Courts! (EX: Woman Lawyer, 1990s)

• Women’s Titles Show Relation to Men– Miss – Mrs. – Objections to Ms.– 1990: Man’s Objection to Women Not Changing

Name – “I Don’t Know Who She Belongs To!”

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Women’s Inequality (ctd.)• Men Preferred for Legal Roles (Until c. 1970)

– Executor/ Administrator in Probate Court – Married Women: No Independent Credit– Credit Problems Post Divorce, Widowhood

• Father’s Rights: “Can Use You or Sell You!”• Religious Marriages (R.C.; Prot, Greek Orth):

– Emphasize Husband’s Authority– Ceremonial Requirements: “Obey”– Orthodox Priest’s “Pork Chop Rule”– Rejection of “Gender-Neutral” Language Readings

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Continuation Into 20th/ 21st Century

• Decisions on Women’s Health Made by Men:– Use of RU 483 (Morning After Pill – Used for Other

Reasons As Well)– Partial Birth Abortions – All Abortions– Breast Cancer Research (2nd to Men’s Health)– Women Have Little Input – Role of Male Politicians &

Religious Leaders– 2011: “We Always Send the Bill to the Man.”

• Pres. Carter Resigned from Southern Baptist Convention – Lack of Women’s Rights (7/12/09)

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Conclusion

• The Religious Basis of Our Society• Encouraged By Our Religious Leaders• Greatly Impacts on Our Culture in General• Is Implemented by Our Political Leaders• Encourages the Abuse of Women by Men• Even Disparages Men If They Do NOT Abuse

Women!