Matriarchy versus Patriarchy - Research Paper Example

Matriarchy versus Patriarchy Introduction Patriarchy is a social believe in which men are the key primary authorities central to all social organizations, playing all political leadership responsibilities, control of property, moral authority, and where fathers have a higher authority over their wives and children. Such a society implies male privilege and rule, and entails women's subordination (Asadi 4). Most patriarchal societies are as well patrilineal, indicating that only males inherit the title and property. Women, in a patriarchal society are matriarchal. On the other hand, matriarchy is a social system in which women or older females are the headers of their families. In such societies, women determine relationships and descent and they play major roles in the government. Currently, many religions believe that males should be the leaders in their families and society and both children and women must obey to their authorities (Asadi 72). The main purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast how women are presented, treated and importance in different religious. The content of this paper compares and contrasts women treatment in Islamic and Christian religions. Women treatment in Christianity and Islam Religions Throughout the religious history, men believe that they are more superior to women in most diverse religions (Eller 121). Is this belief true in Islam or Christianity religions? In Christianity view, a woman's role is different from other religions since their roles are equal to those of males. In Galatians chapter 3 verse 28, Apostle Paul writers, “in Christ there is neither female nor male in Christ, Greek or Jew…” all human beings are equal before Christ. However, the two religions have expressively denied accepting the significant roles that women can influence in the society. Despite the advent of civilization, the prevalence of male chauvinism has served to suffice the importance of women in the society. Majority of the people professing the two religions hold that women are subjects to their husbands and they can never be equal. Similarities In both religions of Islamic women and Christian women, worship is a vital part of their responsibilities although the reasons behind this worshiping differ. Women from Islamic religion worship by adhering to a schedule of prayer and fasting, therefore, after their death, their good actions and ability to keep the Islamic laws, will enable the women enter “paradise” (Kanra 111). While Islamic men in “Paradise” are assured the company of various virgins for their pleasures, Koran does not offer much information for those women who afford their way in. It is evident that Islamic men derive the assurance that they will dominate the women in paradise since it is the case on earth while still the women are knowledgeable of passing into paradise as virgins to become subjects to their men. On the other hand, Christian women love God because He initially showed love to them. God offered is only beloved son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for the sinners since they were unable to earn any of the heavenly grace. Similarly, Christian women worship God through praying and fasting, but this is practiced in response to God’s commandments, and not for earning God’s favor (Kanra 42). A Christian woman is always aware of the awesome ease of acquiring God’s favor. As Jesus Christ said in John chapter 3 verse 16, “whoever believes in me shall not perish, but have everlasting life”. Christian women worship and praise the Lord to enable them to enter the Kingdom of heaven after death. Further, Christian women abide by Biblical teachings in order to draw God’s favor and become certain of the resurrection after death and acquisition of eternal life in paradise. In both religions, women play a major role of taking care of their husbands and children. They have the role of preparing and serving meals for their husbands and children. Women are only supposed to concentrate with home duties such as taking care of their properties (Kanra 91). They are not supposed to involve themselves with any political roles. For instance, Islamic religion believes that any community or country lead by a woman definitely ends up not prospering. Therefore, Christian and Islamic teachings seem to enforce similar values towards the role of women in the religious society (Eller 188). Arguably, the religions account for women’s responsibilities in spiritual lives as insignificant to their submission role towards the masculine gender. The religions thus comply with the norm that women are men’s subjects. Differences Whereas Islamic necessitates five forms of prayers in a day towards Mecca, Christianity religion encourages to “to pray endlessly without ceasing” to the almighty Father. Islamic religion only encourages women to worship and dedicate their prayers to Allah at their own homes and not in mosques (Kilpatrick 144). Islamic women are not supposed to attend the mosques, since according to the prophecies of Prophet Muhammad, “the best place for Islamic women is their inner places of their homes. However, Christian women are encouraged to fellowship with the other Christians and worship the Almighty together as brothers and sisters in church as a family. Unlike the Islamic women who do not take part in any religious activity, Christian women may involve themselves with the religious ministry if they feel like doing so. There are many responsibilities that a Christian woman can play in the church such as, being the leader of the women’s group, praying for the church elders, and the entire congregation. These two are crucial roles for women in the Christian religion (Kilpatrick 167). In society, both Islamic and Christian women have rules and regulations to abide by. Women in Christian religion should adhere to instruction from the Almighty to behave themselves modestly, as God’s witnesses to the non-believers. Christian women’s beauty should not be from outward appearance such as wearing fine clothes and jewelry and braided hairstyles. Instead, this beauty should come from the inner self of an individual, the everlasting beauty of the quiet and gentle spirit, which is worth before the eyes of God (Kilpatrick 86). Christians do not make efforts to earn advantage to ensure that their good actions outweigh their bad ones since this is due to God’s grace that saved them from sin, through their faith, and this is not from themselves but a gift from God. Entering the Kingdom of heaven is not through the Christians hard work, therefore, no one should boast about it. It is extremely impossible to enter the kingdom of heaven through hard work but ensuring that one does according to God’s commandments (Kilpatrick 240). In contrast, Islamic religion has established laws that earn the believers benefits when adhered to enable one enter the “paradise”. The Koran instructs Islamic women to dress and conduct themselves modestly, and issues them with specific rules and regulations that explain how they should carry out that. In accordance with Prophet Mohammed, Islamic women must adhere to these rules and regulations so that they will not be termed as the type of women who contribute to hell dwellers (Thomas 71). Women acts, which are termed as immodest by Islamic religion include, beautifying their heads with any type of hairstyle such as wigs, walking like a flirt, beautifying their bodies with tattoos, sharpen their teeth, or even cut their hair short to look more attractive. Islamic women are however not supposed to stamp the ground while walking, incase their jewelries are heard and destructs attention of the people passing by (Robinson 54). Islam believes that men should always be in charge of women because one of them should excel the other. Therefore, Islamic women should be obedient to their husbands and guard their property. The religion holds ethical values to the profession while setting rules and regulations to punish the female offenders contravening the Islamic law (Eller 190). In Christian religion, women have the freedom to become working class and earn their own money. However, they should adhere to the God’s rule that they should give their homes the first priority in their lives. Chances for Islamic women to become working class depend on the fundamentalism extent practiced in their family and country. Often opportunities for job and Islamic women’s freedoms are extremely limited (Taylor 11). Therefore, Christian and Islamic religions deter women from working since men, who are held as the heads of their families should fend and deliver material, physical, and emotional support. Naturally, the Islamic books claim that women in their religion receive maximum respect from men, treated in an enjoyable manner, and have equal roles as men in the society. Many western media information outlines these arguments as false. Similarly, media resource control of Islam may be encouraged through propaganda and misinformation, this contrast has resulted to swords to clatter ever since the Islamic conversion into Christian Spain over years ago (Taylor 28). The differences between Islamic and Christian women are similar to dissimilarities between the wife of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar her maidservant. Although Islamic confuse the names of the offspring of Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac, they are on a higher grander scale by lacking the essential that Abraham was termed righteous because of his faith, and not his merit. Women of Islamic religion have borne the impact of that mistake since the time of declaration of Mohammed (Taylor 33). Conclusion To sum up, all religions in the entire world have their own way of treating women. In most religions, men are the key primary authorities central to all social organizations, playing all political leadership responsibilities, control of property, moral authority, and fathers have a higher authority over their wives and children. Such religions should understand that all human beings are equal and deserve equal rights of freedom. Women should have freedom even to compete for political leaderships in their countries. Men and women should have equal leadership opportunities for the neglected women can happen to be more competent than the men are. Women should also enjoy equal freedom of worship and not prohibited from going to worshiping places like in case with Islam whereby women are not supposed to attend the mosque. Work cited Asadi, Muhammed A. Islam & Christianity: Conflict or Conciliation? a Comparative and Textual Analysis of the Koran & the Bible. San Jose [Calif.: Writers Club Press, 2001. Print. Eller, Cynthia. Gentlemen and Amazons: The Myth of Matriarchal Prehistory, 1861-1900. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2011 Kanra, Bora. Islam, Democracy and Dialogue in Turkey: Deliberating in Divided Societies. Farnham, England: Ashgate, 2009. Internet resource. Kilpatrick, William. Christianity, Islam, and Atheism: The Struggle for the Soul of the West. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012. Print. Thomas, Marie-Claude. Women in Lebanon: Living with Christianity, Islam, and Multiculturalism. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012. Print. Robinson, Marsha R. Matriarchy, Patriarchy, and Imperial Security in Africa: Explaining Riots in Europe and Violence in Africa. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2012. Print. Taylor, Ina. Religion and Life with Christianity and Islam. Oxford: Heinemann, 2005. Print. Read More