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Why do women voluntarily change religion to be part of a belief system that sees them as being "second-rate" members?

Asked By: WrathAngel 36-40, F 1 year ago

On one hand you have women fighting for the right to be treated as equals with men, to have the same opportunities and recognition. On the other you have women willing to join of their own free will religious organizations (Mormon and Muslim just to name two) that openly set rules and guidelines that push women to a secondary role, denying them rights and priviledges. Are we as a gender so weak that we are willing to sacrifice our emotional, mental and even physical freedoms to feel "comfortable" and/or to belong to something?

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17 Answers to "Why do women voluntarily change religion to be part of a belief system that sees them as being "second-rate" members?"

Posted by TwylaMarie Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:08PM

Who would want to be equal to a man? I couldn't want to give up the additional brain cells or spend all day thinking with a head that small.

In most cultures, men do the back breaking work and are responsible for everything while women tend children and cook.

It kind of reminds me of that old line in Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy about how Man assumes he's smarter than a Dolphin because man has created jobs, traffic and politics and dolphins think they are smarter than men for exactly the same reasons.

Let men think they are in charge. What is it they really have you want anyway? The ability to go into combat?

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Reply by WrathAngel Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:13PM

lol - true. Women have aften been credited with being the "power behind the throw" (Cleopatra) and we can easily control the world around us without having to be right on the "front lines", but why actually accept to become a slave? That is what I simply cannot wrap my head around.
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Reply by TwylaMarie Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:17PM

I don't think it is slavery. I know modern women have been trained to think that way. I just think of it as "division of labor." Is going out to work each day really more important than making sure children are raised, the home is taken care of and the food in nourishing? I don't know that I really think so. I will agree with you when i see some of the stuff in the middle east about men having the right to rape their wives, etc. and yes, there are some things in some of the more extreme Christian cults that are equally as ugly, but those aren't things you'll find on in an average street corner church. (When you get to the extremists in any belief system there are ugly things to be found.)
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Posted by Elaria Apr 20th, 2012 at 2:08PM

Why do you think those religions see women as second rate? I was raised in a muslim family, and I don't think women are seen that way. I am no longer a muslim now, so I have no incentive or bias to defend the religion.

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Reply by Elaria Apr 20th, 2012 at 2:12PM

Islam allows women to work if they wish. If they want to stay home and raise a family, they can do that too, and their husbands are obligated to give them full financial support. If they choose to be married AND work, they can do that too. There is a difference between Taliban rules and Islamic rules. Some CULTURES see women as a second rate, but the religion itself, I don't think so.
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Reply by bijouxbroussard Apr 20th, 2012 at 4:37PM

That makes a lot of sense, actually. Catholicism in New Orleans is not quite the same as in Rome or Spanish-speaking countries, I imagine, because the culture around it is different.
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Posted by wraithorn Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:09PM

Hear Hear. I have made certain to educate my daughter about this very thing. I want her to be comfortable with herself whether or not she has a man. She is an awsome person all on her own.

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Reply by WrathAngel Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:14PM

Congratulations, that is what I believe should be the standard.
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Reply by wraithorn Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:19PM

Thank you. She has just received her Bachelor of Science degree and is now doing her Honours degree. She is only 21yrs. I am bursting with pride. :-)
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Posted by teapot27 Apr 20th, 2012 at 3:30PM

The Islamic faith does not suggest that women are second rate in any way, in fact women are seen as equals in this religion and actualy have alot of benifits that men do not have. Have you ever actualy read the Quran or other religios scripts, because if not i suggest you do so before making such claims, there is a huge differance between cultural beleifs and religios beleifs and people often do not understand this.

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Posted by damselfly Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:58PM

all religions see women as second rate

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Reply by GreenFarie Apr 20th, 2012 at 2:32PM

lol no. I think the wiccan religion actually supports the idea of women being better than men because they can get pregnant.
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Reply by CrazyWaterSpring Apr 21st, 2012 at 8:49AM

Uh, no. Wiccan and most modern Pagan paths accept women and men as equals. Other Pagan paths like the Dianics see women as the superior beings.
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Posted by MissGaga Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:22PM

They join to prove that you don't know a damn thing about Islam but you only listen to your beautiful propaganda! - Glad you are mentioning that many women are joining Islam, very good question, WHY? Yes it is because Islam oppresses women, so that's why the majority of converts are actually women! Have some brain people!

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Reply by GreenFarie Apr 20th, 2012 at 2:38PM

That is a horrible point. People aren't always right because a lot of them say or think or do the same thing. That is like saying women are smarter than men in America purely because more college graduates in America are women. That wouldn't take into consideration that there are more financial aids for women than men. The same could easily apply towards Islamic converts. Perhaps many of the women "converts" are marrying men who declare a faith of Islam and are converting to convince the man they are truly dedicated to them. While I agree with you that there is much anti-Islamic propaganda within the states, you seem to be buying some of the counter propaganda, which does in fact exist.
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Reply by MissGaga Apr 20th, 2012 at 3:44PM

To be honest, the example you gave just has NOTHING to do with my point! >> When you are converting to another faith you will make EVERY possible search about it and LEARN every single thing before taking such decision, so I'm QUITE SURE that those women have searched Islam very well (that what a normal person would do, it is not likely to convert to a faith knowing nothing about it, I think that's obvious) so here it comes my point, if Islam really oppresses women, I'm sure that would have been clear to any woman searching and learning about it before converting, so why do they convert if it is true?!! Sorry, but do not try to convince me that all of these converts are trying to marry Muslims, specially that Islam allows a non-Muslim marriage so I do not see a reason they would need to convert for marriage.
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Posted by quilty56 Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:17PM

Mormon women are second rate? I have a good friend who is Mormon and that is not the case at all.

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Reply by WrathAngel Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:25PM

A mother talking to her two children, a boy and a girl: Son you will work long and hard to eventually ascend to godhood. Daughter, you will learn to serve your husband, not only in thislife but for all eternity. (Yes I can easily see how the two match)
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Reply by Samerina Apr 20th, 2012 at 3:44PM

And isn't it true that if a Mormon woman does not marry, she does not get to have an afterlife?
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Posted by MyNameIsQ Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:06PM

Seeking comfort and belonging is a human trait, not one indicative of the weakness of any particular sex. It's just that that particular trait doesn't advance women's interests much.

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Reply by WrathAngel Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:11PM

Seeking comfort is very human, seeking love, acceptance just as much, but why accept to become less than you can be and suffer abuse just to belong to a religon when there are so many others out there that will welcome women as equals?
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Posted by 777heaven Apr 25th, 2012 at 12:11AM

Perhaps "these women" who you are talking about, Wrathangel, are not in reality the way you think. You are under some twisted notion that women are being suppressed within the LDS faith due to the Anti-Mormon Literature and propaganda written by disgruntled and excommunicated members, as well as your own misinterpretation of something that happened when you were a teenager.

Men and women are EQUAL in value in God's eyes and in their responsibilities. Women are treated as EQUALS because we ARE equal.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World
http://www.lds.org/family/proclamation?lang=eng

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Reply by WrathAngel Apr 25th, 2012 at 7:18AM

So women in the LDS faith can become gods?
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Reply by 777heaven Apr 25th, 2012 at 10:16AM

Yes. It is important to note that the man cannot advance without his wife and the woman cannot advance without the man. BOTH are essential TOGETHER. And that is why the emphasis on "FAMILY" is so great.
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Posted by Samerina Apr 20th, 2012 at 3:42PM

I know a feminist who defended a muslim woman for covering herself. I imagine she does not FULLY understand the point of covering up for a muslim. very confused.

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Reply by bijouxbroussard Apr 20th, 2012 at 4:33PM

I was curious about that, too, and most of what I've been told merely confused me. Someone I know who currently practices told me "it's for the woman's protection from the disrespectful eyes of men". Sounded to me more like the men's "issue", but I realise I may not have gotten the whole story.
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Reply by Samerina Apr 20th, 2012 at 4:39PM

There is a similar idea in Christianity (as I am more familiar with that religion). That somehow it is the woman's fault that men might have fantasies about the woman. I knew a girl in college who was "mad at men" that day, so she wore a low cut shirt, showing off her goods. As if she thought it would cause the men to "stumble" as if that was a terrible awful thing that men hate. It's the fear that makes women abide by these rules of extreme modesty. I've felt the fear before and I'm still trying to get past this.
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Posted by CrazyWaterSpring Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:57PM

The idea of Christianity being liberal baffles me.

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Reply by bijouxbroussard Apr 20th, 2012 at 4:48PM

In it purest New Testament theory, perhaps it could be, on some level: everyone sharing, accepting each other without judgment...hippies spreading the "word". My parents are actually Christian progressives. ;)
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Posted by LoneAlpha Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:43PM

I think because not all women are supposed to be, or going to be the same. You watch too much News Media.

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Posted by LittleBearPooky Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:38PM

I wonder this as well...May be women are more prone to confront to their sex roles than men. Women are more willing to sacrifice themselves, to get affection and love, because they place interpersonal relationships in a higher place than men.
But on the other way round, if men are treated as 'second-rate' members from birth, it's possibly that they will confront as well, it's our society judges what is right or wrong, and we accepted that as norm.In this case, it's not the gender, but our self-concept. We feel the pressure to adhere to norms. that's what i think ~

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Posted by bijouxbroussard Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:27PM

Are there any organised religions that value men and women equally ? As a former Catholic, I'm asking sincerely. It's one of the many reason I identify as "former". I have a friend who recently left Islam, which she had joined because of (three guesses) a man she loved. Before that she had been relatively independent, she found Islam restrictive, to say the least.

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Posted by Sugardaddy8910 Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:06PM

Women being objects, and defeated men as slaves is accepted norm in all Abrahamic religions. Only roman, greek, egyptian and hindu religions have some decency to honor women. Women who convert to Abrahamic religions are slaves programmed or too selfish, short sighted to see big picture

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Reply by WrathAngel Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:10PM

It is a shame that we have been fighting for so long and that yet the religion of "man" still holds so many in the role of slaves.
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Posted by deltadon Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:03PM

for a man......like this is the golden Holy Grail or somethin?! ;-D

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Reply by WrathAngel Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:06PM

I can imagine, in the mormon faith all male members actually have the possibility of becoming gods themselves while the women are left to be slaves at their feet.
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Reply by TwylaMarie Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:10PM

Isn't it amazing how suddenly there's all this anti-mormonism out there. Gosh I wonder why that is. Good thing Romney's no a moslem, or Obama-ites would have SO much backpedalling to do.
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Posted by cooney55 Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:01PM

To Belong to something...so not to feel alone.

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Reply by WrathAngel Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:08PM

But there are so many other organizations that someone can belong to without having to sacrifice their freedoms and rights. Not only do these women empower these religions but the force the rest to fight even harder to be taken seriously when it comes to wanting to be considered as equals.
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Reply by cooney55 Apr 20th, 2012 at 1:11PM

Beliebe it or not, all women are not empowered like you, and desperately need leadership to feel secure. And conversely speaking, not all religions seek to subjugate women. ;-)
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