RELIGION AND GENDER INEQUALITY

ABSTRACT

Globally, women's status in society varies greatly. Religion is one of the many significant characteristics linked to the distinction of gender inequality; yet, religion itself needs to be understood as a flexible concept with multiple interpretations and practices, resulting in variations based on cultural and historical contexts. Despite the intricacy of the Issues, many religious customs and norms have the potential to erode women's social standing and create gender inequality. Examined is the relationship between religiosity and gender disparity in the political, social, and economic domains. The analysis has led to the identification of three categories of states: those with the lowest levels of gender inequality are those whose citizens follow no religion at all; societies that practice Buddhism and Christianity have average levels of gender inequality; and states that have the highest levels of gender inequality across all observed variables are those whose citizens practice Islam and Hinduism. Gender inequality is characterized by culturally and socially constructed disparities between men and women in terms of their respective shares of wealth and decision-making within a community (Ridgeway, 2004). We view religion as a complex cultural system of meanings, symbols, and behaviors in societies, as well as an ideology that influences a society's sociopolitical practices (Stump, 2008)