The oppressed majority - Part 2

____________________________


Why and how are women oppressed? Well, there are a variety of factors, almost all of them cultural and religious - even the Buddha balked at the idea of female monks. He, at least, eventually honored his compassion for all people by withdrawing his objection when pressed by those around him.

Other religions have been more circumspect in their interaction with the female half of their worlds. In Judeo/Christian/Islamic cultures, with the exception of the Pentateuch, there really is nothing in the words of the spiritual leaders that would explain the oppression of women in the centuries of their dominance. 

Mohammed in particular made his belief on the standing of women explicit, beliefs that seem largely ignored by the fundamentalists of that religion. They were certainly liberal for the 7th century, though they could be dusted off a bit.

Throughout Judeo/Christian/Islamic mythology however, there is the thread that women are "other." That they have qualities that make them something to be watched, protected (protection both for and from), revered for their wondrous capacity to bring forth life and reviled for their alleged capacity to drive men mad.

I mean women are blamed for all worldly suffering, for Christ's sake.

Buddhism is more tolerant. At least insofar as its official texts are concerned - all monks were told that a life free from sex drugs and rock and roll was more skillful than that in which these things had a role. 

But Southeast Asia, a majority Buddhist region, has a huge number of women who are sold into sexual slavery every year.

Which goes to a main point: that attitudes toward women may predate religion and thus religion would be more reflective of the prejudice than than the generator of it. 

In ancient Sumerian creation myths, male and female deities are equally badly behaved. The same for early Greek mythology. There were differences in the behavior of their gods or demigods - based on their clearly different relationship to creation - but there is no sense that one was better than the other because of their gender.

The Judeo/Christian creation myth paints woman as too smart for her own good. Capable of wondrous things, but a person to be watched or great damage will ensue.  

In Greek mythology, it was Helen who caused the Trojan war, not the political machinations of her fellows. And it was Helen's beauty that was responsible for the irrational actions of the men around her. This theme carries from the Garden of Eden to women's suffrage: the world would be a much better place if women were kept under control.

In part three the author tells us why we should care.