Influence of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity on Women's Roles

This essay examines the influence of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity on the roles and status of women within the family. The author explores how each religion's core beliefs, scriptures, and traditions shape expectations and responsibilities for women. The essay discusses the varying perspectives on women's roles, from the emphasis on wifely obedience in Islam to the more egalitarian views found in certain interpretations of Judaism and Christianity. It highlights the importance of religious texts, cultural practices, and historical contexts in understanding the diverse experiences of women in these religious communities. The essay provides a comparative analysis, revealing how these religions influence family dynamics, decision-making processes, and the overall societal standing of women. The author concludes that religion significantly impacts women's roles, and these roles vary considerably across different religious traditions.

Religion of West
6/30/2019
Student’s Name

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Contents
Thesis Statement..............................................................................................................................2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Discussion........................................................................................................................................2
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5
References........................................................................................................................................6

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Thesis Statement
How religions like Judaism, Islam and Christianity influence the role of women in famil
Introduction
Religion is a very important aspect of life, which plays a significant role in determining many of
the factors. Every religion has a certain value, beliefs, and principles. These beliefs influence the
behavior of followers of that particular religion. Education, views about society, the status of
woman are some of the aspects that are highly influenced by religion and therefore the same
exist in a different manner in each religion. Out of above-mentioned aspects, the status of woman
in society as well as in family is a very significant topic to discuss. Religions are developed from
ancient documents, experiences, and ideas of ancestors. Every religion has a different perception
regarding the status of a woman. Some find them equivalent to male, whereas some of the
religion finds males superior to a woman. In the presented essay, the focus will be made on the
influence of various religions on the role and status of woman in the family. Here role refers to
expected behavior, duties, and responsibilities.
Discussion
Starting from the Islam this is to state that law and practices of this religion are authorized by
primary sources that are Quran and Sunnah. Explicitly as well as implicitly, some women are
referred to in the Quran. Some of them are praise for brevity and some for morality. Even after
this, the condition of women is not good in Islamic society as well as in family (O'Connor 53). A

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majority of Muslim feels that women in a family as a wife should always follow the order of her
husband. This is all her role is. According to a survey, in twenty out of twenty-three countries,
around half of the Muslims have believed that wife is required to and should obey her spouse.
This view has been overwhelmingly hold by Muslims of Southeast Asia and South Asia. In the
same manner, three quarters or more number of Muslim agreed to the same in all the countries
surveyed in North Africa and the Middle East. The lead task of an Islamic woman is live with
her husband and to take care of him. As per the Holy Prophet, the best woman is those who
possess affection and love. In such a manner, here another important role of an Islamic woman in
the family is that the same should encourage her husband to do the good deeds. Doing a
husband’s respect is another duty of the role of an Islamic Wife. She should praise her husband
in front of others (Jaschok and Shui). In totality, this is not wrong to state that in the role of
woman in the family, Islam focuses on men and requires women to live their life for their
husband and children.
A soft behavior is expected from a woman. She is required to be sensible in her dealings and
behavior. These women play an important role in the family as they manage the household work
and cope up with the job of husband and children. This is all influenced by the lessons of the
Quran, Mohammad, and Allah. Prophet of Allah stated that Islam is based on cleanliness. It
gives rise to other roles of women in Islamic Families. They are liable to clean the house, keep it
clean, washing the family clothes and so on. A further role is also influenced by the saying of
Imam Muhammad Taqi, who stated that it is an idol to meet family friends. This is the reason
that women are Islam is liable to attend friends and to do the needful. As per Abd al-Ati, the man
seems to be leaders when it comes to running a household (Affi and Affi 153). This is the reason
that in Islamic families, women play no role or very less role in decision-making.

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The next religion to discuss is Judaism, which is the oldest monotheistic religions and founded
around 3500 years ago (Papadopoulos). Jewish Bible is the text, which followers of this religion
read and believe in. In this religion, the wife and mother are known as akeret habayit (Raphael).
The meaning of the term is “mainstay” of the home. In this manner, women have a significant
role in the family and they largely determine the atmosphere and character of the entire home.
The position of women in the Jewish family is far better than modern people assumes to be. In
traditional Judaism, women are treated equally. It is the only influence of religion that the role of
women in the Jewish family is far ahead than doing household works. They play the character of
a leader in the family. Unlike other religions, like Islam, Judaism considers both man and woman
as same. As per traditional Judaism, women have greater qualities such as intuitions,
intelligence, and understanding. As this religion set the women free hence women have
influenced role in the family as well as in society.
Now discussing another religion Christianity, this is to state that the Bible is the lead document,
which followers of this religion refer to. Followers are known as Christians and they believe in
god. All the roles and responsibility of a woman in the family is influenced by the lessons of the
Bible and different religious leaders. Bible stipulates the role of a wife, a mother, and a daughter
in a Christian family. In relation to Christ, men and women are equal. This is the reason that the
status and situation of women are better in such families. Bible gives various roles to women that
include the role of mentor and witnesses. God determines men as leader of the family. Ephesians
5:22-24 says that for a man, the wife is what a Christ for a church is and husbands should care
for his wife (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine 1351). Wives have an important role in they
should submit their husbands into everything. In Christianity, if a man is treated as a head of the
family, then the wife is treated as the neck. As the neck supports the head, the wife supports her

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husband in the same manner. In addition to this, a proverb 31 also says about the role of the wife
in the bible. According to this proverb, a woman in the family looks after the need of family
members and fulfills them. She carries and performs her duties with strength and grace. Apart
from the role of wife, the role of the mother is also necessary to understand. As per the Holy
Bible, children in a family need full-time care and support of their mothers. In this method, the
role of a mother comes into light. Women are required to play the role of self-sacrifice, loving
and caring character. In addition to women, the bible also highlights the duties of men according
to which they need to respect their wives and mothers. Here this is to say that men are primary
leaders in the family as per this religion but women also have a better position as they may ask
for help from male members of the family. It means women have better role and status in
Christian families.
Conclusion
In order to conclude the argument on this topic, this is to state that religion has a great influence
on the status and role of women not only in society but also in the family. People learn their
behavior through religion and practice the principles of the same in daily lives. Further, to
discuss this influence of religion, this is to mention that people look after their religious text for
guidance and live their lives accordingly. In the presented essay, three western religions have
been discussed, the position women have there and the roles they are expected to play in a
family. Islam puts many responsibilities on a woman and this is the reason that in Islamic
families, a woman does all the household works. She takes care of her family and their
happiness. She is submissive to her husband and is required to respect him irrespective of the
personal characteristics of a husband. Christianity on the different side treats a woman as a man

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and believe she is liable to take care of her family but she is not the only liable person. The same
goes with Judaism. This is the reason that women of same religion has the same role in family
because other family members are influenced by the same lessons. This practice goes inheritance
and in this manner, it is far clear that the role of women in family differs from religion to
religion.
References
Affi Ahmed and Hassan Affi, Contemporary Interpretation of Islamic Law. Troubador
Publishing Ltd, 2014. Print.
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, The New American Bible: Translated from the Original
Languages with Critical Use of All the Ancient Sources Including the Revised Psalms and the
Revised New Testament. Oxford University Press, 2011. Print.
Jaschok, Maria and Shui Jingjun Shui, The History of Women's Mosques in Chinese Islam.
Routledge, 2013. Print.
O'Connor, Karen. Gender and women's leadership: a reference handbook. Vol. 1. Sage, 2010.
Papadopoulos, Irena, Culturally Competent Compassion: A Guide for Healthcare Students and
Practitioners. Routledge, 2018.

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Raphael, Melissa, Religion, Feminism, and Idoloclasm: Being and Becoming in the Women's
Liberation Movement. Routledge, 2019. Print.