Feminism is clear on the "how" of women's oppression, less so on the "why". Discuss in relation to Smith's Misogynies.

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Feminism is clear on the “how” of women’s oppression, less so on the “why”. Discuss in relation to Smith’s Misogynies. 

Throughout history and to this day women across the globe remain severely disadvantaged in terms of economic opportunities in comparison to their male counterparts. McLanahen & Kelly found that women within the USA are 50% more likely to live in poverty than men whilst women working fulltime in the UK only earn 80% of the male total. In Misogynies Smith states the reason for this continued oppression are the women-hating tendencies inherent every man. It can however be said that whilst she does tentatively speculate on the origins of this ‘hatred’, with religion and upbringing being her key themes, she offers no particularly strong arguments and no conclusive evidence to back up her claims. Indeed it can be said that she, like many other feminists, has chosen to focus simply on the implications, the ‘how’, of male-dominance, rather than attempting to discover the ‘why’, as if she believes it to be as natural a phenomena as the men would claim.

        

Smith’s most persuasive argument is the role of religion in instilling the current social divisions.  Judaeo-Christian misogyny can be attested to writings within the Old Testament with Genesis chapters arguably the prime culprits for the following centuries of female oppression. The writings state that Eve was created from one of Adam’s ribs suggesting Adam to be in some way superior. Similarly as it was Eve who committed Original Sin and gave into the devil therefore she, and all women after her, should be punished and blamed for ills in the world. The moral of the story is that it was Eve’s fault, her weakness caused Adam to be ejected from the Garden of Eden therefore all women are weak. The Church of England’s continued refusal to allow female priests is for Smith a symptom of their ‘sexual disgust, fear of female sexuality and a desire for sexual apartheid’ as women were seen as leading men to sin and so wholly unsuited to priesthood

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Within the bible and most other dominant holy texts there are very few references to ‘strong women’ and any woman included is meek and submissive such as the Virgin Mary. Smith believes Mary to be ‘nothing more than a receptacle, a useful vessel’ and that ‘her place in history is contingent with her docility’ . For many men women are either Mary the virgin or Eve the temptress, there is no middle ground and so most women are perceived to be wicked, dangerous and provocative. Her views are echoed by Stanton who views women as being victims of male-dominated religion. The ...

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