Hello, my name's Mrs. Rawbone, and I'd like to welcome you today's lesson on different religious views about the status of women in religion.

In today's lesson, you will be able to explain how gender inequality impacts individuals, and describe Christian and non-religious responses to it.

Some keywords that we'll be using today are discrimination, gender equality, microaggression, and sexism.

Now, discrimination is actions that come from prejudice attitudes.

Gender equality is the idea that people of all gender should have the same rights, responsibilities, and opportunities in all areas of life.

A microaggression is a subtle comment or action that reinforces a stereotype or causes offence, often unintentionally.

And sexism is unfair treatment or attitudes towards someone because of their gender, usually based on the belief that one gender is better than another.

The lesson today will form two parts.

We will be looking at different religious views about the status of women in religion by understanding firstly gender inequality, and then Christian teachings and responses.

So let's move on and start to look at understanding gender inequality.

Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this declaration without distinction of any kind." This key principle is reflected in the 2010 Equality Act.

Under this act, gender is a protected characteristic.

So it's illegal to treat someone unfairly because of their gender in areas such as work, education, housing, and public services.

Religious organisations can limit roles to certain groups under a narrow legal exemption.

This graph shows how many countries had key gender equality laws from 1970 to 2023.

So we can see in the purple columns, these are countries where the law prohibits discrimination in employment based on gender.

In the lilac column, law mandates equal remuneration, so equal pay for females and males for work of equal value.

So in other words, if men and women are doing the same job, they should be paid the same.

The grey box is legislation specifically addressing domestic violence.

And the white, women and men have equal ownership rights to immovable property.

So have a look at that graph and how things have changed from 1970 through to 2023.

In which area of gender equality did most countries have laws in place by 2023? So have a good look at the columns and at the number of countries on the left-hand side.

Take a minute, pause if you need to.

Come back when you're ready to move on.

So you may have noticed that it's the area of equal ownership rights to immovable property.

And if you have a look that that's actually been the largest area across all of those decades.

So here's some historical examples of gender inequality in the UK ranging back from 1850, although of course it existed well before that, up to 1980.

Before 1870, married women's property legally belonged to their husbands until the Married Women's Property Act, which was from 1870 onwards.

Before 1918, women were excluded from voting in general elections until partial suffrage was granted in 1918.

So that didn't mean all women could vote, only some women, but some could vote by 1918.

Before 1919, women could not be lawyers, civil servants, or jurors until the sex disqualify.

Before 1919, women could not be lawyers, civil servants, or jurors until the Sex Disqualification Removal Act.

Before 1920, even if women studied the same courses as men, they could not be awarded university degrees.

Universities began awarding degrees to women slowly, with Oxford in 1920 and Cambridge in 1948.

Before 1925, fathers had full legal control of their children until the Guardianship of Infants Act in 1925 gave mothers equal rights.

In the 1950s, after World War II, Britain pushed women into domestic roles.

So having worked during World War II, women were then pushed back into the home, and schools and media discouraged ambition beyond the home.

Before 1961, women had no control over their reproduction.

The contraceptive pill, however, became available on the NHS in 1961, but abortion remained illegal until 1967.

Before 1969, men and women were held to different standards until the Divorce Reform Act of 1969 introduced more equal terms. So before that, they couldn't divorce each other on the same terms. Before 1970, women in the UK could legally be paid less than men for doing the same job.

That was until the Equal Pay Act of 1970.

Before 1975, women could be fired for marrying or becoming pregnant until the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 offered them some protection.

So let's check your understanding.

Which of these was made illegal until the 1970 Equal Pay Act? Was it A, different school uniforms, B, paying women less for the same job, C, all-male sports teams, or D, marriage without consent? Take a moment, pause if you need to, jot down your answer and then come back when you're ready to move on.

So well done if you put B, it was paying women less for the same job as men.

A YouGov poll asked the question, "Generally speaking, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way women are treated in society?" So here's the data, and we can see the purple line is for people being satisfied and the orange for people being dissatisfied.

And on the left we have a graph reflecting the general population, so that means both men and women.

And then we have a separate graph for men and a separate for women.

The question was asked in 2010 and in 2021.

So what do you notice about the difference between men and women's views? Have a good look at the graph, pause if you need to.

You can turn and talk to someone nearby if you wish, and then come back when you're ready to move on.

So you might have noticed that women are less satisfied than men with the way that women are treated in society.

So how has the satisfaction with the treatment of women changed generally speaking, from 2010 to 2021? Again, pause if you need to, turn and talk to someone nearby or you can turn and talk to me, and then come back when you're ready to move on.

So you might have noticed that satisfaction with the treatment of women in society dropped significantly, especially among women.

By 2021, less than half of women were satisfied.

Aisha, Sofia, Lucas, and Jacob are discussing some examples of sexism.

Aisha says, "When I get involved in group work, the boys ignore me and call me bossy." Sofia says, "A boy kept commenting on how I looked, but I was told he was just being nice." Lucas says, "I never realised how often girls get talked over in class." Jacob says, "I used to think sexist jokes were harmless, but now I see they hurt people." What other examples of sexism can you think of? If you're able to turn and talk to someone nearby and have a discussion, that will be great.

So pause the video and come back when you're ready to move on.

The examples given by Aisha, Sofia, Lucas and Jacob are known as microaggressions.

Microaggressions are subtle comments or actions that reinforce a stereotype or cause offence, often unintentionally.

So when Aisha says, "When I get involved in group work, the boys ignore me and call me bossy," this reflects a gendered double standard, with boys taking charge, being seen as leaders, but when girls do it, it's labelled negatively, subtly discouraging girls from speaking up.

When Sofia says, "A boy kept commenting on how I looked, but I was told he was just being nice." This is an example of dismissing unwanted attention as a compliment and it minimises a girl's discomfort sending her the message that her appearance matters more than her voice or her boundaries.

So what other microaggressions can you think of? If you're able to pause and talk to someone nearby, please do, or you can talk to me, come back when you're ready to move on.

This timeline illustrates how sexism affects women throughout their lives.

Gender stereotyping can start early.

Pink clothes, assumptions about behaviour, et cetera, even as a baby.

So when we get to the toddler stage, toys and the media can reinforce gender roles for children.

Boys might be pushed towards those action toys, and girls, those toys that involve caring and communication.

As a child, a girl is often expected to sit quietly, whereas boys might be praised for their confidence or for their leadership.

In the teenage years, a girl might face microaggressions and sexual harassment often through comments about her appearance that might make her feel judged or unsafe.

As an adult, women often have a lower income than men, and expectations around childcare and housework are higher.

Older women are often made to feel less visible.

They're less respected in media, healthcare, or in public life.

True or false? Microaggressions are intended to hurt people.

Take a moment, think about your answer.

Pause if you need to, but also have a think about why.

Come back when you are ready to check your answer.

So well done if you put false.

But why is this false? Well, it's false because the whole point of a microaggression is that it's often unconscious.

People are doing it without intending to hurt.

Gender inequality is more than just discriminative laws or microaggressions.

In "Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men," Caroline Criado Perez explores how systemic gender bias is embedded in everyday life.

In other words, every day embedded into what we do is a gender bias.

Phones and tools are often too large because they're designed for male hands.

Crash test dummies are based on male models, which means that cars are less safe for women because they haven't been tested for the size of a woman's body.

Medical trials often exclude women, making treatments less accurate for them or maybe less effective.

Transport systems favour male commutes over women's more varied journeys.

PPE and uniforms rarely fit women properly putting them at risk.

Voice software struggles with female voices due to male-biased data.

Millicent Fawcett was an important figure in the fight for gender equality.

Here's a picture of her.

She led the peaceful campaign for women's right to vote.

Fawcett was the leader of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, and it used nonviolent methods like petitions, lobbying, and public speaking.

She believed in education and equality for women.

She campaigned for better education and jobs for women, and helped set up Newnham College in Cambridge.

She was the first woman honoured with a statue in Parliament Square.

A statue was unveiled in 2018, marking 100 years since some women gained the right to vote in the UK.

The Fawcett Society is an example of a group that fights for the equality of women and men in all areas of life.

They raise awareness and campaign to change unfair laws and policies.

For example, they launched #EqualPayDay.

They work with schools and employers to challenge sexism.

They publish reports to show where things are still unequal.

For example, "Sex and Power" showed a lack of women in top roles.

Zara is an atheist.

She's explaining why she supports the Fawcett Society.

Zara says, "I've become more aware of how normalised behaviours like sexist jokes or ignoring women's voices can be, and I feel more determined to challenge them.

I believe we have a personal responsibility to work for equality, and so I feel determined to speak up.

I support the Fawcett Society by following their campaigns online, sharing their posts to raise awareness, and taking part in events like Equal Pay Day.

I also signed their petition for stronger laws against workplace harassment." How does Zara's worldview inform her response to gender equality? So remember, she's an atheist.

Have a look at what she said.

Take a moment, turn and talk to someone nearby if you can, pause the video, and come back when you're ready to move on.

Humanists are against discrimination of any sort.

Their condemnation of sexism can be seen in several areas.

So in terms of equality, they would say that women and men deserve equal rights and opportunities.

And this is evident in the Humanist UK Equality and Diversity Policy.

They are overtly anti-sexist, so discrimination based on gender should be challenged, and that's evident in the Amsterdam Declaration of 2002.

They use secular ethics.

So gender justice should be supported through human reason and fairness and not through any reference to religion or to God.

And this is evident in Humanist UK Beliefs and Values.

And they do this also through education.

Looking at support for inclusive non-stereotyped education about gender.

Again, evident in Humanist UK in their education policy.

Brandon is a humanist.

He's been asked about his view on gender equality.

Brandon says, "Equality means recognising the value and potential in every person, and challenging the attitudes and systems that hold women back.

Equality isn't optional.

It should apply everywhere, including in religious settings.

Laws like the Equality Act are important, but real progress also means challenging everyday attitudes and making sure everyone's rights are respected." So how does this tie in with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Take a moment to think about how Brandon's view as a humanist links in with human rights.

Pause if you need to, come back when you're ready to move on.

Article 2 of the declaration states that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms without distinction of any kind.

So that point without distinction means no discrimination between gender, for example, or anything else such as race or disability.

Give one example of how someone might challenge attitudes or systems that hold women back.

Take a moment, pause the video, jot down your answer, and then come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

You could have said any one of the following.

Promoting equal pay or fair treatment at work.

Speaking out against sexist jokes.

Supporting laws like the Equality Act.

Supporting organisations such as the Fawcett Society.

For Task A, I'd like you to answer the following questions.

Number 1, what does the Equality Act of 2010 say about gender? Number 2, give one example of how women were treated unequally in UK law before the 1970s.

Number 3, what is a microaggression? Give one example.

And number 4, how do stereotypes affect gender roles from a young age? Five, give one non-religious reason to support gender equality.

So take your time, pause the video, think carefully about what you've learned and write up your answers.

Come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

Let's have a look at what you could have said.

For number 1, "What does the Equality Act 2010 say about gender?" The Equality Act says that it is illegal to treat someone unfairly because of their gender, as gender is a protected characteristic.

Number 2, "Give one example of how women were treated unequally in UK law before the 1970s." Before the Equal Pay Act of 1970, women could legally be paid less than men for doing the same job.

Number 3, "What is a microaggression? Give one example." A microaggression is a subtle comment or action that reinforces stereotypes and makes someone feel disrespected.

An example is calling a girl bossy for speaking up in group work.

Number 4, "How do stereotypes affect gender roles from a young age?" Stereotypes teach girls to be quiet and caring, and boys to be confident and active, which limits their choices and behaviour.

And number 5, "Give one non-religious reason to support gender equality." Gender equality is a human right, and the Equality Act of 2010 supports gender as a protected characteristic.

So, well done if you managed to answer those questions and include any of the points from the lesson that we have learned so far.

So let's move on to look at Christian teaching and responses.

Christian attitudes to the status and treatment of women are informed by different sources of authority including, the Bible, church teachings, the example of other Christians, Christian ethical theories such as Natural Law and situation ethics, their conscience and ability to reason.

They may interpret the sources differently or emphasise one more than another.

Traditionally, men have held the power in Christianity.

Men have had leadership and institutional power, so that means they've been priests, bishops, popes.

They've had control of doctrine, that means the teachings, and of scripture.

And also of decisions about roles, for example, about marriage and about sexuality.

Women have been excluded from leadership roles.

Their roles have focused on support rather than authority.

They've had limited influence over teaching, and their views are often silenced or overlooked.

Historically, the church argued that men and women were equal but had different roles.

Today, some still agree, while others believe equality means sharing the same roles.

This diagram explains the traditional view.

So they're equal in dignity, but different in role.

The equal in dignity idea comes from verses like Genesis 1:27, where men and women were both made in God's image and so are clearly equally valuable.

Jesus died so that both men and women can have a full relationship with God.

This can be found in Galatians 3:28.

But different in role also has a biblical basis.

So verses like Ephesians 5:23 and 1 Timothy 2:12 say that men should lead in church and at home.

And men and women have different God-given strengths.

This is one argument for them having different roles.

They work best when used together, so they have a different role, and they complement each other.

There is ongoing divergence in Christian views on the roles of women in the church with some churches, for example, Catholic and Orthodox still restricting priesthood to men.

And others, for example, Quakers, the United Reformed Church, Methodist and Anglicans, affirming full equality in leadership.

So let's have a look at this historically.

Going back to the first century CE, during the New Testament era, women did work as early church leaders.

It's mentioned in the Bible, figures like Phoebe in Romans 16:1, who was a deacon, and Priscilla, who was a teacher, showed that women played active roles in the very early church.

However, in the 4th century, the church starts to restrict female leadership.

It becomes more hierarchical.

Women are increasingly excluded from preaching and leadership roles.

When we get to the Middle Ages, women lead as mystics and monastics.

Women like Julian of Norwich and Hildegard of Bingen become respected spiritual voices despite being excluded from formally being authorities.

So there is a role for women at this point.

In 1560, we have the Scottish Reformation.

Protestant reforms reinforce male-only leadership, and women are excluded from public ministry.

So that means from working with people publicly on behalf of the church.

In the 1650s, we have the Quakers arising as a new denomination, and they recognise full spiritual equality.

So from the very beginning, they allow women to preach and lead because they believe there is "that of God in everyone" regardless of gender.

In 1919, the first woman was licenced to preach in a UK Free Church.

So this was a landmark moment in non-Anglican Protestant communities.

So that means in the UK, for churches that were not Catholic, Orthodox or Church of England.

In 1944, the Church of England starts to allow women to become churchwardens.

So they have a role caring and looking after the church community.

This is a step toward lay leadership roles for women.

So a lay leadership role means they're not ordained officially, but they can work as kind of ordinary people who have other jobs leading within the church, but we're not there yet.

In 1972, the United Reformed Church began ordaining women.

It was one of the first UK denominations to allow women equal status in ministry.

In 1994, the Church of England ordains women as priests after a long period of resistance.

And in 2014, the Church of England approves the first female bishops.

Libby Lane is the first and she's consecrated in 2015.

So which church allows a full equality in leadership for men and women? Is it A, Catholic, B, Orthodox, C, Quakers, or D, Plymouth Brethren? So take a moment, pause the video if you need to, and then come back when you are ready to check your answer.

So, well done if you put Quakers.

From the very beginning, women were allowed full leadership roles alongside men.

The way in which Christians interpret the Bible has a huge influence on the teachings of different denominations and on the views of individual Christians on gender equality.

So here's a very controversial verse.

1 Corinthians 14:34, "Women should remain silent in the churches.

They are not allowed to speak but must be in submission." So this verse has often been used to justify excluding women from leadership or preaching in the church.

Jason is a Roman Catholic priest and he is explaining how his church interprets this teaching.

He says, "This verse should be understood in its context.

It is about order in worship, not banning women from having a role.

The Catholic Church doesn't ordain women but values their contribution.

Women like Phoebe were early leaders, and today many serve as theologians, teachers, and leaders.

Men and women are equal, but they have different roles." So Jason is understanding this verse as written at the time and context, it was about having order in worship and not actually excluding women from doing anything.

However, as a Roman Catholic, he does not accept women as ordained priests.

Ji-eun is a Methodist Minister and she's explaining how her church interprets the same teaching.

Ji-eun says, "This verse was written to a specific church facing disruption not as a permanent ban.

In Romans 16, Paul praises Phoebe, a deacon, and Priscilla, who taught alongside her husband.

Women also supported Jesus' ministry financially.

That's why in the Methodist Church, we believe God calls women and men equally to preach, lead, and serve." The way in which Christians interpret the Bible has a huge influence on the teachings of different denominations and on the views of individual Christians on gender equality.

This verse from Ephesians 5:22 says, "Wives, submit to your own husbands as you do to the Lord." And it's often been used to justify traditional gender roles in the home where the husband is the leader and the wife is obedient and submissive.

Martha is an exclusivist Plymouth Brethren, and she's explaining how her church interprets this teaching.

She says, "In our church, we believe the Bible is God's word and should be taken literally.

This is not about men being more important, but about different roles that God has designed for men and women.

In our homes and churches, we try to live by that order with men leading and women supporting in ways that honour God.

Tamara is a Quaker and she's explaining how her church interprets the same teaching.

Tamara says, "Quakers believe there is that of God in everyone.

So we see all people as equal.

When I read this verse, I understand it as reflecting the culture of its time.

Jesus treated women with dignity and respect, like when he spoke with the Samaritan woman in John 4.

That example matters more to me.

Quakers have always believed in full equality, including in relationships." So let's check your understanding.

How do different Christian denominations interpret Bible verses about gender roles? A, the Bible says men and women are equal so roles must always be identical, B, all Christians interpret these verses as commands that apply in every age, C, most Christians ignore these verses when making decisions about leadership, or D, some Christians believe the verses reflect the culture of the time, not fixed rules.

So take a moment, pause if you need to, and decide which of those reflects the view of different Christian denominations interpreting Bible verses about gender roles.

Come back when you're ready to check your answer.

So, well done if you put D.

There were some Christians who thought the verses were reflective of the time and not relevant now.

But of course not all Christians think the same.

Feminist theology began to emerge in the 1960s and 1970s.

Women began to question the male-dominated nature of religious traditions, and to explore how theology could be reinterpreted to reflect gender equality.

Two key feminist theologians were Mary Daly and Rosemary Radford Ruether.

Mary Daly argues that Christianity supports male dominance by presenting God as male.

She says that Christianity should be replaced with a new feminist spirituality that values women's experiences and rejects male-led authority.

Rosemary Radford Ruether argues Jesus' message focused on justice especially for the oppressed, and that includes women.

She says that Christianity can be reformed by returning to its original message of liberation.

In 1988, Pope John Paul II responded to feminist criticism in "Mulieris Dignitatem" by arguing that men and women are equal but different.

He said that women have a special dignity shown through motherhood, which he saw as part of their natural purpose and part of God's design.

Now, critics argue this still reinforces traditional gender roles by tying their value to motherhood and obedience.

Niamh is a Catholic Christian and she's explaining her response to the teaching in "Mulieris Dignitatem." She says, "I respect Pope John Paul II's teaching that women have a special dignity, but I believe it doesn't go far enough.

I want to see women fully recognised in leadership and ministry.

That's why I'm a member of Catholic Women's Ordination, a group which campaigns for women to be fully included in all ordained ministries of the Roman Catholic Church.

I take part in prayer vigils, write to church leaders, and join discussions about how the church can be more inclusive." So how does Niamh's response respect both her faith and her belief in gender equality? Take a moment, turn and talk to someone nearby if you can, or you can talk to me.

Come back when you're ready to move on.

What are the missing words from these four sentences? "Mary Daly argued Christianity should be abandoned and with a feminist spirituality." "Rosemary Radford Ruether believed Christianity could be by returning to its message of justice.

Pope John Paul II, in "Mulieris Dignitatem," claim that women have a special dignity, especially shown through.

And Catholic Women's campaigns for women to be fully included in church leadership.

Take a moment to jot down what you think the four missing words are.

Come back when you're ready to move on.

So, well done if you've got that Mary Daly argued that Christianity should be replaced.

Rosemary Radford Ruether said it should be reformed.

That Pope John Paul said the special dignity was shown through motherhood.

And that the organisation that campaigns for women to be fully included in the Catholic church leadership is called Catholic Women's Ordination.

So for part 1 of your task on Christian teachings and responses, I'd like to have a go at this question.

Explain two different religious beliefs about gender equality.

In your answer, you must refer to one or more religious traditions.

To answer the question, you might want to use the suggestions below.

Points, so "Some Christians.

." And develop, "This means.

." And point, "Other Christians.

." And develop, "This means.

." So pause the video, take your time to write your two paragraphs, and then come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

You could have said, "Some Christians such as those in the Catholic Church, believe that men and women are equal in dignity but have different roles.

This means that while women are respected and can serve in many areas of church life, only men can become priests based on church tradition." "Other Christians, such as Methodists, believe that men and women are completely equal and should have the same opportunities in all areas of church life.

This means women can be ordained as ministers, preach, lead worship, and hold positions of authority because they believe Jesus treated women as equals and that his message is one of justice and inclusion." So, well done if you managed to put across two different views.

We have quite a contrast within Christianity.

So Catholic is a very good contrast with Methodists or perhaps with Quakers, or even with Anglicans who do now ordain women as priests.

For part 2 of our task, Martha, who's an exclusive Plymouth Brethren, and Tamara, who's a Quaker, are discussing this statement, "Gender equality is still an issue in today's society." I'd like you to complete the table by developing what they might say.

So Tamara begins, "I strongly agree that gender equality is still a problem.

All people are equal because.

This means women should have.

Including in.

." Martha says, "I can see that for some women gender equality is an issue, but I believe men and women are.

True equality doesn't mean having the same.

Women should.

." So take your time, think back carefully about what we've learned about different ideas about gender equality in society generally, and in particular of these views.

So remember that Tamara is a Quaker and Martha is an exclusive Plymouth Brethren.

Pause the video, take your time, come back when you're ready to see what you could have written.

You could have said, for Tamara, "I strongly agree that gender equality is still a problem.

All people are equal because everyone has the light of God within them.

This means women should have equal roles in all areas of life, including in the family and in Christian leadership." So she's reflected the Quaker view that everyone has something of God in them, she calls it the light of God.

And that women should have equal roles in all areas.

Martha on the other hand, she says, "I can see that for some women gender equality is an issue, but I believe men and women are equal but different.

True equality doesn't mean having the same roles.

Women should support male leadership in the church and home as part of God's order." So very clearly different views.

She thinks there's equality, but people have different roles, and women should be supportive of men in those leadership roles.

Well done if you manage to put across those two very contrasting Christian views.

In today's lesson, we have learned that gender inequality has a long history, and UK laws like the Equal Pay Act aim to reduce it.

That many inequalities persist through stereotypes, microaggressions, and systemic bias.

That non-religious people such as humanists promote equality based on reason and dignity.

Christian views vary.

Some interpret the Bible to support traditional roles and male leadership, but others see it as promoting equality.

And feminist theologians challenge patriarchy in Christianity and call for reform or replacement.

So we've learned a lot today.

Well done for working so hard with me through this lesson.