Misogyny in Religion | Women without God

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In the opinion piece, Decades of Marginalization and Silencing Women have left Evangelicals Morally Compromised, Peggy Wehmeyer details how her misogynist religion affected her life. It almost altered her career path by negatively impacting her mental health. Religion, specifically the Abrahamic faiths, are sexist systems that women should avoid for their well being.

Here are my initial thoughts about the first half of the article:




Peggy was confronted with the misogyny multiple times during her study at the Dallas Theological Seminary, from classmates and even an important professor! Faced with constant questioning and doubts about her skills, potential as a preacher and her future, it is no surprise that she found her purpose in a secular position at a local TV station. Sexism literally impacts women's mental health, from their self-perception and confidence to depression and anxiety. Peggy was given an ultimatum, by said Professor, to give up her dream at church leadership and foster a family or pursue a secular career, alone and without her faith. This 'advice' from a "trusted" religious institution made her question her life's path! Who doesn't want a happy family, with a loving spouse? Who wouldn't want a thriving, successful career that makes them feel fulfilled with their existence? Why can't women have both?!

The better question is how didn't Peggy realize this major fault in her belief system? In the article, Peggy even asks the rhetorical question: why did she keep her faith? Because through the patriarchial church system. Peggy learned how to love and trust herself. Her spiritual relationship with "god" provided her with emotional care and strength to keep going. She instead of dropping her sexist faith like a bad habit, she clung to an unjust system, designed to oppress women. Her morals evolved well past her ideology. So did Peggy leave?



With this realized cognitive dissonance, Peggy formed her own community of working women where they discussed faith. Problem solved, right? No, because when her daughter wanted a role in church leadership, Peggy warned her not to pursue it. Flashbacks of the humiliation, frustration, and alienation came back to her. Peggy wanted to shield her child from what she experienced years earlier. She knew how damaging it was to her own psyche. Peggy is a victim of the misogyny of her religion. Years later, her daughter reached the role of leadership that Peggy once had for herself. But at what cost? Is it worth the cherry picking or internalized sexism? Consider the career success that was sacrificed just to be seen as an equal in this specific church. Even if Peggy gets to live through her daughter and enjoy the cultural change of this Dallas church, there will always be women who are abused, emotionally and mentally, because of religion and it's patriarchal structure.

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