The dichotomy of religion and sexism

What's up caffeine addicts,

Yay more videos! Huzzah! Here is one from someone named Chelsea Shields where she gave a TedTalk about how she has been able to use Mormonism as a source of empowerment and tried to reflect that by fighting for equality.

https://www.ted.com/talks/chelsea_shields_how_i_m_working_for_change_inside_my_church#t-184452

Mormonism is an incredibly strict religion in the way that they deal with the different sexes. As Shields points out, women aren't even allowed in many meetings just because they are strictly male only. And I think it's interesting that she points how we focus so heavily on equality in society but seem to forget our own religions and give religions a free pass. In today's society, not allowing women to join a conference is incredibly frowned upon and innately sexist. And it's easy to say that its just part of the tradition but traditions are eventually meant to be changed when the change is for a greater good. Many of these regulations were written in a time where women were seen as barely human. Nowadays these stereotypes are slowly changing for the better, and our religions should reflect that as well.

It is also important to see why it is so difficult to change the perceptions of so many of these people who are deeply rooted in their religion. Shields talks about how, according to their rules, just by wearing a shirt that reveals her shoulders, she won't be able to see her family in heaven. From this context, it is easy to see why so many of these people are resistant to change. They fear what might happen if they violate the rules put in place by their prophets or creators. This is why fighting for equality has to occur slowly. Making slow changes as we go along will allow them to mount up into something incredible. Proposing a radical restructuring of any religion will be met with huge uproar and a lot of fear from its believers. Although making small changes here and there is the long, hard road to achieving equality, for many religions, it may be the only way that change can be made at all. That is why I applaud people like Chelsea Shields who are in it for the long game and stick to her people why also attempting to change them.


Stay Awesome.