2. Focus of
Explanation
Details and Studies Evaluation
1. Socialisation
and role
expectation
Miller and Hoffmann:
- Women taught to be submissive and
passive – link to being religious.
- Work part time having more time,
generally more caring roles.
- Source of identity.
Greely- Pressure on women for welfare
of family, females naturally nurturing.
Bruce- More passive because of being
less confrontational and more
expressive.
Davie – women closer to birth/death
with role – thus close to big questions.
Miller & Hoffman – attitude to risk.
- Women are socialised into avoiding risk
– being religious = not willing to take the
risk that they wont get into heaven (so
they believe)
3. Focus of
Explanation
Details and Studies Evaluation
1. Socialisation
and role
expectation
Secularisation = religion in the home
more/privatisation = women domain
(Bruce)
Woodhead & Heelas – traditional role/
stability – removes ambiguities of Post
modern age.
Hawley – women desire protection
from men – machismo of
fundamentalism
Women and New Age – close to
healing = NAM attraction (Woodhead
& Heelas)
Callum Brown – self-religions (new
age) – appeal to women’s wish for
autonomy
Fundamentalism- Some
women attracted because
of certainty of gender roles
it gives.
4. Focus of
Explanation
Details and Studies Evaluation
3. Life expectancy Women live longer than men –
widowed.
Turn to religion = support.
Close to life events that link to religion,
ie) funerals.
Concern for life after death etc.
Davie- Closer to life and death leads to
ultimate question.
Social class/ethnic
differences not considered.
Appeal of different religions
– motives?
5. Focus of
Explanation
Details and Studies Evaluation
4.Social
deprivation and
marginality
Women = marginal (Thompson)
Women = more likely to be poor
compared to men = World Rejecting
(social deprivation – Glock & Stark)
Women experience family problems
and worries – mental health (Glock and
Stark – Organismic deprivation)
Women lack confidence – seek self-
improvement through religion. =
NRMs/NAMs
Compensation/theodicy of disprivelege
Participation gives women power and
status (Weber) – a response to
patriachy.
World rejecting sects – many women
involved in establishing (Bruce)
Glock and Stark - ethical deprivation
(world in moral decline)
6. Focus of
Explanation
Details and Studies Evaluation
5.Status
frustration
Lack personal fulfilment due to being
confined in home (housework/
childcare) – Feminist in flavour/
control/ pariarchy.
Women unfulfilled in lower middle
class jobs = ‘improve self/social
position’.
Puttick – well educated women and
self-religionism/self improvement.
Religion as self-improvement (NAMs/
World Affirming Sects).
Bruce – women and NAMs –
healing/spirituality.
Religion as compensation.
Working class women not
covered.
Other sources of
compensation these days –
‘facebook
(Deakin & )
Expensive products most
can’t afford.
