Patriarchal Legacy: Unraveling the Roots of Women's Inequality in Abrahamic Religions

The historical roots of women's inequality in the Abrahamic religions originated during the final formation period of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, when a patriarchal order prevailed. Even at the stage of creating the sacred canons, foundations were laid that excluded women from public, educational, and professional spheres. These ancient principles, confirmed both in Old Testament accounts and later treatises, reflected an established system of views where male superiority was considered indisputable.

A clear affirmation of ideas supporting male domination can be traced within the religious texts preserved over centuries. The sacred scriptures, which became the doctrinal foundation, often shaped and supported traditions in which women held an exclusively subordinate position. In this context, external spheres of life—whether politics, education, or professional activity—remained inaccessible to women for centuries, laying the groundwork for a modern cultural environment where issues of equality still remain unresolved.

Despite global shifts and changes in public perspectives, historical and cultural mechanisms continue to exert significant influence on modern interpretations of the Abrahamic religions. Recognizing these profound boundaries is incompatible with contemporary aspirations for equality, challenging society to critically reconsider and reinterpret traditions. This challenge demands energy, knowledge, and determination to transform entrenched stereotypes into a new, more just and dynamic reality.

What historical and cultural factors contribute to the frequent deprivation of equal rights for women in the Abrahamic religions?

Historical and cultural factors contributing to the frequent deprivation of equal rights for women in the Abrahamic religions are rooted in ideas formed during the final establishment of these religions, when patriarchal order reigned supreme. For example, as noted in source link , "the three main religions of the Mediterranean world—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—acquired their final form at a time when a patriarchal worldview was indisputably dominant." This means that already during the formative stage of the religious texts' canons, a system of views was established in which women were traditionally excluded from the public, professional, and educational spheres.

Moreover, the religious texts themselves reinforced ideals of male dominance. In the same source link , it is stated: "The Bible in the most definitive way asserts the supremacy of men... But patriarchs came to dominate." Thus, these sacred texts and interpretations, prevailing for centuries, entrenched the idea of the irreversible subordination of women.

It is also important to note that even before the advent of Christianity, there existed a deeply rooted patriarchal order: as indicated in source link , "in Old Testament times, before the coming of Christ on earth, women held a very subordinate, often semi-servile, position in our world." These historical realities, reflected in culture and legal norms, continued to influence modern interpretations and practices within the framework of Abrahamic beliefs.

Thus, the combination of socio-economic practices of household management, the exclusion of women from public and educational life, and theological treatises emphasizing male superiority formed the basis of a cultural environment in which women's equality is systematically ignored.

Supporting citation(s):
"If there is one area in which the Bible held back the radicals of the 17th century, it was in relation to women. Other factors worked against women—the household economy, the long tradition of their exclusion from public and professional life and from higher education. Unfortunately, the three main religions of the Mediterranean world—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—acquired their final form at a time when a patriarchal worldview was indisputably dominant." (source: link )

"The Bible in the most definitive way asserts the supremacy of men. In the Old Testament there are, admittedly, some accounts of women from pre-patriarchal times... But patriarchs came to dominate." (source: link )

"In Old Testament times, before the coming of Christ on earth, women held a very subordinate, often semi-servile, position in our world and were considered far inferior to men in their own right." (source: link )