Empowerment In Religion

Religion has always been a quigmire of sexist views and practices for women, and while this still occurs many women find solace and empowerment in religion. This empowerment is even true within orthodox religions where to a securlarists eye it may seem restricting and non feminist. There are many reasons some women may find an orthodox religion appealing feeling more in control of their sexuality, or to deepen their spirituality as mentioned by Renzetti, Curran and Maier (2012., p. 344). Also, another reason women may turn to an orthodox religion is that some are becoming more inclusive towards women, but it is a slow process of changing entrenched traditions (Renzetti., et al., 2012., p. 345). In Engelberg's work he details an interview with a woman named Sarah, who was raised in an orthodox religion, but remained religious out of habit until later in life where she has become an adherent of Religious Zionist neo-Hasidic school of thought (2015). She goes on to detail that she practices hitbodedut, which is essentially speaking to God in a seculded area on a regular basis and describes these talks deepen her relationship with God and elaborates on this
In Kaufman's interviews the women that had converted to Orthodoxy believed that they had "regained control over their sexuality," and felt they also felt enhanced status as both women and mothers beliving the men in their lives to be more respectful, supportive and committed (Renzetti., et al., 2012, p. 344). This attitude towards sex and the aforementioned belief that Orthodoxy can deepen their relationship with God alludes to a more encompassing idea that these women are seeking agency in a male dominated system that often belittles women and excludes them from aspects of expressing their faith and being able to become part of the church