In my history class we are learning about the early American colonies and Jamestown. Our exam is tomorrow and as I was reviewing, I noticed the term “fertile commodities”. This term was used to describe women at the time because even if it was a “new” world, democracy only catered to white landowning males. Women were seen as a machine to produce an heir (preferably a son). I then had a moment of connection to my religious studies class as we are learning about Genesis 1-3. Eve was created from the rib of Adam and, as Genesis is know to be derived from old Babylonian myths and creation stories, it is know that women were taken as a derivative of men. Women were seen as the origin of sin, as Eve is known to have eaten the fruit from the tree of knowledge. Adam even blames Eve for giving the fruit to him in Genesis 3 with, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree”(Bible, Gen. 3). Could the story of Genesis and the Christian structure of early American civilization be linked? I believe it is because of the patriarchal structure presented from these times to even the modern era. Women have been seen as roots of sin and lower class citizens up into the women suffrage movement, and even today. Is religion good for society or does it stunt the growth of civilization? I think that it stunts in many ways because of the crusades, wars of religion, womens’ rights, disagreement of church and science and social hierarchy. Just think of how advanced we would be as a civilization without the time wasted over who was right and how to conquer those who do not believe. With this being said, it doesn’t mean that I do not find religion as a platform on morals. Most religious texts can be used to develop a human to not steal, treat others with respect, do not envy others, and even to be loyal to one’s spouse. I just think that if they were taken more as fables, then maybe the world would have been more developed and women would still not have to be fighting for wage gap closure. In all these questions are open to interpretations and how one takes religious texts, I just see a connection between Genesis and why females are supporting the bottom of the totem pole.What do you all think?
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I think the connection is a strong (and unfortunate) one. My personal studies speak to this notion that even “progressive” ideals perpetuate structures that discriminate along gender lines. Sexism–the notion that men are more ‘human’ than women are, and are thus more valuable–is built into the system we inherit and perpetuate. This line of questioning, though, is so valuable because it works to disempower, just a bit, such notions. Thank you for it!