The Sexualization and Devaluation of Women
Throughout history, the perception of women has been shaped by stories, cultures, and systems that diminish their worth. One of the most infamous examples is the biblical portrayal of Mary Magdalene.
Why does the Bible depict Magdalene as a prostitute? Why is it that, across different societies and eras, women are so often degraded, their value reduced to their sexuality?
For centuries, Mary Magdalene has been one of the most misunderstood figures in Christian history. Despite her crucial role in the New Testament as one of Jesus’ most devoted followers and the first witness to his resurrection, she has often been falsely labeled as a prostitute. This misrepresentation stems from centuries of patriarchal interpretation, deliberate distortion, and religious authority shaping narratives to fit their agendas.
The misrepresentation of Mary Magdalene aligns with a broader pattern of diminishing women’s roles in religious and societal structures. Throughout history, powerful women, whether spiritual, intellectual, or political, have often been vilified, sexualized, or erased altogether.
Through my experiences with people and my observations of society, I’ve seen firsthand how deeply ingrained the devaluation of women is. It’s not just about individuals; it’s a system, a way of thinking that turns women into objects, commodities to be possessed, judged, or discarded.
Why does history insist on sexualizing women? Why does it strip them of their intellect, spirit, and complexity and reduce them to objects or subordinates?
The article “The Historical Oppression of Women in Christianity” by Fabrizio Musacchio examines the multifaceted factors contributing to women’s subordination within Christian history. It explores how theological interpretations, ecclesiastical structures, and cultural contexts have collectively perpetuated gender inequality.
In ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia and Egypt, women possessed certain rights, including property ownership and participation in commerce. However, they remained subordinate to men, particularly within familial settings. The Greco-Roman world, influential in shaping early Christian thought, institutionalized patriarchal norms. In Athens, women were largely confined to domestic roles and excluded from political life, though exceptions existed, such as priestesses in religious cults. Philosophers like Aristotle regarded women as biologically and intellectually inferior to men, a perspective that profoundly impacted subsequent Christian ideology. Roman society offered women slightly more freedom; they could manage property and influence family affairs, yet public leadership roles remained inaccessible. In Jewish society, gender roles were strictly delineated, with women often relegated to the domestic sphere. Although some Jewish texts, such as Proverbs 31, celebrate women’s virtues, the broader religious framework positioned them as subordinate to men. Women were excluded from many religious practices, including Temple worship and formal education in Torah law.
Certain passages in the Christian Bible have been interpreted to endorse women’s subordination. For instance, 1 Timothy 2:11-12 states, “Let a woman learn in silence with full submission. I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent.” Similarly, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 asserts, “Women should be silent in the churches.” These texts, reflecting the patriarchal context of their time, have been used to exclude women from leadership roles within the church.
The development of ecclesiastical hierarchies further marginalized women. As the church became more institutionalized, leadership roles were exclusively reserved for men. The establishment of clerical celibacy and monasticism also contributed to the perception of women as distractions or temptations, leading to their exclusion from significant religious functions.
Musacchio, Fabrizio. “Women in Christianity.” Weekend Stories, 18 Jan. 2025
The article “Cultural Oppression Disguised as Religious Obligation: A Fatal Misrepresentation to the Advancement of Muslim Women’s Rights in the Context of the So-Called Honor Killings” examines how cultural practices, rather than religious doctrine, contribute to the oppression of Muslim women. It argues that honor killings—the murder of women accused of dishonoring their families—are falsely justified through religious rhetoric when, in reality, they stem from patriarchal traditions rather than Islamic teachings.
The article highlights how misinterpretations of religious texts and deeply ingrained cultural norms fuel these violent practices, impeding women’s rights and perpetuating systemic gender inequality. It critiques how societies exploit religious narratives to maintain male dominance and control over women’s autonomy.
AlBader, F. (2020). Cultural oppression disguised as religious obligation: A fatal misrepresentation to the advancement of Muslim women’s rights in the context of the so-called honor killings. Asian Pacific American Law Journal, 24(1), 1–16.