How Does Religion affect Gender Relations across South Asia?
Female employment and divorce are low across India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Since each country has a different religious majority, religion cannot be the primary driver of South Asian gender relations.
But there are 4 ways in which religion may reinforce patriarchy.
If close-knit communities are deeply religious, sacrosanct teachings may go unquestioned.
Members may conform with religious prescriptions to gain respectability. When Pakistani preachers emphasise ‘Hell’, they are implicitly threatening earthly ostracism.
If people regard paradise as paramount, and contingent upon patriarchal ideals, female labour supply may be unresponsive to economic incentives. Even if women are employed as professionals, they still feel obliged to follow religious tenets and obey their husbands. Scripture is thus invoked to legitimise the Patrilocal Trap.
Religious violence and discrimination may be worsening gender inequalities.
