For years this has been a patriarchal world, where men have held primary power, dictating and controlling society and institutions. It's only now that women are trying to take back that power, demonstrating their purpose and need in this world. Religion, particularly along with numerous other things, has played a substantial role in the effects of gender, particularly gender roles. Justifying and promoting a particular treatment of individuals, whether good or bad. To protect and empower some, while abandoning and neglecting others. They are resisting change, as a rejection of the unknown. This essay will illustrate how religion affects gender and gender roles. More specifically, the behavioral roles learned by a person in a manner appropriate to his or her gender, determined by prevailing cultural norms or, in this case, religious customs. Furthermore, illustrating the result of this implication, as demonstrated in numerous religious based on films and readings. As resistant, marginalized or completely non-existent. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Women in most religions seem to be reduced to one thing, housewives, who are taught to marry or prepare to marry. They are seen as the weakest race and must therefore please their superiors, the men. While some women see no problem with this statement, others vehemently oppose it. Others resist and bend traditions and customs, struggling to gain power and find individuality and essential purpose in their culture, religion, and society. This was seen in films like Whale Rider and Dream Beckham, where women had to fight ten times harder just to do the things they love, the things men would respectively be praised for, like skill and leadership. Paikea, from the film Whale Rider, for example, was destined to become the chief of the Maori tribe, but was continually dismissed as such due to the ancient custom that only males could ascend to the role of chief. But despite struggling to learn her heritage and traditions, due to being marginalized because she was a girl. He rode the whale, demonstrating not only to his grandfather but to the community his leadership, continuing to guide and save his people from scarcity. Marnina Gonick stated, "having a girl ride the whale – which is also a symbol of the patriarchy – was my sneaky literary way of annoying the boys." Paikea, was a representation of all women, demonstrated her value and superiority. He outdid everyone by also proving them wrong. She is cementing her destiny and inspiring generations of women. Just like Paikea, Jess from Bend it like Beckham has limited female identities and created new ones. A woman who is particularly good at football is prohibited from playing because this conflicts with her prescribed duties to demonstrate her feminine identity as a Sikh woman and to prepare for marriage. But despite this, she finds a way to balance the two by learning traditional dishes but also striving to achieve her biggest dream: becoming a professional footballer. Illustrate to women that they can always maintain their traditions while having and achieving goals outside of their culture. She is significantly proving that being a woman is not a weakness and that they can do everything and more than a man could ever do. The future is feminine, and the language of the new powerful femininity is without doubt. Women are seen as purposeless without men in religions like thatHindus, where they are forced to marry rather than marginalized as widows while men were infinite, limited to no woman or class. . A clear prejudice against women, subject to restrictive laws, while men are excluded. Observed in the film The Water, which focuses on the lifestyle and treatment of widows in India and the Hindu religion. Who live under widow laws, illustrating both the proper and improper etiquette in which they must behave. To which Shohini Chaudhuri, in summary, denounces "the deprivations of Hindu widowhood, focusing on the patriarchal custom of self-denial rather than the better-known practice of sati, in which widows are sacrificed on their husbands' funeral pyres." It is illustrating the vulnerability of women, who are manipulated by men and basically by their religion. Of women like Kalyani, a beautiful widow forced into prostitution to pay the rent, and soon after Chuyia, an eight-year-old child bride who will then have to carry on her duties even after her death. Widows are subjected to inhumane acts of exploitation to survive in a society and religion that turns its back on them. But why are men excluded? Well, due to patriarchy, men are seen as precious and limited, while women are perceived as expendable and replaceable. Thus basically explaining why they are subject to illegal punishment for something they logically had no control over. Especially considering that both women and men could very likely find another spouse in the death of their former spouse. But ironically, it is only women who are considered tarnished and untouchable. However, as stated earlier, not all women believe their domesticated ways are inferior, like Jess, a mother and sister, who loves and strives for marriage and cooking. Nor do they realize or understand that there is a problem until they are personally victims of it, which is what many of these films demonstrated and were primarily inspired by. The truth is that many people neglect to realize how much they are influenced by gender roles. They never take the time to think, or ask themselves why their religion might exclude them or force them to do things but not the opposite sex? These are questions that could, without a doubt, be answered in a million different ways, such as because of money, patriarchy, brainwashing, control, tradition, and so on. But when do you put your foot down and say enough, and decide to create a different path? Well, as seen in the movie Water, Whale Rider and Bend it like Beckham. Women like Paikea and Jess decided that being girls wouldn't stop them from fulfilling their destiny or realizing their dreams. While women like Shakuntala, a devout widow, twice taught her religion and saved Chuyia from further abuse, after seeing the effects it had on Kalyani. All of these women realized and decided that the conditions they found themselves in due to their religious gender roles would no longer rob them of their future success and they decided to take action against this. Men are seen as the breadwinners and are typically the head of the family. house. Superior to everyone, they alone make decisions for their families and also for communities. They are taught to marry and start a family to pass down their name, legacy and heritage. Otherwise, they are seen as failures not only to themselves, but also to their family and community. This was mentioned in the film Whale Rider, where the first son of a Maori chieftain, Porourangi, abandoned his family and tribe after losing his wife and child during childbirth.The child they believed in would be the next leader of the community. Afterwards, refusing to have another child, more specifically, a son to ascend as the new leader of the tribe. He is gone, disappointing his family and his community. Men inherently carry all the weight and pressure of family and communities to carry on the legacy, as well as the additional responsibilities that come with it, which is essentially why they are at the top of the food chain in a patriarchal society. But even when they fail, they are usually blamed? I doubt it. No one would dare question a man's choices and decisions. Men are also the most loved and admired, assumed to be the strongest, wisest and best suited to leadership, anticipated as the future of their men.nations and shoulder all the responsibilities that come with it. Undeniably saviors and leaders of a race, just like Gandhi, Kundun and Guru Nana. Men are predominantly spiritual leaders, praised and mourned in people's homes and hearts. In Sikhism, Guru Nana is the god, the leader and the top of the patriarchal structure. Displayed in the homes of his followers, as seen in the film, Bend it like Beckham. For Buddhism it is the Dali Lama, continually reincarnated in a male being, who reigns over the infinite in his name. But why are men almost always the spiritual leaders in religion? Is it patriarchy or destiny, I'm not really sure. But not all leaders or men are considered superior or even worthy as seen in Kundun. Men need to be stern, violent, assertive, and masculine to truly gain that superiority and respect. Otherwise, they are perceived as weak and foolish. However, gender roles are not always explicitly about tension between men and women, but about tension between similar genders. They particularly noticed this in the film Kundun, a film about the early life of the 14th Dali Lama. There was tension between the masculine males, China, and the supposedly feminine males, Tibet. In that China, male males believed in Tibet's native Buddhist religion as the source of their weakness. And practically an easy target to prey on. Tibet was a peaceful country ruled by the Dali Lama, a Buddhist who based his morals on compassion and peace. Firmly against violence and terrorism. China, a robust imperialist country, considered their behaviors inferior and foolish. They sought war against them unless they agreed to join their country. Kundun, a genital male, showed many acts of compassion, such as continuously buying sheep to save them from death, or separating fighting beetles and many others. But above all his commitment to peace against war and violence. When Tibet was invaded and terrorized by the Chinese, he admitted that he refused to use violent tactics in response, even if it meant losing control and power over Tibet. An act that was received as a weakness and failure by most, but undoubtedly respected and admired by the fans, for sticking to his morals, no matter how hard. An immaculate character trait, which most do not possess. Additionally, sexual orientation plays a role in gender roles. Paradoxically the expectation is significantly the same for both sexes. This expectation is heterosexuality. In most religions, heterosexuality is the only sexual orientation option acceptable to both sexes. Homosexuality is looked down upon and shamed by most as unacceptable and bestial. Or they hide in the background, living in secret. Or banished and disowned by their families and religion. In films like Water, Bartman, a supposedly transgender woman, was the person who bridged the, 2002)