Feminist questions impact of religion on women’s human rights

Well known feminist and University of Melbourne academic Professor Sheila Jeffreys has questioned the impact of region on women’s human rights.

Her new book Man’s Dominion: the rise of religion and the eclipse of women’s rights is sure to ruffle feathers in Australia and other countries. Her book focuses on various practices of the world’s three largest religious groups - Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

The book examines what Professor Jeffreys describes as common anti-women attitudes around issues such as polygamy, impurity of women and the control of women’s bodies. She says these attitudes and views are becoming more prolific in modern-day society.

Professor Jeffreys says religion is becoming intertwined in all areas of life in Australia including the legal system, education system and government to the detriment of women’s human rights.

She argues that women’s basic human rights should not be linked to religion.

"Multiculturalism and religion can be very damaging to the rights of women. Extreme patriarchy delivered through religious channels is a real concern and there are serious problems with government supplying such large amounts of funding to religious-based schools and social services," she says.

An advocate of a secular society, Professor Jeffreys questions whether there should be any government support of religious schools by the state and no tax-free status for religious service providers.

"Government funding of religious schools and social services has never been larger. In terms of competitiveness they have a huge advantage over secular service providers in terms of their ability to put in low tenders for instance.

"The state is building up the power of religious organisations within the community to the detriment of women’s human rights and some of their attitudes toward women are frightening," she says.

Further to her argument to cut funding to religious-based service providers, Professor Jeffreys says there should be avenues for the state to intervene on the rights of women - even in closed multicultural communities.

"For example fundamentalist Christian or Muslim organisations use religion to exert their influence and control over women and in regards to women’s human rights it is the responsibility of the government to intervene when necessary," she says.