Is there misogyny in the book?

[Nama Winnie]

Mankind was in a misogynistic state back then. The woman was seen as a childbearer and not much else. Biblical stories and often paintings placed the woman in the background, as if they had no importance. When less was understood about nature, men used to stone women on their period out of fear they were possessed. How many women were burned as witches for suffering mental illness?

To be true to the times, misogyny should be there so we don't forget our failures and can strive to do better.

I don't understand how misogyny is helpful in any way, at any time. The way you put it, it sounds like women would be unable to motivate themselves to do better without misogyny in the picture.

[Nama Winnie]

Eve sinned more greatly because it was on her account that Adam sinned. She set the example and Adam followed it. However, she was not given a greater punishment, for while she was told she would deliver children in pain, Adam was punished with labor and death.

But women die labour and die right along with men. Why do women share in man's punishment and still suffer theirs.

Seems unfair to me.

[Nama Winnie]

Eve sinned more greatly because it was on her account that Adam sinned. She set the example and Adam followed it. However, she was not given a greater punishment, for while she was told she would deliver children in pain, Adam was punished with labor and death.

Absolutely! I've never thought it that way: that Eve was severely punished than Adam. I think both of them were punished. Let it also not be forgoten that Eve concocted sin, and that God is just and fair.

Even concocted sin? Then how is it that the devil tempted her into sinning?

This means sin existed before Eve, it wasn't her brainchild.

[Amanda Nicole Newton]

I think that it was rather misogynistic, however, the entire Bible really has that same kind of attitude towards women so I wasn't exactly surprised by it.

[Laura Lee]

Eve's punishment was quite brutal in my opinion. I'm not saying Adam's wasn't but Eve had to give up her free will. What's your opinion?

Of course there's misogyny in the book. There's misogyny in all patriarchal religions. The Abrahamic religions in particular have histories of violence and convert-or-die beliefs.

[MeganDJ]

Although Eve was commanded to follow the authority and rule of Adam, I believe that she was still capable of voicing her opinion and acting of her own free will. It seems like it isn't so different than these times in that aspect alone.

[LinaMueller]

Eve sinned more greatly because it was on her account that Adam sinned. She set the example and Adam followed it. However, she was not given a greater punishment, for while she was told she would deliver children in pain, Adam was punished with labor and death.

That's right. Eva's punishment was only marginally worse. The length of time a woman is pregnant is only a small percentage of her life span.

[SophiaNd]

I think Eve's punishment was too much to bear but then, God knows best and obviously has his reasons

[Poppy Drear]

Honestly, our society values material possessions, money, and power (traditionally the realm of men) much more than emotional health and family (traditionally the realm of women). This way of splitting labor made sense in biblical times, but, much like not wearing fabrics of mixed materials, it's since become outdated. Rather than thinking of it as misogynistic, I think it makes more sense to see it as a different set of cultural values. It's also important to note that the Bible often seems only to be documenting these cultural values, not necessarily endorsing them!

[Laurina Michael Olowoniran]

I have never thought of it like that. Women were not placed secondary to men. Wife's were placed under their husbands. Maybe you should look at it like that

[wendilou49]

Eve allowed the serpent to deceive her, and then she went to Adam and persuaded him to follow in the same way. Unfortunately, it was the woman who did wrong first and thus deserved to be have the steeper punishment.

[wendilou49]

I think we also need to look further in the Bible and remember the women who God brought to the forefront for their faithfulness...women like Ruth, Esther, Rahab (even tho she was a prostitute) Elizabeth and Mary the mother of Jesus.

[Katherine Smith]

I think that when you read the Bible or any religious book you must keep in mind who wrote it. The Bible was written by men during a period of time when women were considered property. The harsher punishment against Eve reflects the belief that women had a certain place in society and the home. No matter what transgressions the men did, women were always punished more severely because they had to be morally pure. I have always had an issue with the way that the Bible speaks about women and the limited roles that they were afforded.

[Dragonsend]

No, there is no misogyny, I believe. From the history of mankind, we see that God is a perfect "leveler" of all inequalities between men and women and between men & men and women & women too. By the time we reach our graves, all inequalities are made up. Girls are badly treated but once they marry and become mothers, they are emotionally far more powerful and have a greater influence on their children compared to fathers. Boys set out as a privileged lot in their young days and ruin themselves feeling they're superior. After they marry and raise kids, (the boys turned) men come to know that they are emotionally weaker and cannot influence their kids more than their wives. So, it all squares up in the end! What do you feel?

Very Interesting way of looking at things. Another interesting thing from the time of Christ, women were the ' head' but their husbands spoke for the both of them in church. Hmmm?!?!?

[Scerakor]

So I guess in our times maybe it is seen as mysognist, but in the past such ideas were normal right?

I think that this is a pretty accurate answer here. The book is trying to stay faithful to the original text and it is a testament to the times.