Latter Day Saints Culture
Gabriella S. Davida 12 April 2013
Cultural Anthropology Dr. Braun
Culture of the Church of Latter-Day Saints:
Women Finding Autonomy Within a Patriarchal Society
Within the female membership of The Church of Latter Day Saints (“LDS”),
there is no role or category of women that are “successful” career woman within the context of a
Modern day democratic society. Is the cause for this lack of representation in the ranks of
successful business and career women, grounded solely in the beliefs and teachings of the LDS
Church or are there other factors and influences at work beyond the LDS Church? Are those
other factors environmental, cultural economic or due …show more content…
will be found.
In order to examine the questions raised above, one must establish not only the culture
within LDS but also the categories or types of women which have evolved over the years.
Interestingly enough, these types of women, are not only categorized by those who have
Studied them, but also the women themselves. Social Scientist, like all scientist, are always
looking to list, type and categorized the subjects they study. One such social scientist, Lori
Beaman, has based on her studies of over 28 Mormon women, has identified, three (3) types
of women in the Mormon Church who like Beaman have also identified and classified
themselves as being (i) Molly Mormons.;(ii) Mormon Feminists and (iii) Mormon Moderates.
Their views are shaped by the teachings of the Mormon Church and their role models for their
respective positions are primarily other woman rather than the men within the context of the
Hierarchy of the Church. Implicit within these categories is the premise established by Elizabeth
Ozorak, that notwithstanding that these women have accepted the inequalities of the Church …show more content…
The “working” woman is most notably found in this category. Some feminists were once traditional women, who now in their 60s look back and question the present day role of women, given the modern society in which they live. In terms of the highest rank within the LDS, that of priests and bishops, the Molly Mormons celebrate the strength of their male priests and “valorize their own roles as mother” (Beaman 80). The Mormon feminist, who makes up the smallest identified segment, sees priesthood as a right to be extended to males and females. The Moderates, use interpretation of their own moderate rule to find equality in their relationships with husbands and even the greater rights they have to stay home and be mothers and have their husbands “treat them well and cater them. “All though some attempts have been made to equate the role of mother, which is based in nature and associated with the concept of the “Heavenly Mother”, with the priesthood, which is derived from the “order of law” (Beaman 69) none even those put forth convincingly by the Feminist, has raised the level of esteem of women in the male dominated hierarchy. Instead the moderates convince themselves and those who question them, that they share all decision making with their husbands and are therefore equal partners in their life. They simply do not question, they
Cultural Anthropology Dr. Braun
Culture of the Church of Latter-Day Saints:
Women Finding Autonomy Within a Patriarchal Society
Within the female membership of The Church of Latter Day Saints (“LDS”),
there is no role or category of women that are “successful” career woman within the context of a
Modern day democratic society. Is the cause for this lack of representation in the ranks of
successful business and career women, grounded solely in the beliefs and teachings of the LDS
Church or are there other factors and influences at work beyond the LDS Church? Are those
other factors environmental, cultural economic or due …show more content…
will be found.
In order to examine the questions raised above, one must establish not only the culture
within LDS but also the categories or types of women which have evolved over the years.
Interestingly enough, these types of women, are not only categorized by those who have
Studied them, but also the women themselves. Social Scientist, like all scientist, are always
looking to list, type and categorized the subjects they study. One such social scientist, Lori
Beaman, has based on her studies of over 28 Mormon women, has identified, three (3) types
of women in the Mormon Church who like Beaman have also identified and classified
themselves as being (i) Molly Mormons.;(ii) Mormon Feminists and (iii) Mormon Moderates.
Their views are shaped by the teachings of the Mormon Church and their role models for their
respective positions are primarily other woman rather than the men within the context of the
Hierarchy of the Church. Implicit within these categories is the premise established by Elizabeth
Ozorak, that notwithstanding that these women have accepted the inequalities of the Church …show more content…
The “working” woman is most notably found in this category. Some feminists were once traditional women, who now in their 60s look back and question the present day role of women, given the modern society in which they live. In terms of the highest rank within the LDS, that of priests and bishops, the Molly Mormons celebrate the strength of their male priests and “valorize their own roles as mother” (Beaman 80). The Mormon feminist, who makes up the smallest identified segment, sees priesthood as a right to be extended to males and females. The Moderates, use interpretation of their own moderate rule to find equality in their relationships with husbands and even the greater rights they have to stay home and be mothers and have their husbands “treat them well and cater them. “All though some attempts have been made to equate the role of mother, which is based in nature and associated with the concept of the “Heavenly Mother”, with the priesthood, which is derived from the “order of law” (Beaman 69) none even those put forth convincingly by the Feminist, has raised the level of esteem of women in the male dominated hierarchy. Instead the moderates convince themselves and those who question them, that they share all decision making with their husbands and are therefore equal partners in their life. They simply do not question, they