Throughout history Christianity and Judaism have played a crucial role in the development of class and gender roles. There are both similarities and differences within the various ways each has influenced the development of these social constructs. In many ways the ideas of class and gender presented by Judaism are ultimately adopted by Christianity. However, Christianity also offers some unique and important developments of its own. One of the most definitive texts on the role of gender in Judaism is the book of Genisis. As Christianity also recognizes the book of Genises as a sacred text it can be inferred that these stories do also influence Christian thought on gender roles. However, Christianity places more emphasis on the books found
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This text also contains several details which have shaped both early and modern gender roles. Perhaps most importantly we see that Eve succumbs to the temptation of the serpent. In the past it has been widely perceived her will was lacking and not strong enough to stay loyal to God’s commandment. She then gives the fruit to Adam ultimately corrupting him and destroys the innocence of humanity in the process. Upon being discovered by God, Adam says “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate (Gen 3:12).” This quote is important because it not only solidifies that woman was “given” to be with man, but also because it shows a shift in the blame for original sin to Eve. Throughout history it has been “…reasoned that the woman yields to the serpent’s appeal, revealing her base nature, and receives God’s punishment before the man, showing her greater crime” (Parker p.731). The punishment that Parker describes in this quote is also important to take note of. After tempting Adam, Eve is addressed by God with condemnation as he says “‘I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.’” It is important to note that God doesn't place all of the blame on Eve as Adam also receives the punishment of having to struggle in the fields for basic substance. However, here in Eve’s punishment gender roles are further solidified as woman is commanded to be submissive to man and man is established as being willed by god to “rule over” women. Other scriptures attribute the original sin to Eve and her feminine nature before acknowledging any role Adam may have played. The best example is the book of Sirach saying “From a woman sin had its beginning, and because of her we all die.” The book of Sirach is highly controversial and today is not a part of Jewish nor most
This text also contains several details which have shaped both early and modern gender roles. Perhaps most importantly we see that Eve succumbs to the temptation of the serpent. In the past it has been widely perceived her will was lacking and not strong enough to stay loyal to God’s commandment. She then gives the fruit to Adam ultimately corrupting him and destroys the innocence of humanity in the process. Upon being discovered by God, Adam says “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate (Gen 3:12).” This quote is important because it not only solidifies that woman was “given” to be with man, but also because it shows a shift in the blame for original sin to Eve. Throughout history it has been “…reasoned that the woman yields to the serpent’s appeal, revealing her base nature, and receives God’s punishment before the man, showing her greater crime” (Parker p.731). The punishment that Parker describes in this quote is also important to take note of. After tempting Adam, Eve is addressed by God with condemnation as he says “‘I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.’” It is important to note that God doesn't place all of the blame on Eve as Adam also receives the punishment of having to struggle in the fields for basic substance. However, here in Eve’s punishment gender roles are further solidified as woman is commanded to be submissive to man and man is established as being willed by god to “rule over” women. Other scriptures attribute the original sin to Eve and her feminine nature before acknowledging any role Adam may have played. The best example is the book of Sirach saying “From a woman sin had its beginning, and because of her we all die.” The book of Sirach is highly controversial and today is not a part of Jewish nor most