I really enjoyed reading parts of the book “Contemporary Coptic Nuns” by Pieternella van Doorn-Harde, it was full of details and significant information that helped me get fill in all the questions I wondered. In this second part of my analysis I will be comparing women’s to men’s role in the ritual, how the ritual correspond to the secular worldly engagements, the required knowledge and the aim of the ritual, as well as symbols incorporated in the ritual and finally women’s power.
How are women’s roles different from men’s roles in the ritual you are examining, and what significance might these differences have?
In Egypt, patriarchal society emerged positioning men as the authoritative figure as well as in religion, priesthood was strictly for men women were generally excluded from clerical positions but they were very influential in the church life, with time women have gained independence from their male protectors. When entering the monastic world, whether men or …show more content…
In my opinion, I think it’s a lot more emotional for the women to undertake the whole ritual because not only are they leaving their loved ones behind (family, friends) but they have to forget about all worldly pleasures like going out, having a night out, watching TV, birthday gatherings: everything is dead to them. The rite of passage is what really defines that they do not belong to the world anymore; this transition made in the ritual from being a novice to an initiated nun is life changing because the nun can never go back to her
How are women’s roles different from men’s roles in the ritual you are examining, and what significance might these differences have?
In Egypt, patriarchal society emerged positioning men as the authoritative figure as well as in religion, priesthood was strictly for men women were generally excluded from clerical positions but they were very influential in the church life, with time women have gained independence from their male protectors. When entering the monastic world, whether men or …show more content…
In my opinion, I think it’s a lot more emotional for the women to undertake the whole ritual because not only are they leaving their loved ones behind (family, friends) but they have to forget about all worldly pleasures like going out, having a night out, watching TV, birthday gatherings: everything is dead to them. The rite of passage is what really defines that they do not belong to the world anymore; this transition made in the ritual from being a novice to an initiated nun is life changing because the nun can never go back to her