Learning Gender at Church

Abstract

Little research has been done on religious gender socialization, that is, gender socialization that is unique to a religious organization. This study used content analysis of Sunday school curricula, non-participant observation of Sunday school classes for preschool aged children, and in-depth interviews with children's pastors to examine religious gender socialization at one Southern Baptist Church and one United Methodist Church. This study identified gender socialization that was unique to religious organizations. It also identified gender socialization that was not unique to religious organizations (e.g., socialization processes that likely occur at preschools or daycares too). The findings indicate that techniques used to facilitate religious gender socialization were less affected by what curriculum a church selected than by the way the curriculum was taught (i.e., followed closely or disregarded altogether). The findings also indicate how significant structure and organization are to religious gender socialization. Finally, the findings from this study indicate that Cornerstone Southern Baptist teaches traditional gender roles while Life United Methodist teaches some traditional gender roles and some progressive and gender neutral roles.