Religious Research

Religious Research

Revisiting the Old Testament from a Feminist Theological Perspective: A Critique of the Binary Position of Women in a Patriarchal Structure

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Maryam Alsadat Siahpoosh 1
Tahereh Hajebrahimi 2
Leila Hooshangi 3
1 PhD, Religions and Mysticism, Islamic Azad University, Sciences and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department Religions and Mysticism, Faculty of Law, Theology, and Political Science, Sciences and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Religions and Denominations, Faculty of Theology, al-Zahra University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/jrr.2025.395905.2110
Abstract
One of the key topics in feminist theology is the re-examination and reinterpretation of the sacred text from a female-centered perspective. In this review, the aim is to explore the portrayal of marginalized female characters from a different viewpoint, revealing aspects of their personalities that have often been overlooked. Researchers often highlight a hierarchical relationship present in the patriarchal context of the sacred text, depicting women as being subordinated to men. However, another aspect of this hierarchical relationship exists in the Bible, stemming from the duality in the patriarchal structure of ancient societies, which has also permeated religious doctrine. This study employs a descriptive-analytical method and uses a feminist theological approach to analyze the relationships of three female pairs in the Old Testament: Sarah and Hagar, Leah and Rachel, and Vashti and Esther. The duality and hierarchical relations, rooted in competition due to a male-centered context, are examined, and a new and distinct aspect of female agency in the Old Testament is introduced. The findings of the study suggest that these women, by engaging in the second sphere of duality and responding to challenges, create a model for feminist research.
Keywords
feminist theology
women
patriarchy
Old Testament
gender and religion
Subjects
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