AWID
launched their Challenging
Fundamentalisms (CF) initiative in 2007 to strengthen the responses of
women’s rights activists to this growing phenomenon. The research has
identified the key characteristics of religious fundamentalisms, examined the
factors that help them grow, and detailed how they impact women’s rights across
regions and religions. An extensive set of publications and a very inspiring
session today at the AWID Forum, are some of the outcomes. Here is a brief tutorial.
To have one
thing very clear: Religious fundamentalism is not the same as religion. “Fundamentalism is not about religion
as such but it is the political use of religion.” (Gita Saghal). In essence, it denies us the freedom and right to
decide who we are. Religion, on the other hand, is also used constructively in
civil rights movements, amongst others by women’s rights. Known
examples are Women Living under Muslim Laws and Catholics for Choice.
Shared characteristics
of religious fundamentalisms are that they are absolutist and intolerant,
patriarchal, anti-human rights and freedoms, and therefore in essence
anti-women. Economic, political and social factors contribute to the rise of
religious fundamentalisms. In fact, neoliberal
capitalism fuels religious fundamentalism.
Economic
factors include:
- Growing national poverty and inequality:
turning to religious fundamentalism is often a survival strategy, even if it
leads only to very small benefits. Fundamentalist movements provide food,
education, or just hope. Where a lack of opportunities and access leads to a
sense of injustice, religious fundamentalisms can feed right into it.
- Failure of state institutions &
services: this is the most common cause mentioned in the MENA and South-East Asia . Where there are gaps in education and
healthcare, religious groups step in. Even states call on charitable religious civil
society institutions to fill these gaps.
- Neoliberal politics: growing privatization
and globalized capital undermine the abilities of states to provide safety nets
for their citizens. The ever-growing gap between the rich and the 99%, for
example in the MENA, leads to dissatisfaction and a search for alternatives.
Religious fundamentalists frame themselves as pro-poor, friend of the masses.
The family, morality and gender roles: people
are made to believe that challenging the family is immoral and an act against god.
Gender-roles are presented as rigid and natural. Where masculinities have been
threatened, these are central strategies: where men have lost power in the public
sphere, religious fundamentalisms give it back to them in the private sphere.
How religious fundamentalisms build movements: it is framed as a
religious duty to give to charity. By focussing on young people, promising to
lift people out of poverty, mass mobilization either of the poorest of the
poor, or of elites and intellectuals. Main places of recruitment include schools,
colleges and universities, amongst others through changing curricula. Children are
used to write anti-abortion letters to politicians. Also women’s supporters are
used strategically, and very visible. Women’s rights activists are struggling
to understand the paradox of women’s rights violations and massive mobilization
of women for religious fundamentalisms’ causes.
Religious fundamentalisms are not irrevocable. In the past decade,
more countries have recognized same-sex marriages, legalized abortion and
included equality between men and women in laws and policies. What is needed? Alliance
Catholics for the right to decide is an organisation that is present
in 10 countries in Latin America . The organization
has come up with a fantastic strategy to promote renewal of the church: a
series of 1 minute films on mainstream tv. Just see for yourself, enjoy and be
inspired!
= Joni van de Sand =
= Joni van de Sand =
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