Families and gender equality

AQA Religious Studies Theme A requires knowledge of religious and non-religious views on the nature and purpose of the family, different family types, parenting, gender roles, and gender equality.

The nature and purpose of the family

A family is a social unit built on close relationships, usually involving parents and children. Religious traditions affirm the family as the foundational unit of society.

Christian views:

• The family is divinely instituted: "Be fruitful and multiply" (Genesis 1:28) — God's first command to humanity is to form families.
• Marriage between man and woman is the proper context for family (Catholic Catechism §2201).
• The family is "the domestic church" (ecclesia domestica) — where faith is first learned (Catholic teaching).
• The Church of England sees the family as central to community life and human flourishing.

Muslim views:

• The family (usra) is described as the cornerstone of Islamic society.
• Qur'an 25:74 — believers pray for their spouses and children to be "a comfort to our eyes."
• Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: "The best of you is the one who is best to his family" (Hadith, Tirmidhi).
• Children are an amanah (trust from Allah); parents are accountable for raising them in faith.

Humanist views:

• Families are valuable because they provide love, security and identity — not because of divine command.
• Many family forms are equally valid; what matters is commitment, love and the wellbeing of children.

Types of family

Type	Description
Nuclear	Two parents (traditionally opposite-sex) and children in one household
Extended	Nuclear family plus grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins — often sharing a home
Single-parent	One parent raising children, through choice, divorce or bereavement
Blended (reconstituted)	Two adults with children from previous relationships form a new family
Same-sex family	Same-sex parents with children (adopted, fostered or through surrogacy/IVF)

Religious responses:

• Conservative Christians and Muslims typically affirm the nuclear family as the ideal.
• Many liberal Christians accept diverse family forms as reflecting God's love in different ways.
• The Catholic Church teaches that children flourish best with a mother and father, though it advocates compassion for all families.
• Islam emphasises extended-family bonds (silat al-rahim — maintaining kinship ties is obligatory).

Gender roles

Traditional religious views:

• Christianity: Paul writes "wives, submit to your own husbands" (Ephesians 5:22); husband is "the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church." Many conservative evangelicals and Catholics uphold complementarian gender roles.
• Islam: the husband is qawwam (provider/protector) (Qur'an 4:34); the wife's primary role is traditionally seen as homemaker and mother. However, Islam affirms women's right to own property, work and pursue education.

Progressive religious and Humanist views:

• Many Anglican, Methodist and liberal Protestant churches fully affirm gender equality in the family. Women serve as priests and bishops.
• Humanists: gender roles are socially constructed. Equality between partners regardless of gender is the ethical ideal.
• Muslim feminist scholars (e.g. Amina Wadud) argue the Qur'an's message is one of egalitarianism, and that patriarchal readings reflect cultural context, not divine intent.

Gender equality

The UN defines gender equality as "equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for women and men."

• Christianity: The Catholic Church maintains an all-male priesthood (in persona Christi). Most Protestant churches ordain women. Galatians 3:28 — "There is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
• Islam: Men and women are spiritually equal before Allah (Qur'an 33:35 lists equal spiritual obligations for men and women). However, traditional jurisprudence gives men different legal responsibilities (e.g. financial maintenance, divorce initiation). Modern Muslim-majority societies show great variation in practice.
• Humanism: Full equality is a core ethical value. Gender should not determine one's roles or opportunities.

Examiner tips

For 12-mark evaluate questions: contrast a traditional religious view (e.g. Catholic or conservative Muslim) with a progressive view (liberal Christian or Humanist). Always quote scripture and name scholars or church documents where possible. Show internal diversity within each religion — avoid treating any religion as monolithic.