11.2 The rise of the Religious Right and its impact on gender politics
4 min read•august 13, 2024
The emerged in the late 1970s, uniting conservative Christians to influence politics. They gained power by mobilizing voters around issues like abortion and traditional , shaping the Republican Party's platform and priorities.
The Religious Right promoted and opposed women's rights, viewing feminism as a threat to family values. They fought against abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, significantly impacting gender policies and contributing to political polarization in America.
Rise of the Religious Right
Emergence and Growth as a Political Force
Top images from around the web for Emergence and Growth as a Political Force
Jerry Falwell - Wikipedia View original
Is this image relevant?
America’s Emerging Culture | Boundless US History View original
Is this image relevant?
File:President Reagan speaking in Minneapolis 1982.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original
Is this image relevant?
Jerry Falwell - Wikipedia View original
Is this image relevant?
America’s Emerging Culture | Boundless US History View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
Top images from around the web for Emergence and Growth as a Political Force
Jerry Falwell - Wikipedia View original
Is this image relevant?
America’s Emerging Culture | Boundless US History View original
Is this image relevant?
File:President Reagan speaking in Minneapolis 1982.jpg - Wikimedia Commons View original
Is this image relevant?
Jerry Falwell - Wikipedia View original
Is this image relevant?
America’s Emerging Culture | Boundless US History View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
- The Religious Right emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a coalition of conservative Christian organizations and activists who sought to influence American politics and culture
- Key organizations in the Religious Right:
- , founded by in 1979
- , led by in the late 1980s and 1990s
- The Religious Right gained political influence by mobilizing evangelical Christian voters around issues such as abortion, school prayer, and traditional family values
- The election of Ronald Reagan in 1980 marked a significant victory for the Religious Right, as Reagan embraced many of their conservative social and cultural positions
Continued Growth and Influence
- Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Religious Right continued to grow in power and influence, shaping the Republican Party's platform and political priorities
- The Religious Right's influence extended beyond electoral politics, as they sought to shape public opinion and cultural attitudes on a range of social and moral issues
- The rise of televangelism and Christian media outlets (Christian Broadcasting Network) helped to amplify the Religious Right's message and reach a wider audience
- The Religious Right's political activism and efforts contributed to the increasing polarization of American politics along religious and cultural lines
Religious Right Views on Gender
Traditional Gender Roles and Opposition to Women's Rights
- The Religious Right promoted traditional gender roles, emphasizing the importance of women as homemakers and men as breadwinners and leaders
- Opposition to the (ERA) was a key issue for the Religious Right, arguing that it would undermine traditional gender roles and family structures
- Many Religious Right leaders and organizations argued that feminism and the women's rights movement were a threat to the traditional family and the moral fabric of society
- The Religious Right often framed their opposition to women's rights and gender equality as a defense of biblical principles and "family values"
Stance on LGBTQ+ Issues and Abortion
- The Religious Right strongly opposed abortion, viewing it as a violation of the sanctity of life and advocating for the overturning of
- Many Religious Right organizations and leaders promoted the idea of "family values," which often included opposition to divorce, premarital sex, and same-sex relationships
- The Religious Right vehemently opposed the LGBTQ+ rights movement, viewing homosexuality as a sin and advocating against same-sex marriage, anti-discrimination protections, and the inclusion of LGBTQ+ content in education
- Religious Right activists and organizations often portrayed LGBTQ+ individuals as a threat to children and the traditional family structure, using rhetoric that stigmatized and marginalized the LGBTQ+ community
Religious Right Influence on Gender Policy
Impact on Women's Rights and Sex Education
- The Religious Right's political influence contributed to the defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s and 1980s, which would have guaranteed equal rights for women under the Constitution
- Religious Right activists and organizations played a significant role in the development of abstinence-only sex education programs, which often promoted traditional gender roles and discouraged discussions of contraception and LGBTQ+ issues
- The Religious Right's efforts to promote abstinence-only education and limit access to comprehensive sex education have had lasting impacts on public health and gender equality
Shaping Abortion Laws and LGBTQ+ Rights
- The Religious Right's opposition to abortion has had a lasting impact on American politics, leading to the appointment of conservative Supreme Court justices and the passage of restrictive abortion laws at the state level
- The Religious Right's stance on LGBTQ+ rights has contributed to the delay in achieving legal protections and social acceptance for LGBTQ+ individuals, such as the long struggle for marriage equality
- Despite the influence of the Religious Right, there has been a gradual shift in public opinion on issues such as same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ rights, with increasing support for equality and inclusion in recent years
Polarization of American Politics and Culture
- The rhetoric and activism of the Religious Right have contributed to the polarization of American politics and culture, with debates over gender roles, women's rights, and LGBTQ+ issues often framed as a battle between traditional and progressive values
- The Religious Right's influence has helped to shape the Republican Party's platform and political priorities, contributing to a widening divide between conservative and liberal ideologies
- The ongoing influence of the Religious Right on gender politics continues to be a significant factor in contemporary American society, shaping public discourse, policy debates, and cultural attitudes
Key Terms to Review (19)
Christian Coalition: The Christian Coalition is a prominent American political organization founded in 1989 that seeks to mobilize conservative Christians for political action and influence policy on issues like family values, education, and religious freedom. This group played a crucial role in the rise of the Religious Right in the late 20th century and significantly shaped gender politics by advocating traditional family roles and opposing feminist movements.
Defense of Marriage Act: The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was a U.S. federal law enacted in 1996 that defined marriage as the union between one man and one woman for the purposes of federal benefits and programs. It reflected and reinforced traditional views on marriage, specifically in the context of the rising Religious Right's influence on gender politics and the evolving attitudes towards sexuality and gender expression in American society.
Equal Rights Amendment: The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution aimed at guaranteeing equal legal rights for all American citizens, regardless of sex. It was introduced in 1923 and seeks to eliminate legal distinctions between men and women in matters of divorce, property, employment, and other areas of law, highlighting ongoing debates about gender equality in American society.
Family values: Family values refer to the set of beliefs, principles, and standards that emphasize the importance of family as a central social unit. This term is often associated with traditional roles within the family structure, such as the expectations of marriage, child-rearing, and moral teachings that shape individuals' behaviors and societal norms. Family values have played a crucial role in political movements, particularly in the context of the Religious Right, influencing discussions around gender politics and social policies.
Grassroots organizing: Grassroots organizing is a strategy for building community support and mobilizing individuals to advocate for social change at the local level. This approach relies on the active participation of ordinary people rather than established leaders or political figures, aiming to empower communities by addressing their specific needs and concerns. It often involves collective action, grassroots campaigns, and the use of community resources to create meaningful change.
Hyde Amendment: The Hyde Amendment is a legislative provision that restricts federal funding for abortions, allowing exceptions only in cases of rape, incest, or when the woman's life is at risk. This amendment significantly impacts women's reproductive rights by limiting access to abortion services for low-income women who rely on Medicaid for healthcare. Its introduction in 1976 marked a pivotal moment in the intersection of gender politics and the rise of conservative religious movements in the United States.
Jerry Falwell: Jerry Falwell was a prominent American evangelical pastor, televangelist, and political activist, known for founding the Moral Majority in 1979. He played a crucial role in mobilizing the Religious Right, influencing gender politics by promoting traditional family values and conservative ideologies in the political arena during the late 20th century.
Liberal feminism: Liberal feminism is a branch of feminist theory that emphasizes individual rights, equality, and the importance of legal and political reforms to achieve gender equality. It advocates for women's access to the same opportunities as men within existing societal structures, focusing on issues like education, workplace rights, and reproductive rights.
Mobilization: Mobilization refers to the process of organizing and preparing a group, especially in a political or social context, to take collective action towards a specific goal or cause. This term is particularly relevant in the context of the rise of the Religious Right, as it highlights how religious groups strategically engaged their followers and resources to influence political agendas and shape gender politics in America during the late 20th century.
Moral majority: The moral majority refers to a political coalition of conservative Christian groups that emerged in the United States during the late 1970s and gained prominence in the 1980s. This movement aimed to promote traditional values, particularly in response to social changes concerning gender roles, family structures, and reproductive rights, significantly influencing political discourse and policies related to gender and family issues.
Pat Robertson: Pat Robertson is a prominent American media mogul, religious leader, and political commentator known for founding the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) and the 700 Club. He became a key figure in the rise of the Religious Right, advocating for conservative Christian values and influencing gender politics through his interpretations of biblical teachings and activism in political arenas.
Patriarchy: Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and dominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property. This system influences gender relations and shapes societal norms, often resulting in the marginalization of women and non-binary individuals throughout history.
Planned Parenthood v. Casey: Planned Parenthood v. Casey was a landmark 1992 Supreme Court case that upheld the constitutional right to have an abortion while allowing states to impose certain restrictions, as long as they did not place an 'undue burden' on women seeking the procedure. This ruling significantly shaped the legal landscape regarding reproductive rights in the United States and highlighted the growing tensions between feminist movements and the rise of conservative religious groups advocating against abortion.
Religious Right: The Religious Right refers to a coalition of conservative Christian political groups and activists in the United States who emerged in the late 20th century. This movement seeks to influence public policy and societal norms based on a strict interpretation of Christian values, often focusing on issues such as opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage, and the promotion of traditional family structures. The Religious Right has significantly impacted gender politics, shaping debates over women's rights and reproductive health.
Roe v. Wade: Roe v. Wade is a landmark 1973 Supreme Court case that legalized abortion nationwide, ruling that a woman's right to choose to have an abortion is protected by the constitutional right to privacy. This case became a pivotal moment for women's rights and reproductive freedom, influencing various movements and political discourses related to gender, family values, and morality.
Second-wave feminism: Second-wave feminism refers to the feminist movement that emerged in the United States and other Western countries during the 1960s and continued into the 1980s, focusing on a broader range of issues beyond suffrage, including reproductive rights, workplace equality, and sexual liberation. This wave sought to address systemic inequalities and challenge societal norms related to gender roles.
Sexism: Sexism is the belief that one gender is inherently superior to another, leading to discrimination and prejudice based on gender. It often manifests in social, political, and economic inequalities where one gender, typically women, faces disadvantages. This belief system fuels various movements aimed at advocating for gender equality and combating discriminatory practices.
Traditional gender roles: Traditional gender roles refer to societal norms and expectations that dictate how individuals should behave based on their assigned gender at birth. Typically, these roles cast men as breadwinners and decision-makers while positioning women as caregivers and homemakers. This division has been reinforced through cultural narratives and policies, particularly in periods of social upheaval, prompting a backlash against movements advocating for gender equality.
United States v. Windsor: United States v. Windsor was a landmark Supreme Court case decided in 2013 that struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defined marriage as a union between one man and one woman for federal purposes. This case was pivotal in reshaping the legal landscape for same-sex marriage and directly challenged the increasing influence of the Religious Right on gender and marriage politics, emphasizing the importance of equality under the law for all couples, regardless of sexual orientation.