Quaker Response to Gender Inequality in Institutional Christianity

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 4, 1334 - 1354, 31.12.2025

Mustafa Özbaş

https://doi.org/10.32711/tiad.1760085

Abstract

Gender equality remains a central concern in contemporary cultural, political, and academic debates. Numerous scholars and international organizations contend that patriarchal traditions constitute the primary source of gender inequality, often drawing legitimacy from religious teachings. Conversely, other perspectives argue that religion can support or accommodate egalitarian principles. This article examines the Quaker movement's approach to gender equality in order to shed light on broader processes of religious reinterpretation. The study focuses on whether the Quakers adopted egalitarian practices in both spiritual and social domains, and on the foundations upon which such practices were based. Findings indicate that during its first two centuries, Quakerism developed an egalitarian orientation rooted in the doctrine of the “Inner Light.” However, in modern contexts, the movement's distinctively transformative influence appears to have diminished significantly.

Keywords

Quakerism , Inner Light , Gender , Spiritual Equality , Feminism

Kurumsal Hıristiyanlıkta Toplumsal Cinsiyet Eşitsizliğine Kuveykır Tepkisi

Abstract

Toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliği, günümüzde kültürel, siyasal ve akademik tartışmaların odak noktalarından biri olmaya sürdürmektedir. Birçok araştırmacı ve uluslararası kuruluş, ataerkil kültürün cinsiyet eşitsizliğinin temel nedeni olduğunu ve bunun dinsel öğretilerden beslendiğini ileri sürmektedir. Ancak, dinin cinsiyet eşitliğini desteklediğine veya uyum sağladığına yönelik görüşler de mevcuttur. Bu makale, Kuveykırlığın cinsiyet eşitliğine yaklaşımını inceleyerek, dinin yeniden yorumlanması süreçlerini anlamayı amaçlamaktadır. Çalışma, Kuveykırların manevi ve toplumsal yaşamda eşitlikçi tutum sergileyip sergilemediği ve bu tutumu hangi öğelere dayandırdığı sorularına odaklanmaktadır. Sonuç olarak, Kuveykırların ilk iki yüzyılda “İçsel Işık” öğretisine dayalı eşitlikçi bir yaklaşım geliştirdiği, ancak günümüz koşullarında bu hareketin farklılaştırıcı etkisinin azaldığı tespit edilmiştir.

Keywords

Kuveykırlık , İçsel Işık , Toplumsal Cinsiyet , Ruhsal/Manevî Eşitlik , Feminizm

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