Weaker Vessels and Helpmeets: Gender Role Stereotypes and Attitudes toward Female Ordination

Authors

Ted G. Jelen, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1989

Publication Title

Social Science Quarterly

Volume

70

Issue

3

First page number:

575

Last page number:

585

Abstract

A distinction is made between two types of stereotypes about women: a "weaker vessel" stereotype, connoting female inferiority, and a "helpmeet" stereotype, connoting gender role specialization without necessary feminine inferiority. Among lay people, the weaker vessel stereotype is a stronger predictor of opposition to female ordination than is the helpmeet stereotype. The exception to this generalization is Catholic men, who, if they oppose female ordination, seem likely to do so because of a belief that women are better qualified to handle specialized, nonclerical tasks. This distinction may arise because of the status of Mary in the Catholic church.

Keywords

Catholic Church; Ordination; Ordination of women; Sex roles; Stereotypes (Social psychology); Women

Disciplines

Catholic Studies | Political Science | Religion | Women's Studies

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher policy does not allow archiving the final published version. If a post-print (author's peer-reviewed manuscript) is allowed and available, or publisher policy changes, the item will be deposited.

Repository Citation

Jelen, T. G. (1989). Weaker Vessels and Helpmeets: Gender Role Stereotypes and Attitudes toward Female Ordination. Social Science Quarterly, 70(3), 575-585.