Fact Check: "Why did so many cisgender women are more religious than men and transgender people, as well queer women?"
What We Know
The claim suggests that cisgender women are more religious than men, transgender individuals, and queer women. Research indicates that religious affiliation and attitudes toward gender identity can be influenced by various factors, including gender and societal norms. A systematic review found that individuals who identify as religious, particularly Christians and Muslims, tend to exhibit higher levels of transprejudice compared to non-religious individuals (Jordan et al., 2019) [source-1]. This suggests that religious beliefs may play a role in shaping attitudes toward transgender and gender-variant people.
Furthermore, studies show that women, in general, tend to report higher levels of religious affiliation and participation than men (Benson et al., 2018) [source-2]. The LGBTQ community, including queer women, often faces challenges in religious contexts, which can affect their religious participation and experiences (Williams Institute, 2021) [source-3]. These dynamics indicate that gender and sexual orientation intersect with religious beliefs and practices, influencing how different groups relate to religion.
Analysis
The evidence surrounding the claim is complex and multifaceted. The systematic review by Jordan et al. (2019) highlights that religious affiliation is often linked to negative attitudes towards transgender individuals, which may suggest that cisgender women, who may be more religious, could also be more accepting or less prejudiced than men or transgender individuals. However, this does not directly support the claim regarding the comparative religiosity of cisgender women versus men and transgender individuals.
Benson et al. (2018) provide insights into the higher levels of religious participation among women, which could explain why cisgender women might be perceived as more religious. However, the intersectionality of gender, sexual orientation, and religious beliefs complicates this narrative. Queer women may feel marginalized within religious communities, leading to lower participation rates (Williams Institute, 2021) [source-3].
The sources used in this analysis vary in reliability. The systematic review is a peer-reviewed academic article, which generally indicates a high level of credibility. In contrast, the findings from the Williams Institute, while reputable, are based on surveys that may not capture the full complexity of individual experiences with religion and identity.
Conclusion
Needs Research. The claim that cisgender women are more religious than men, transgender people, and queer women is supported by some evidence regarding general trends in religiosity among women. However, the nuances of how gender identity and sexual orientation interact with religious beliefs require further investigation. The existing studies provide a foundation but do not conclusively validate the claim, indicating a need for more comprehensive research to understand these dynamics fully.
Sources
- A systematic review of the relationship between religion and attitudes ... Link
- Transgender People's Reflections on Identity, Faith, and ... Link
- LGBTQ PEOPLE IN THE US Select Findings from the ... Link
- Transgender Peoples' Experiences of Religion and Spirituality Link
- Transgender people and religion - Wikipedia Link
- Transgender inclusion? World's major religions take varying stances on ... Link
- How major religions take very different stances on trans people and ... Link
- What Does the Bible Say About Transgender People? Link
