East Meets West

Abstract

It would seem that people are very different because they may dress differently, are acculturated in different manners, speak different languages, have different cuisine, family traditions, etiquette, philosophies, literature, history, governments, education, artifacts, and technologies. The concept of Eastern culture and Western culture is often couched as dichotomous. Eastern and Western cultures are not monolithic and have wide variance, inclusive of variance that might be found in religions. Religion plays a role in both cultures, and these religions have an impact on how women may be viewed and treated, inclusive of gender expectations. These gender expectations that may stem from religions may then affect how women are immersed in science and technological fields. This chapter briefly explores gender as it is encapsulated in the East and West within the frame of religion. Three religions are briefly discussed, one that is considered more of an Eastern religion and two that are Westernized, Islam and Southern Baptist and Mormonism, respectively. After these religions are examined in terms of gender, these four questions are answered: (a) Could religion hold back women in technology positions that are within the male domain of work? (b) Are religions different in how they compartmentalize women? (c) Are Eastern and Western religions different in how women are perceived and ultimately treated? and (d) How can women overcome the stereotypic threat within the world of religion and work?