Theory on the Gender Gap in Church Attendance

[ChunkMonk]

Let’s say I wanted to bring a “worldly” male friend to your average mass. What does he see?

Everyone is chatting and wearing normal clothes.
We have a band playing guitar and singing trite feel-good songs.
Milquetoast sermons.
Everybody hold hands!
More chatting and general disruption.
Alright! See you next week! More chatting, more disorder, more lack of reverence.

It’s going to be exactly what he expected and exactly why he doesn’t go in the first place. It looks, sounds, and appears to be a social club for little babies and old women. Now sure, I’ve been educated in the faith, so I know that there is a miracle occurring and that we actually are in the physical presence of the Living God. But for someone without formation, who is just walking in off the street? Someone who is a typical modern young male and gets in fights, fornicates, drinks, watches hardcore porn, sees images of violence and death constantly on TV and in movies, listens to hard-metal or rap… it’s not going to be impressive at all.

That’s why young men are leaving the Church.

 

[QContinuum]

This is an interesting thread. In the Episcopal cathedral I attend, the architecture is early twentieth century gothic revival. So, soaring ceilings, heavy wood doors, intricate stained glass, bell tower, and huge pipe organ.

Liturgical colors follow the sarum rite. We have a full choir, who sing a wide range of classical and religious music. Sunday morning Eucharist is always set to organ music (occasionally a grand piano is used when the organist is on vacation for a few weeks in summer). We use the 1979 Hymnal.

No guitars or drums (unless used as part of an orchestra concert). No cheesy music. I feel quite privileged to get to hear such recessional pieces such as Toccata and Fugue in D minor. On said pipe organ.

Now, we have a very large group of acolytes, and other ministers. Think 15-20 people at least in the procession plus about 25 more choir members.

About half are girls and women. Also, two of our clergy are women. The other half are teen boys and men, of course. Almost all are fairly young.

I don’t see our church as “feminized.” Egalitarian and balanced, yes. I tend to think extremes favoring one or the other are not healthy.

 

[blackforest]

One idea that popped into my head is that since women at home may have more leisure time,

Ha ha ha ha! Good one!



Oh. Wait. You weren’t kidding, were you?

 

[EnglishTeacher]

Whenever this subject comes up, people blame the shortage of men on “feminized” liturgy and/or architecture. I don’t disagree that bad liturgy is a problem and factors into people drifting away from the Church, perhaps men more so than women.

But I question why bad liturgy=feminine and good liturgy=masculine.

 

[Pug]

Most Church architecture now is an “intimate worship space” designed for women. No soaring spaces and huge structures and heroic statues to impress boys and men and command their allegiance.

Who says those spaces are for women? I am very grateful my parish is older and has only been somewhat mauled over the years.

 

[on_the_hill]

Here we go again.

 

[on_the_hill]

Then why are mega-churches and Evangelical churches and others bursting at the seams?

 

[AndrewAxland]

Then why are mega-churches and Evangelical churches and others bursting at the seams?

Their numbers have been going down for the last ten years, too, and demographic trends don’t look that bright. The trend probably hit them last because they are mostly concentrated in the South, the last place cultural trends manifest themselves in the US.

Also, I think that their support of Trump is going to end up costing them a lot of members, especially among the younger generations.

 

[on_the_hill]

At any rate, in America we DO have soaring cathedrals, strong masculine role models, and spiritually challenging trials and tribulations. And the lucky few do reach their salvation in early February of each year. The cathedrals are filled every Sunday from September thru January.

 

[QContinuum]

But I question why bad liturgy=feminine and good liturgy=masculine.

Why, indeed. Considering what goes into liturgies and who authorized them in the CC, as this outsider understands it, are responsibilities belonging solely to ordained men.

How women have come to be blamed for a liturgy in which they had zero authoritative (name removed by moderator)ut, is an ironic twist on the ol’ excuse: “The woman thou gavest to be with me, she gave me the fruit…”

Except, the women didn’t “pick” anything this go 'round.

 

[ndmoharo]

Question: did anyone read the essay shared

• Read the article shared in the first post
• Did not read the article shared

0 voters

 

[Mary888]

After reading only the introduction so far and the answers given here I understand why you asked this.

 

[EnglishTeacher]

The only solution I can see is for men to start getting involved in the Church as laypeople, in a big way. As others have said, it is a self-perpetuating problem if boys and men see only women serving in Church (other than the priests and deacons). You hardly ever see men teaching religious education classes or cantoring, for example. Also, they should start a men’s faith group on a parish level, maybe a weekly or monthly Bible study or prayer group with other activities (whatever men enjoy) now and then. Father-and-son events would be great thing. Also, service projects where a crew of men help the elderly or needy with yard work, small home repairs, etc. would be a great addition to the parish ministries. My parish has only male altar servers, and I think this helps; we have no lack of boys and young men serving at the altar.

Also, if your parish suffers from bad liturgy, get involved in the sacred worship committee or with the music and help reintroduce some of our beautiful traditions. Admittedly, I think introducing change to liturgy is difficult; people don’t like change, but if you do it slowly, emphasizing it as a positive thing, and have a pastor who is enthusiastic about it, it can be done.

 

[QContinuum]

I did read it says ago and just read it again. My first post on this thread, in response to another’s, was to point out the data from your article is outdated.

From the article:

Thereafter it opened back up, and now sits at 61% women/39% men. And therein lies the surprising takeaway: Christianity’s gender gap is actually smaller now than it was a century or two ago.

Is there a different point you would like addressed from the article?

 

[Mary888]

BUT when it comes to other feminine-perceived professions such as - cooking, hairdressing, fashion - men had no problem to go for it and win an important place in these places of society, just like women went for it in masculine-perceived professions even when, in the beginning, both sides could not find a large amount of role-models to help them get motivated.
I think the explanation has to lie elsewhere rather than just “I saw no example so I was not attracted.” At least not in today’s society when you hear “just do it! do whatever you want!” all the time.
I mean if a boy is interested in becoming a priest, no matter how many women serve at the altar he will say to his parents: “Mom, I want to do that when I grow up, can I?” Or not even ask for an explanation if that profession is allowed to him. Where there’s a will there’s a way.

 

[EnglishTeacher]

cooking, hairdressing, fashion - men had no problem to go for it and win an important place in these places of society, just like women went for it in masculine-perceived professions even when, in the beginning, both sides could not find a large amount of role-models to help them get motivated.

I don’t know . . . cooking on a professional level (e.g. restaurant chefs) has always had some men involved in it, but I don’t see men flocking to become hairdressers or fashion consultants. It is rare to see straight men in those latter professions. (Barbering of course is different from hairdressing; there have always been male barbers, and they used to be only male.)

I think the explanation has to lie elsewhere rather than just “I saw no example so I was not attracted.” At least not in today’s society when you hear “just do it! do whatever you want!” all the time.

I mean if a boy is interested in becoming a priest, no matter how many women serve at the altar he will say to his parents: “Mom, I want to do that when I grow up, can I?” Or not even ask for an explanation if that profession is allowed to him. Where there’s a will there’s a way

I actually don’t think this is the case, or at least I am less optimistic than you are about it. Boys need male role models, and I think they are far more likely to serve in church and frequent the sacraments if they see their fathers and/or other men doing it.

 

[Mary888]

I think more in the terms of … it would be easier for boys to consider priesthood if they saw more men involved in this. Because this is about spirituality, about God’s presence. This is above our human relations. I know of people who are deeply religious even when their parents are not, including men.
The fact priesthood is being bashed in the public culture is another factor. Anyone can be put off by this.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I very much agree with you. However, one needs to realize how little attractiveness men find in things like CCD texts nowadays. These dioceses need to adopt texts that have more muscularity to them. The last time I undertook to teach, I couldn’t stand to use the text, and didn’t. Fortunately the priest at the time didn’t care much for them either and let me teach the way I wanted to. But then he was transferred and I didn’t stay with it.

I do think music with some power in it is good. Our choir director has us do a fair number of (often protestant) hymns that are singable by men and have some “oomph” to them. Our choir presently has an equal number of men to women, which is really unusual around here at least.

And men will actually sing in the congregation if they can hit the notes.

My absolute un-favorite is “City of God”. That part about “…may our tears be turned into dancing…” AWFUL! What man or boy identifies with that? (do women?)

 

[Pug]

I don’t, but it is a little easier if it says mourning in place of tears, which is close to a line from a psalm.

 

[EnglishTeacher]

I very much agree with you. However, one needs to realize how little attractiveness men find in things like CCD texts nowadays. These dioceses need to adopt texts that have more muscularity to them. The last time I undertook to teach, I couldn’t stand to use the text, and didn’t. Fortunately the priest at the time didn’t care much for them either and let me teach the way I wanted to

I am not familiar with any of the various CCD curriculums nowadays, but I would say that if one has concerns about the content, he/she should raise that issue with the DRE and/or the pastor. Or if the parish has a religious education committee that assists the DRE in choosing curriculum and planning the program, this is another area where men should become involved. Come to think of it, all the DREs I know are women–nothing wrong with that, and they all do a good job, but it is yet another area where we don’t see much male leadership.

I do think music with some power in it is good. Our choir director has us do a fair number of (often protestant) hymns that are singable by men and have some “oomph” to them. Our choir presently has an equal number of men to women, which is really unusual around here at least.

And men will actually sing in the congregation if they can hit the notes.

My absolute un-favorite is “City of God”. That part about “…may our tears be turned into dancing…” AWFUL! What man or boy identifies with that? (do women?)

Well, I am a woman, and I am not fond of the many sappy contemporary songs that are sung in place of hymns, either. Another area for laypeople knowledgeable in church music to become more involved, if they want to see this change.