Fundamentalisms and Patriarchal Gender Politics

Abstract

Recent studies of North American and Latin American evangelicalism suggest that the ideology and politics of charismatic and legalistic-literalist fundamentalist groups differ with regard to gender relations. Although both advocate patriarchal structures of authority, women in charismatic groups can negotiate gender relations more actively, thereby promoting their own interests. Applying this basic distinction to evangelical groups in South Korea, however, suggests that differences among the outcomes for women depend on preexisting structures of authority rather than the type of fundamentalism. When patriarchal structures of authority, especially in the family, still function, the differences between charismatic and legalistic-literalist fundamentalism become minimized. However, when these structures are breaking down or already have eroded, charismatic types of fundamentalism offer women a stronger voice and greater opportunities to renegotiate gender relations than do literalist-legalistic ones.