How I'm Working for Change Inside My Church | Chelsea Shields | TED Talks

Summary

The speaker discusses the pervasive influence of religion on society, highlighting gender inequality within religious institutions. She shares her personal journey from a patriarchal Mormon upbringing to activism, advocating for change within religious communities through respectful dialogue and unignorable acts of bravery.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Religion's influence is pervasive and affects everyone, regardless of personal beliefs.
• 🔍 Society often holds religious institutions to a different standard of accountability compared to other sectors.
• 🚫 Gender discrimination is prevalent in many religions, with women often excluded from leadership roles and decision-making.
• 🏡 The speaker grew up in a traditional, patriarchal Mormon family, where strict rules dictated various aspects of life.
• 💰 Financial contributions to the church were a significant part of religious life, with 10% of earnings donated by followers.
• 🏳️‍🌈 The speaker's religion had a profound impact on their views on sexuality and acceptance, leading to tragic consequences for some.
• 🤝 Despite the challenges, the speaker found a sense of community, support, and safety within their religious community.
• 🚫 The speaker initially accepted the gender inequality in their religion without question, but later began to question and challenge these norms.
• 💪 Activism within the religious community was met with resistance, including loss of relationships, jobs, and even death threats.
• 🌟 Small groups of activists have made significant progress in challenging gender inequality within the Mormon community, leading to perceptual shifts and policy changes.
• 🌱 Religion plays a critical role in shaping societal norms and values, and addressing gender inequality within religious institutions can have far-reaching effects.

Q & A

What is the main argument presented in the script regarding religion and its influence on society?

The script argues that religion has a significant influence on society, affecting everyone's daily lives, and that it is often held to a different standard of scrutiny and accountability compared to other sectors of society.

Why does the speaker believe that the current practices in many religions are problematic?

The speaker points out that many religions have practices that are discriminatory, such as not allowing women to hold leadership positions or handle financial matters, which would be unacceptable in secular society.

What is the speaker's background and how does it relate to the topic of the script?

The speaker comes from a patriarchal, orthodox Mormon family and has personally experienced gender discrimination within her religion, which gives her a unique perspective on the issue.

How did the speaker's upbringing in a traditional family influence her views on gender roles within her religion?

Growing up in a traditional family with strict rules, the speaker initially accepted the gender roles and inequalities within her religion without question, but later began to challenge these norms.

What is the speaker's stance on the role of women in her former religion, and how has she worked to change it?

The speaker was initially accepting of the traditional gender roles in her religion, but she later joined with other activists to raise awareness, build advocacy organizations, and push for changes in the treatment of women.

What challenges did the speaker face when advocating for gender equality within her religious community?

The speaker faced significant backlash, including losing relationships, jobs, receiving hate mail and death threats, and being ostracized from her community.

How has the speaker's advocacy impacted the perception of gender equality within her religious community?

The speaker's efforts have led to perceptual shifts, allowing for discussions about gender inequality, and have resulted in tangible changes such as women's pictures being displayed alongside men's and women being allowed to pray in church-wide meetings.

What is the speaker's view on the role of secular society in addressing issues of gender inequality within religious communities?

The speaker believes that secular society should take religion seriously and hold it accountable for its influence on societal norms and practices, but in a respectful way that encourages cooperation rather than hostility.

Why does the speaker argue that religion cannot be dismissed or ignored in discussions about societal norms and equality?

The speaker argues that religion plays a significant role in shaping societal norms, influencing politics, health policy, education, and more, and therefore must be engaged with to effect meaningful change.

What is the speaker's advice for those who want to address gender inequality within their own religious communities?

The speaker suggests that individuals should engage in acts of bravery, such as standing up for gender equality and working to reclaim morality in a secular context that holds religions accountable.

How does the speaker describe the impact of her and her fellow activists' efforts on the younger generation within her religious community?

The speaker notes that her daughter and nieces are inheriting a religion that is more equal than the one she experienced, indicating that their efforts have had a lasting impact on the community.