Gender (In)Equalities in Lived Christianity: Catholic and Lutheran Evangelical Women’s Understandings of Gender Roles in the Family in Estonia and Latvia1

This chapter, grounded in a qualitative research approach, delves into the perspectives of Catholic and Lutheran women from Estonia and Latvia. It endeavors to elucidate their viewpoints on gender equality within the sphere of faith, the manner in which they employ both gender and religious frameworks, and the intricate interplay between them. The interviewed women engage in multifaceted negotiations wherein they harmonize societal norms with their religious convictions. The analysis discloses the delineation of three primary strategies that women employ in navigating the terrain of gender equality and religiosity: decoupling community religiosity and community gender equality attitudes, utilizing religious arguments in support or opposition to gender equality, and confronting the tension of incompatibility between religious tenets and gender equality. Despite sharing a common religious heritage, Latvian and Estonian women exhibit diverse stances on these matters. This disparity can be attributed to the distinctive public discourses prevailing in these respective countries, which engender context-specific gender norms that significantly shape the respondents’ perspectives and cognitions. Furthermore, the women’s critical perspectives on discussions concerning gender are also influenced by the unique approach adopted by the Soviet regime in addressing issues related to gender equality and, in some instances, gender degradation.