Why are there less female atheists?

[Athene]

I've never, ever been asked to participate in any Pew study. So, I know they're short by at least one respondent.

Besides...after last November's elections results, I put very little stock in "scientific polling".

[ignoramus]

If the only atheists you know are from online, it's easy to think that women atheists are less proportional.

Still trying to figure out how you lot know I have wonky tits.

Because all the females on this forum have a brain disproportionately larger than their butts!
Which is a good thing! No....wait.... I didn't mean their butts are big to start with ......oh never mind....

[brewer]

From personal experience IRL the ratio is about 80/20 male to female. 

But that may be the same percent that actually speak to me, atheist or not.

[Jenny A]

Certainly there are fewer avowed female atheists. But I'm not so sure that there are actually fewer of us, especially if you make it clear that uncertainty without actual belief is athism. I'm always surprised how many sorta Christian women turn out to be culturally christian but atheists in belief.

[chimp3]

Fewer, not less.

Maybe misogynistic patriarchal religions put more effort into conditioning women to keep the breeding stock compliant and men would be given more freedom because they are valued more.

Ha!  Never heard it stated quite like that.  I can't wait to tell the missus tonight that she is breeding stock and I must keep her compliant.

After I duck the verbal onslaught and kitchen ware that is sure to follow, I will instruct her to get back in the kitchen and make me a sandwich!  

Thank you for spicing up my Friday night!

Not a christian myself but I remember during the Million Man March a comment my Methodist mother-in-law made. The news reported a comment that the march was a million christian men reassuming their place as the head of their families. Mother-in-law responded "Hmm... More like a Million Women Laughing March!'

[Thumpalumpacus]

If the only atheists you know are from online, it's easy to think that women atheists are less proportional.

Still trying to figure out how you lot know I have wonky tits.

I didn't ... until now.

[Alex K]

Certainly there are fewer avowed female atheists. But I'm not so sure that there are actually fewer of us, especially if you make it clear that uncertainty without actual belief is athism. I'm always surprised how many sorta Christian women turn out to be culturally christian but atheists in belief.

My suspicion - and experience in my own family - is that the women feel more conpelled to uphold the '"tradition of belief" if you will, whether or not they are actual believers themselves.

[brewer]

Still trying to figure out how you lot know I have wonky tits.

I didn't ... until now.

I'm not sure I even understand wonky, not getting a good mental image. Mathilda, could you give me some perspective?

[Homeless Nutter]

Does religion give women more Stockholm syndrome than men?

Is there such a thing as "Stockholm Syndrome"? It certainly isn't a universally accepted psychologic/psychiatric diagnosis and there doesn't seem to be any scientific basis for it.

It seems to me, that it's just a trendy pop-psychology idea; something we like to believe, because it makes it easier to face the fact, that many people (especially females) are forced to live their lives with people they fear. It would be kind of convenient if child-brides sold like livestock/sex-toys to old, abusive men, or kidnapped by enemy tribes developed some kind of condition, that made them sympathize with and maybe even bond with their abusers. Maybe the millions of victims of nazi concentration camps actually liked their oppressors? Maybe slaves were infatuated with their masters? Because otherwise - why didn't they all just kill themselves? Surely - their psychology must have done something to make their ordeals somewhat bearable? Isn't that a comforting thought?

I doubt that's the case though. Survival instinct can make people adapt to even the most abhorrent and inhumane circumstances. That doesn't mean victims of those circumstances don't have a miserable time. They just don't have a choice.

Sure, in some cases it's possible for a non-violent kidnapper to be kind to their victim - enough for them to develop some sort of understanding and sympathy. As it seems to have been the case of that incident in the 70's from which Stockholm Syndrome takes its name. But I believe that to be a minority.

And no - I don't think women are more likely to be religious, because of some kind of mental condition, that makes them feel OK about being abused. It's just that - as some people already pointed out - women in traditional societies don't have much choice in the matter and even in the largely liberal West until fairly recently religion was one of the few aspects of society women could - and were in fact pressured to - partake, even if not exactly as equal to men.

[downbeatplumb]

I don't know. I'm not sure I've noticed a disparity. If it exists, I couldn't begin to tell you why.

I have over this side of the pond.
I think it may be because women  like to think of themselves as spiritual and men like to think of themselves as good at pool.