complementarianism
Ordained male leadership
Complementarianism is the belief that men and women have distinct, divinely ordained roles that complement each other—typically placing men in leadership positions in marriage, family, and church, while women occupy supportive roles.
The term emerged in evangelical Christian circles as a contrast to egalitarianism: Their church holds to complementarianism, so women cannot serve as elders.
Critics see it as religious cover for traditional gender hierarchy.
Established body of teachings
- biblicalOf sacred texts
- headshipChief authority position
- submissionYielding to another's will
- ordinationClergy appointment ceremony
pastoral · egalitarianism · hermeneutics · exegesis · scripture · gender roles · church leadership · eldership
Male-dominated social order
- conservatismPreference for existing institutions
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
traditional marriage · traditional family · family values · social conservatism · evangelical · fundamentalism · conventional · established order
Male gender characteristics
- femininityFemale nature or character
- gender rolesExpected behaviors by sex
- gender binaryStrict two-category sex classification
- division of laborSplitting tasks among workers
homemaker · breadwinner · nurturer · provider · motherhood · fatherhood · maternity · paternity
Male-dominated social order
- sexismGender-based prejudice
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- misogynyHostility toward women
discrimination · subjugation · subordination · power imbalance · hierarchy · restrictive · regressive · exclusionary
doctrine
Established body of teachings
- biblicalOf sacred texts
- headshipChief authority position
- submissionYielding to another's will
ordination · pastoral · egalitarianism · hermeneutics · exegesis · scripture · gender roles · church leadership · eldership · epistles
patriarchy
Male-dominated social order
- conservatismPreference for existing institutions
- hierarchyRanked authority structure
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
orthodoxy · traditional marriage · traditional family · family values · social conservatism · evangelical · fundamentalism · conventional · established order · natural law
masculinity
Male gender characteristics
- femininityFemale nature or character
- gender rolesExpected behaviors by sex
- gender binaryStrict two-category sex classification
division of labor · homemaker · breadwinner · nurturer · provider · motherhood · fatherhood · maternity · paternity · childcare
patriarchy
Male-dominated social order
- sexismGender-based prejudice
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
misogyny · discrimination · subjugation · subordination · power imbalance · hierarchy · restrictive · regressive · exclusionary · male privilege
- Doctrinespredestination, original sin, justification, sanctification, incarnation
- religious feminismwomen clergy, ordination of women, inclusive language, sacred feminine, divine feminine
- Biblical Marriagemarriage covenant, bride, husband and wife, bridegroom, groom
- Evangelicalismevangelicalism, born again, born-again, evangelists, evangelist
- fundamentalismfundamentalism, inerrancy, literalism, dogmatism, strict interpretation
- OrthodoxyEastern Orthodoxy, church fathers, Nicene Creed, synods, unction
complementarianismegalitarianism
Philosophy of universal equality
complementarianismliberation theology
Religious movement championing the marginalized
complement, complements, complemented, complementing, complementary, complementarity, complete, completion, completeness