Final answer:
Religion has historically influenced sex/gender roles, with examples ranging from ancient Rome's Vestal Virgins to the mother goddess in early farming societies, and patriarchal structures within Buddhism to modesty regulations for women in ancient Greece. These religious practices have helped to enforce and perpetuate gender norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout history, religion has played a significant role in shaping sex/gender roles and expectations. In ancient Rome, for example, religious practices were predominantly led by men, but there were exceptions with women taking on public religious roles such as the priestesses of Isis and the Vestal Virgins. The Vestal Virgins served for 30 years and were entrusted with ceremonial duties commonly reserved for male priests. Additionally, the mother goddess concept was dominant across early farming civilizations in south-western Asia and Europe, where rituals were conducted to ensure fertility and successful reproduction. Conversely, in certain Native American and West African societies, gender roles were closely tied to economic systems, with men engaging in hunting or warfare and women in agriculture or food processing, reflecting their social construction rather than immutable truths.
Buddhism presented an elevation in status for women and lower castes, freeing them from being perceived as spiritually impure and allowing greater participation in spiritual life. However, it still enforced a patriarchal system with women receiving fewer privileges within monastic communities. Another example comes from ancient Greece, where extreme modesty was expected of women during religious rituals, displaying the gender-focused regulations typical of patriarchal societies. All these religious structures and beliefs contributed to reinforcing and perpetuating the division of gender roles and societal expectations.