Spirituality as a Tool of Patriarchy

When we look at most spiritual teachings, they were crafted by men and primarily for the benefit of men. From religious doctrines to modern self-help movements, women are repeatedly given guidance that keeps them in a role of service rather than sovereignty.

Most spiritual advice focuses on ego dissolution, humility, and non-attachment—principles that are valuable but disproportionately preached to those who already hold power, dominance, and control. These teachings tell men to soften, to surrender their pride, to develop empathy.

But what about women? What about those who already embody deep empathy, who already give, who already surrender too much of themselves? Should women be taught the same lessons as men when their struggles are completely different?

For a man conditioned by patriarchy to dominate, the path to enlightenment is letting go of control. For a woman conditioned by patriarchy to serve, the path to enlightenment is reclaiming her power.

How the Patriarchy Controls Women’s Spirituality

Patriarchy does not just suppress women’s voices in politics or the workplace—it controls their spiritual evolution as well.

• Women in Religious Roles – Most major religions bar women from leadership, despite claiming that all humans are equal in spirit.
• Buddhist Monasticism – Many Buddhist temples and monasteries require nuns to serve monks, reinforcing the idea that women exist to facilitate male enlightenment.
• Spiritual Bypassing in New Age Teachings – Women are told to “just forgive,” “just raise their vibration,” or “just send love” when dealing with abuse, oppression, or violence. These teachings ignore the structural inequalities that create suffering.
• The Sexualization of Female Spirituality – Many male gurus have taken advantage of female disciples, claiming that sexual submission is part of “spiritual liberation.”
• The Erasure of Female Mysticism – Ancient cultures were filled with powerful female healers, shamans, and oracles, yet today their wisdom is dismissed or distorted.
• Heaven Designed for Men – Many religious visions of the afterlife reflect patriarchal fantasies. For example, in Islamic descriptions of paradise, men are promised beautiful, obedient virgins, reinforcing the idea that even in the afterlife, women exist to serve men’s desires.

Women have been taught to serve spirituality, but never to own it.

New Age & Self-Development Gurus

This pattern continues into modern New Age movements and self-help industries, where male figures dominate the space, often engaging in manipulation, sexual abuse, and exploitation of women.

• Osho (Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh) – Preached spiritual liberation but ran a commune infamous for exploiting female followers and encouraging sexual submission under the pretense of awakening.
• Bikram Choudhury – Founder of Bikram Yoga, accused of sexual harassment, assault, and financial exploitation of female students.
• John of God (João Teixeira de Faria) – Brazilian faith healer convicted of sexual abuse after years of exploiting women seeking healing.
• Tony Robbins – The self-help icon has faced allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior, including claims that he groped female attendees and exposed himself to assistants.

Many self-development organizations have devolved into cults centered around charismatic male leaders, exploiting followers—particularly women—under the pretense of enlightenment and personal growth.

• Keith Raniere (NXIVM) – Marketed as a self-improvement group but functioned as a cult where women were sexually branded and coerced into servitude.
• Gregorian Bivolaru (MISA – Movement for Spiritual Integration into the Absolute) – Exposed for sexual exploitation and manipulation.

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