Mission and Misogyny - a National Secular Society report

Gloucestershire Humanists March 2026 meeting:
Mission and misogyny
The National Secular Society's Head of Campaigns talks about the recently published report into "Mission and Misogyny"

Female subordination. Sexist 'modesty' codes. Violence against women.
These are forms of misogyny we would expect charities to try to combat.
Yet, as the NSS groundbreaking report reveals, too many charities are promoting these ideas - all under the cloak of 'advancing religion'.

The new report, Mission and Misogyny**, uncovers how religious fundamentalists are exploiting our charity sector to promote regressive and harmful ideas about women. Using recent case studies, the report reveals how religious charities have used the cover of 'the advancement of religion' to promote or condone:

• Violence against women - including hitting women who refuse to have sex with their husbands.

• Subordination of women, saying that men must lead while a woman's role is to do housework.

• Sexist 'modesty codes', including saying that women must never wear trousers or must cover their entire body apart from their eyes.

• Religious 'courts' which treat women as second-class citizens.

With concerns about misogyny and violence against women and girls on the rise, this report is the first of its kind to expose how the special status of religion in charity law is contributing to a climate of misogyny and sexism both online and in the 'real world'.

*** For members of Gloucestershire Humanists, attendance of this event is free. For non-members, a £3 contribution would be greatly appreciated. Donations allow us to host monthly events and keep our group running. The donation link and membership info can be found on our website https://glos.humanist.org.uk/ ***