Rites and equality of gender: an analysis of the potentiality of the construction of (un)equality of gender in the rites

The theoretical basis of this article consists of a theological analysis, with emphasis on a dialogue with sociology and anthropology. It investigates dominance relationships, focusing particularly on gender relationships engendered by religious or profane rites. The objective is to verify the importance of rites for the construction of social reality, above all of gender notions and the relationships that result from them; to expose this premise on an anthropological and sociological basis, seeking to contribute to the discussion of the social function of religiosity as builder of social reality; and to provide an understanding of rites as spaces where more egalitarian relationships between men and women can take place. Through bibliographical research, especially into Pierre Bourdieu's sociology, the text tries to describe symbolic power and to understand how this element builds gender notions. Then, it verifies concepts of rite in anthropological texts, establishing its connection with symbolic power and its potential to construct social reality and gender notions that guide the relationships between women and men. The conclusion tries to indicate how rites can become spaces for the articulation of a new mode of gender relationships.