Will The Gender Gap Continue To Grow Now There Are More Sister Missionaries?

[Peppermint Patty]

Lately, I've been wondering how the landscape of the church might look in a few years due to the influx of sister missionaries. I think this influx will have an impact on the already widening gender gap in the church. More sister missionaries could mean more female converts than men.

It's been my experience that there are, at least, more active women than men. Some studies have shown the same, http://www.sltrib.co...mormon.html.csp

The report, "Mormons in the United States 1990-2008: Socio-Demographic Trends and Regional Differences," released Wednesday by Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., found that 60 percent of Utah Mormons are women, up from 52.5 percent two decades ago.

The education gap is also widening, http://www.deseretne...sis.html?pg=all

For every 100 women who earn a bachelor's degree, only 73 men earn one. Women outnumber men obtaining master's degrees by more than 30 percent.

These trends are a little discomforting to me. This can't be good for LDS families. Are most women going to be the primary breadwinners in the typical family in a few years? What can be done to reverse these trends and encourage young men to pursue their educations and stay in the church? Will it be the norm for many LDS women to not be able to marry in the faith, due to the gender gap?

[Tacenda]

Lately, I've been wondering how the landscape of the church might look in a few years due to the influx of sister missionaries. I think this influx will have an impact on the already widening gender gap in the church. More sister missionaries could mean more female converts than men.

It's been my experience that there are, at least, more active women than men.

I'm sorry that the first thing that popped in my head was....this is why we'll have polygamy in the hereafter, so many women will need husbands, and there won't be enough to go around. But my biggest irk is what if so many women believe they can only marry someone in the temple and there aren't enough men to go around for that on earth. Will these ladies remain single? I see that alot, and maybe the church needs to change some of that thinking. I think a non LDS man would be just as wonderful as an LDS man. I hope young women will know that it's okay to not marry in the temple. I know in the early church many were sealed later. But if the man is non LDS, there is still hope of having a wonderful marriage.

[Duncan]

We just got two Sisters in our ward. Both Graduated with honours from High School, one has a degree. We had a meet/greet/eat last night. the two elders barely made it out of high school. I frankly wouldn't mind of sisters in the age range fo 25-34 were found and baptized

In our ward we have an influx of single sisters. All, except one convert in the last 3 years have been women.

[ERayR]

I'm sorry that the first thing that popped in my head was....this is why we'll have polygamy in the hereafter, so many women will need husbands, and there won't be enough to go around. But my biggest irk is what if so many women believe they can only marry someone in the temple and there aren't enough men to go around for that on earth. Will these ladies remain single? I see that alot, and maybe the church needs to change some of that thinking. I think a non LDS man would be just as wonderful as an LDS man. I hope young women will know that it's okay to not marry in the temple. I know in the early church many were sealed later. But if the man is non LDS, there is still hope of having a wonderful marriage.

I think this is a personal choice predicated upon their goals. It seems to me that it would be a sad marriage for an LDS woman who who yearns for an eternal marriage with her husband to know that it will never happen with him.

Just thinking out loud.

[cinepro]

I hope young women will know that it's okay to not marry in the temple.

If they are to know that, they'll have to figure it out on their own. I can't imagine any scenario where young women would actually be taught, in Church, that "it's okay to not marry in the temple."

[Storm Rider]

It would be interesting to hear why young men don't feel that college is important enough to attend; I have not heard of any studies, but then I don't pay very close attention. I have thought about what I have thought of as the feminization of our society and culture over the past 30 to 50 years. I saw it first in the education of our son; boys were not allowed to be boys. They were not called on though their hands were first to go up in class; they were not allowed to play games where there was a "winner" and a "loser". All leadership skills were dismissed as too self-centered and everything need to be taught from a team perspective. So much of what has been masculine over the centuries is now discouraged, maligned, and rejected. It is my opinion that we are reaping the just rewards of a culture that is not supportive of boys or men. It is a foreign landscape and young men don't really know how to fit in. I was recently reading "The Book of Man" by William J. Bennett. I would encourage all parents and sons to read this. As you do so, look closely at how foreign some of the concepts are today. Our society as a whole does not like or accept boys or men.

[Ahab]

Lately, I've been wondering how the landscape of the church might look in a few years due to the influx of sister missionaries. I think this influx will have an impact on the already widening gender gap in the church. More sister missionaries could mean more female converts than men.

A sister missionary caught me. Why are you thinking sisters can't also be fishers of men, and at least as good as the men?

Seems to me like women would catch more men than women since men are more interested in women.

It's been my experience that there are, at least, more active women than men. Some studies have shown the same

To me that means there are more women around to catch men.

The education gap is also widening, These trends are a little discomforting to me. This can't be good for LDS families.

Families usually have both a woman and a man, and I don't see anything wrong with that.

Are most women going to be the primary breadwinners in the typical family in a few years?

Would it be a bad thing if they were? A husband and wife shouldn't compete against each other. Both of them benefit by what they can achieve, combined.

What can be done to reverse these trends and encourage young men to pursue their educations and stay in the church?

Women can encourage men to do that by talking about how and why that is important to them. But let's not put the cart in front of the horse. Before talking about a man staying in the Church a man first needs to get into the Church, and a woman can help a man want to do that.

Will it be the norm for many LDS women to not be able to marry in the faith, due to the gender gap?

If a woman wants a man, she can usually get one. If not a man in the Church, a man outside of the Church who is later brought into the Church. Women are the best kind of man catchers there are.

Edited May 17, 2013 by Ahab

[Scott Lloyd]

I think this is a personal choice predicated upon their goals. It seems to me that it would be a sad marriage for an LDS woman who who yearns for an eternal marriage with her husband to know that it will never happen with him.

Just thinking out loud.

Or that her children will not have the influence of two active, believing parents in the home.

[Stone holm]

Interesting question about the education gap. My wife faults my stressing education as the reason that only one of my sons served on a mission, but all have college degrees, and half have advanced degrees. As a Bishop, it appeared to me that the Sisters were normally more effective missionaries. They might be able to more equalise the education disparity by making the eligibility age the same. But that would just reduce the number of women with college educations not increase the number of men. This may be an inadvertent consequence of gender stereotyping, we don't exactly applaud intellectualism in the Church as a "manly" pursuit and neither did American culture in the 1950's which is our current culture model. You cannot harangue intellectuals on a regular basis and then wonder why boys don't have college as a major goal.

[grhammjr]

i agree Sister Missionaries may be able to convert men better, like Elders currently convert women more then men.

[Ahab]

Interesting question about the education gap. My wife faults my stressing education as the reason that only one of my sons served on a mission, but all have college degrees, and half have advanced degrees. As a Bishop, it appeared to me that the Sisters were normally more effective missionaries. They might be able to more equalise the education disparity by making the eligibility age the same. But that would just reduce the number of women with college educations not increase the number of men. This may be an inadvertent consequence of gender stereotyping, we don't exactly applaud intellectualism in the Church as a "manly" pursuit and neither did American culture in the 1950's which is our current culture model. You cannot harangue intellectuals on a regular basis and then wonder why boys don't have college as a major goal.

There's a big difference between being intelligent and having a college degree. Most people want the degree because they are taught that it will help to get a better paying job, but there are other ways to make a lot of money and gain more intelligence without needing to have a degree, and having the degree doesn't guarantee everything will lead to the best wages. And it's not as if money should be the number one motivation in life, anyway.

[blackstrap]

A college education is not worth what it used to be. One spends 10's of thousands of dollars to get what everyone has, whereas what are needed are specific skills.

[Ahab]

A college education is not worth what it used to be. One spends 10's of thousands of dollars to get what everyone has, whereas what are needed are specific skills.

It's not about need. It's about want. Sometimes an employer just prefers someone with a college degree even when someone else without one is capable of doing everything the job requires. Where I am in my career I can see how a college degree would help me to advance further up the chain of command, but it's only because the employers want someone with a degree rather than just anyone who knows how to get the job done. The paper is like a ticket. You could ride the gravy train without one except for that guy who comes around to see if you have it. It's another stupidity that is popular on this planet.

[Stone holm]

There's a big difference between being intelligent and having a college degree. Most people want the degree because they are taught that it will help to get a better paying job, but there are other ways to make a lot of money and gain more intelligence without needing to have a degree, and having the degree doesn't guarantee everything will lead to the best wages. And it's not as if money should be the number one motivation in life, anyway.

Yep. And like I said, and we wonder why the boys aren't motivated to go to college.

[Duncan]

I had ward correlation here last night with 2 sisters and 3 elders, one of which was just with them for the day and fine whatever I got room. He did come across as goofy but heck no goofier then I probably was at that time and I have seen worse from elders let me tellya. Well, I just got home from going with the APs and they asked what did I think of Elder So and So and I said well, seems decent, goofy but no worse then anyone else and they told he got sent home because he didn't want to be out (he's only been out 6 weeks and he's 20) I was like my gosh he was just here, he didn't seem upset, or sick or anything. So,whoever marries him will have there work cut out for them and I wish them all the best

Edited May 18, 2013 by Duncan

[Stone holm]

I had ward correlation here last night with 2 sisters and 3 elders, one of which was just with them for the day and fine whatever I got room. He did come across as goofy but heck no goofier then I probably was at that time and I have seen worse from elders let me tellya. Well, I just got home from going with the APs and they said what did I think of Elder So and So and I said well, seems decent, goofy but no worse then anyone else and they told he got sent home because he didn't want to be out (he's only been out 6 weeks and he's 20) I was like my gosh he was just here, he didn't seem upset, or sick or anything. So,whoever marries him will have there work cut out for them and I wish them all the best

And he went on a mission, I wonder why?

[Tacenda]

And he went on a mission, I wonder why?

Because it was expected of him most likely, pity the boy that doesn't go, my 20 yr. old son isn't going, talk about stigmas (other thread), poor kid. Edited May 18, 2013 by Tacenda

[volgadon]

My companionships baptised far more women than men, and I can't think of any that were found by sister missionaries, so I'm sceptical. However, mine is anecdotal evidence.

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

Lately, I've been wondering how the landscape of the church might look in a few years due to the influx of sister missionaries. I think this influx will have an impact on the already widening gender gap in the church. More sister missionaries could mean more female converts than men.

I think sister missionaries can cast the widest net. Also from the OT we know that when God could not raise up ( or find) a righteous man to lead Israel, we found a woman. His will, his plan and his love will go forth with or without us, so better with us. I just hope the numbers don't get to a point where young men feel as though they have an "out"...or now that "big-sister" has gone it is not up to me to carry on the family tradition of missions. My daughter served about 16 years ago, when it was less the norm. She was Colorado, North Mission. My two middle children chose college and the youngest just got home from his mission. As a result of this change, I was talking to my granddaughter, Macy about school when she informed my she could go on a mission in 9 more years. Time passes much too quickly!

[Stone holm]

Because it was expected of him most likely, pity the boy that doesn't go, my 20 yr. old son isn't going, talk about stigmas (other thread), poor kid.

So if you remove the stigma, you think kids would quit going on missions? If that is the case, and there used to be a stigma about girls going on a mission, has there been a change there that is causing girls to sign up?

[Duncan]

My companionships baptised far more women than men, and I can't think of any that were found by sister missionaries, so I'm sceptical. However, mine is anecdotal evidence.

oh man, the BEST missionary in my mission was a sister, from idaho. She was just a super missionary.

[changed]

Women have overtaken men in education, and in workforce - it's not surprising that this trend is also within the church.

education:

NATIONAL ENROLLMENT

Total fall enrollment in degree-granting institutions

1970

Men: 5 million

Women: 3.5 million

2000

Men: 6.7 million

Women: 8.6 million

2010

Men: 9.1 million

Women: 12.1 million

Source: U.S. Department of Education

work:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Women-Rule---Women-Overtake-Men-As-the-Dominant-Gender-of-the-US-Labor-Force&id=2892166

etc.

[Stone holm]

Women have overtaken men in education, and in workforce - it's not surprising that this trend is also within the church.

education:

work:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Women-Rule---Women-Overtake-Men-As-the-Dominant-Gender-of-the-US-Labor-Force&id=2892166

etc.

Interesting, not sure how representative 1970 statistics might be since male enrolments may have still been swollen due to the college deferment from the draft, Vietnam inspired a lot of young men to start thinking about college. I wonder what LDS statistics might reveal about military enlistments.

[Calm]

In 2010, 17,071 of the 1,129,275 soldiers in the US Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard claimed that they were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (according to Army Public Affairs). That is 1.5%. These numbers do not include other branches of the military (such as the Navy or Marines) or people serving in capacities other than that of soldier.

http://wiki.answers....itary_is_Mormon

Since LDS are about 1.7% of US population, we are close to being fully represented in the military.

Edited May 18, 2013 by calmoriah

[Peppermint Patty]

http://wiki.answers....itary_is_Mormon

Since LDS are about 1.7% of US population, we are close to being fully represented in the military.

That is a very interesting statistic. Thank you for sharing. I would also think that LDS in other countries where military service is not mandatory, would also show us as being fully represented. The LDS teaching of being loyal and patriotic to one's country has helped our missionaries gain entry into more than one country in the past.