Study sheet on Gender in the Creation story

This item is designed to begin an exploration of gender in the creation story, by comparing the creation of man and woman in Genesis 1 versus 2. In Genesis 1 it is a much more equal affair, indeed the Rabbis interpreted it as one being with both sexes. Another interpretation saw this first story as being about Adam’s first wife: Lilith, who was punished for demanding equality, but is reclaimed by feminists today. Genesis 2 however establishes the idea of Eve as subservient to Adam – created as his helpmate. We can always find texts to back up what we want to say – we have to decide how we are going to let our religions and our behaviour be in the world.

Genesis 1

26 And God said: 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.'

27 And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

Genesis 2

18 And the LORD God said: 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.'

19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto the man to see what he would call them; and whatsoever the man would call every living creature, that was to be the name thereof.

20 And the man gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him.

21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the place with flesh instead thereof.

22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from the man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23 And the man said: 'This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.'

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh.

What are the differences, in terms of gender power play, in the two creation stories?