there are a lot of guys who need notherely support too, though obviously not many admit it.

I agree but it slowly changing. I though i would never hear of a black woman thst didnt believe yet there are some out there

There are indeed. I actually know one. She did her thesis on female Black non-believers and found that even those that were in belief atheists or agnostics they called themselves non-religious or spiritual; they even still attended services on the whole because of the social system they had there and as a way to keep remain in the community. Of course, these were interviews so the information cannot be generalized outside of Texas but I am sure there are similar instances across the country.

Among my friends from college, especially from my years living in engineering/science dorms, most are atheists now, and were then, regardless of their race, gender, or parents' religions. We provided enough social support for each other as young adults that there was no need within our community to pretend religions we didn't believe. And, we were accepting of the minority in our social group who were religious. Living out in the real world now, and in a more conservative city, there is really no social life or support network outside work for adults, and if you are a woman who is not working full time because you have kids (which is seemingly the norm here) your life would be pretty isolated and devoid of meaningful adult contact unless you can go to church once a week, fob your kids off to some children's activity, and socialize with other adults within the church structure. I suspect that many of the women I have met here are in church not because they believe anything, but because they would be going crazy from isolation and lack of adult company if they didn't go to church. And when you have accepted that you are a regular church-goer, it is easier to just ignore any philosophical doubts and just go with the flow, whatever you might believe deep-down.

you have good insight sir. Society is just now coming to realize that the reason for the battle of the sexes/for equality, was not that women want to "be" men, but simply to have the same status/value as men. In any battle/conflict, people tend to compensate their short-comings with aggression. A lot of natural boundaries were lost, or 'blurred', resulting in confusion. Not a good time for either sex. Generally speaking, we are very different. More and more, science is discovering that just how different we truly are, starting with the head. Our brain is wired different from yours, making women good multi-taskers, while men tend to excel concentrating on one task. Our basic DNA was wired so we should fit together very well. The problems arise when one side tries to dominate the other, instead of trying to find the right fit. At first, men were at fault. But, now women are as much to blame for the relationship quantum. My tip to you fellas is - women are romantic creatures, even when we deny this to you, to ourselves. Do/say something romantic, or silly romantic, and we turn into putty. Cave-man antics only go so far.

That may be a part but we cannot dismiss the cultural reasons as well. Women are expected to take care of children, raise them "right", and, as a society, we have deemed that a person must be religious to do so. (Research has actually shown that even for parents with no religion - but are believers - after they have children they start attending church again for the sake of their children, this effect is particularly seen in women.) With this, we also cannot forgo looking at the structural assistance that religion has in place: daycares, community groups, children's bible studies. Places that women can drop their children off at or go to themselves for support.

Now, of course, this true of all women (my mother is actually less religious than my father, so this applies to my experiences) but on the whole social research has shown that these are some of the major reasons that women go to church: family/children and support/community.

I believe that most religions were designed to keep women in line. And most us women were raised in some religious setting. On top of that most women are repressed by their community and school and family teachings. Women do tend to be the ones that follow the way they were taught. In a society were the girls have restrictions and men don't...women are pretty much brainwashed from birth to not think but follow what they have been told. Then even once they do have independent thoughts they fear change or retribution if they do follow thru with it.

Not only that, girls are still raised to be more considerate, and more attuned to the needs of others. It's never just one source; kids pick up cues from child-care providers, parents, teachers, and all other adults and kids around them, and still, boys are praised more for being assertive and active, while girls are praised more for being pretty, well-behaved, and 'nice'. Add in religious teaching on top of this gendered expectation for behavior, and it makes sense that even when women are atheist, they might not be willing to upset those around them by asserting their atheism where it would be unwelcome. And, if women marry young, as they do still in more conservative religious communities, they may already be locked into raising kids with a believer husband by the time they work out their own private atheist stance. I doubt many women would assert their atheism with so much to lose, without some sort of external support to lean on at least, since they might lose their husband, kids, home, and social life in such situations. I know I've met a few such women from my old church, at least.