Gender Aspects in Art and Religion from the Point of View of N. Luhmann’s System Theory

The article discusses the possibility of applying the theory of autopoietic communication systems to the scientific description of issues of gender differences. The proposed theory can act as a metatheoretical level of consideration of the topic and allows using the position of the observer of the “second order”, directs the focus of attention to the differences verbalized in communication, reveals the observing system based on the involved code. The specificity of gender aspects in the functioning and self-description of the systems of art and religion presented in the discourses “patriarchal bias” and “scholarly bias” is indicated. Gender differences as a topic of communication often actualize the systemic codes of political, legal and moral systems. They represent one of the forms of monitoring the fulfillment of freedom and equality, critically observe the availability of universal inclusion in systemic communications, including in the systems of religion and art, when success within the systems is governed by specific codes and programs, but not by gender differences. A positive strategy is demonstrated for replenishing self-descriptions of systems of religion and art, including the “absent presence” of women in the memory of systems, making the contribution of women to systemic autopoiesis “visible”.

gender studies, autopoietic systems, Niklas Luhmann, religion and art