Before: Dodd looks to feminist theologians citing that many argue “that belief in Mary’s perpetual virginity was a Patristic invention to emphasize the superiority of virginity over the lower state of marriage and sexual reproduction.” These scholars believe that Mary’s virginity has been overly praised in order to send the message to women that it is good to be “pure.”
After: Dodd looks to feminist theologians citing that many argue “that belief in Mary’s perpetual virginity was a Patristic invention to emphasize the superiority of virginity over the lower state of marriage and sexual reproduction.” These scholars believe that Mary’s virginity has been overly praised in order to send the message to women that it is good to be “pure.” Specifically, Dodd believes that "Mary's perpetual virginity" was "a Patristic invention" meaning that the early organizers of the Christian church, who were men, emphasized Mary's virginity to benefit themselves within the patriarchal society.
Dodd, Gloria Falcão. 2014. “Feminist and New Feminist Perspectives on Mary: Renewal or Retrieval?” Marian Studies 65: 277–328. https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.bsc.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLAi5IE180831000108&site=eds-live. 291.
In this passage, I elaborated on the meaning of "Patristic" as it is church history jargon that would not necessarily be understood by everyone.