Our scales are unbalanced

There has been much in recent years about gender equality. Women have more opportunities today than in previous centuries but still remain a minority in powerful decision-making positions. Society continues to prioritise men in many facets of life. Religion is probably one of the biggest boys clubs in the world. We have an all-male priesthood in the Catholic Church. Despite all the statements about human dignity and equality etc women remain restricted by gender. Women have challenged this and continue to raise their voices and their words to push towards that myth of equality. It is an interesting situation as not all female voices align. Indeed this challenge is raised by men and women, but not all.

This is the impact of the ‘boys-club’ mentality in society. For some the desire to have what men have been given is priceless and any cost will be paid. After a while these women become part of the boys-club and perpetuate the attitudes and behaviours as ‘they had to rise above them’ rather than changing from within the power circle. This does so much damage as they become a statistic to suggest that the ‘boys-club’ is past simply because women exist in their ranks. Some do not see gender inequality as important. I never used to see any issue with an all-male clergy for the first 3 decades of my life and it was from experiencing the negative impact of the boys-club that made me question the power structures surrounding me in my workplace, in my Church and in my community. To be fair I don’t actually think the boys club is a purely male thing – I think it is a social norm that a lot of people follow and there exist many advocates for equality who are male.

I think gender inequality goes against our faith. It goes against the teachings of Jesus and the philosophical traditions he followed.

There is a prayer in the Book of Judith in the Hebrew Scriptures:

Your strength does not lie in numbers,

nor your might in violent men;

since you are the God of the humble,

the help of the oppressed,

the support of the weak,

the refuge of the forsaken,

the saviour of the despairing.

Also too let us consider the first letter of John:

My dear people,

let us love one another

since love comes from God

and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.

Anyone who fails to love can never have known God,

because God is love.

Both these passages reflect the nature of the divine as being grounded in love. John tells us that the essence of God is love. We aspire to be god-like in our actions and so we are called to act lovingly. Judith describes God as a divinity that walks with the downtrodden in times of trial. Neither of these texts places God on a throne giving commands, but a God who cares, who places wellbeing before accountability. This places the most powerful being, not as a micro-managing dictator, but a nurturer who walks with us when we need to sense support. If it is all supposed to germinate from love why then do those in power cling to power over kindness, to self-justification over truth, to tradition over inclusivity? What is the truth that is at the heart of our humanity that is not bound by race, colour, religion or gender?

There is a citation in a paper acknowledging the work of Karl Rahner from James F. Keenan in an article ‘Conscience in an Ethics of the Word’ about the importance of dialogue.

The best way we can find the truth is by leaving ourselves open to dialogue, humbly acknowledging that we may not know the truth as clearly we may think we know it. One practice would be to leave ourselves open to those who disagree with us. For they will help us see what in conscience we do not see (and vice versa).

James F Keenan, ‘Conscience in an Ethics of the Word’, Church (New York: National Catholic Life Center, Fall 2005) p.51

We talk about ‘breaking the glass ceiling’ but how about shattering the prejudicial walls that society continues to erect around women (and other minorities). Religion exists in society and ultimately, given all the philosophy of equality it espouses, perhaps it is valid to assert that religion conforms to social norms when it prioritises the male lens. We need men and women, the powerful and the humble, to engage in dialogue to derive a truth that is True for all of humanity, instead of bringing to the decision-making table like-minded individuals who are not going to change this situation and bring equality into our present.