Monday, 7th April 2008
In search of balance
Since kingdom come there
have been many attempts to characterize the essential difference between man
and woman. Some of these attempts have
been absurd male chauvinist inventions; others have sounded more acceptable and
meaningful. Contemporary society is just
beginning to delve into the true distinctions
between the sexes. Most people would
argue that after thousands of years of male dominance we now stand on the
threshold of a feminine era, when women are rising to their appropriate
prominence. One cannot deny that this is
partially true, as it becomes increasingly evident that more and more advances
are being made by women in all sectors of our society: in the workplace, within
the family, on an educational level, etc.
However, the real answer is not for man and woman to try to be alike, or for that matter, equal. True female liberation does not mean merely seeking equality within a masculine world, but liberating the divine feminine aspects of a woman's personality and using those for the benefit of humankind. It is a matter of recognizing that God has given each of us unique abilities with which to pursue our goals, and that our primary responsibility is to take full advantage of those abilities. Both man and woman must realize their respective equal roles and strive to complement each other in their shared struggle to improve life.
In order to correct the abuse of male dominance, man must concentrate on using his dominant qualities for the good. He must use his strength to protect and preserve the feminine character, helping woman to realize her true potential, to lead a productive and meaningful life. Woman for her part, must not neglect her own feminine resources in an attempt to adopt masculine characteristics, because this is destructive of the authentic nature, dignity and freedom of the female sex.
This is the message that the late Pope John Paul II wished to convey when he wrote the Apostolic Letter Mulieris Dignitatem - On the Dignity and Vocation of Woman, in 1988.
In his many references to the feminine "genius", he was alluding to those qualities that are unique to woman, which rather than being female weaknesses (as they may be viewed by modern society) are definitely strengths. Of course, males possess different qualities: ones which are equally strong and valuable. Unfortunately, the notion of "strong" may have some misinterpretations in this day and age and at times, the current understanding is that the advancement of woman must be based on money, power and control. However, as the Pope rightly pointed out, the strength of woman lies in that God has entrusted the human being to her in a special way, precisely by reason of her femininity.
So, let us learn what it really means to be a man or a woman, about the characteristics that are proper to each gender, according to which both sexes have a specific vocation to fulfill. Let us learn to live up to our true potential, to balance our energies in order to lead a productive and meaningful life. And finally, let us learn to sincerely appreciate our male and female counterparts, as together, we endeavour to promote a culture that recognizes the essential dignity of the human person. Only in this way will we be able recognise the elusive balance between the sexes and achieve a level of harmony between so many tugging influences that are pervasive today.
Christine Galea is a 4th Year BA (Hons) Theology student and a Member of an ad-hoc committee appointed by Archbishop Paul Cremona OP, in order to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Apostolic Letter, Mulieris Dignitatem. She is a guest writer for the Students' View Blog which is produced by InSite, the student media organization on Campus www.insite.org.mt .
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Comments
Women are hard workers, they know how to manage their time, they know how to keep up with everything, they are disciplined, and yes, they are able to do all that is required to do! I myself have always seen my mother work, study and manage household chores. All of this while being a mother of two children and wife to a husband who always gave a helping hand. "Most woman nowadays don't want to look after families and stay closed indoors for much part of the day." If what my mother has done for all these years was not taking care of her family, then I have not been brought up in a good way. And I'm sorry for them, but that's how I want my children to be brought up!
Come on, we're living in the 21st century! So what if us contemporary women want to go out and work? So what if we want to work AND take care of a family? Who said men can't help as well? Or are we still pursuing the mentality that man is the breadwinner and woman is the housekeeper?
Equality means being given the same opportunity regardless of sex. Equality means going to an interview and not being asked whether you plan on starting a family (these type of questions are incidentally not asked to males). Equality means working in an environment in which you are not looked at like some sort of sexual object but as a colleague. Equality means holding a high position and being respected for who you are, regardless of sex. Equality means not being looked down upon by male colleagues because you're the one wearing the skirt and they're the ones wearing the trousers (even though women nowadays wear trousers too). Equality means being offered the same salary for the same job done.
Let us not look at the typical "male jobs" and "female jobs". With the advancements in technology, women can, for example, work in the construction industry. Likewise, men can be "bosses' secretaries" and receptionists. To each according to his competences.
That is the search of balance, and that is what we mean by equality. We are all humans, all homo sapiens. We have all developed through the ages in the same way. We are all living under the same sky and both sexes are in constant pursuit of happiness and well being. So why such distinction between sexes? Wouldn't life be much easier if we had to walk hand in hand and work together in harmony?
We must, however, stop speaking of the male sex and the female sex... as if we're some sort of separate, different species!
However, instead of replying to these questions with a list of do's and dont's he took a very innovative and beautiful approach in the documents he wrote on these issues, in his homilies and particularly in his first Wednesday audiences when he spoke about the Theology of the Body and later on in Muglieris Dignitatem, in his Letters to families, to youth and to women amongst various others. His approach was totally positive. He discussed such difficult issues - even moral issues - by going back to the sources, by delving deep in the Creator's plan - thus making a great contribution to portraying the Church's face to look fresh and young even if it's always a face whose eyes convey a challenge to man and woman living in today's world.
The challenge which he made, especially to us young people, is to reflect carefully before making important decisions in life while respecting our libery to a great extent.
I believe that one of the main challenges, especially with young people, is surely not to impose the Church's teaching on them but in helping them see the true face of Christ and of the Church and transmitting to them their teaching in a positive way - one which will help them make their decisions with eyes wide open.
I have come to understand that primarily it is God who reveals His love to us in Christ and that we are called to love God with all that we are and to do so through loving others. For me, this primary vocation is then expressed through my being a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister and a friend to those around me. It comes through an honest seeking in faith to the action of the Spirit in my life; this leads me to be open to others and to come to appreciate the uniqueness of vocation in others - be it expressed in marriage, in consecrated laity, in a religious order or in the ministerial priesthood. It also makes me realise how as individuals, we need to accept that we are not a homogenous mass of humanity - but each of us with one's own giftedness and vulnerability; our own goodness and sin; and part of what the late Pope John Paul terms as 'feminine genius' is making space for all this.
This is a challenge: to allow for each other the space to grow in whom we are called to be - be it male or female; celibate or married; layperson or consecrated - and it is a challenge that requires of us to be attuned to the signs of the times. So i think, it is a life-long challenge , bringing us fresh perspectives to the whole according to our readiness to such openness.
Here I quote from Mulieris Dignitatem para 30: "Christ, in instituting the Eucharist, linked it in such an explict way to the priestly service of the apostles, so it is legitimate to conclude that he thereby wished to express the relationship between man and woman, between what is 'feminine' and what is 'masculine'.... the sacramental mystery of the Eucharist, in which the priest acts 'in persona Christi', is performed by man".
Nonetheless, the witness and achievements of Christian women have a significant impact on the life of the Church, as well as of society. Woman remains "an irreplaceable support and source of spiritual strength for other people" (MD 30). Her true vocation, which is determined precisely by reason of her femininity, lies in that "God entrusts the human being to her in a special way" (MD30).
Same as you, I too believe in the mystery of humanity which embraces every individual in their call to live out their personal vocation as children of God. However, I also believe that it is a question of understanding, and living, according to our SPECIFIC vocation.
I feel that sadly we have misunderstood the meaning and identity of the true masculine and the true feminine. Both genders instrinsicly created by God in His image and likeness, in the wonder and beauty given only by Him must learn to celebrate our uniqueness and compatibilities in all that we are. We must rejoice in that we are male and that we are female. Fear,insecurities, mistrust have laid destructive foundations to what should othwise be a harmonious compatible relationship of the sexes. My strengths are not the male strengths and vice versa, learning to appreciate the giftedness of each other, and not to downgrade the gentle side of our nature be it in the male or the female, learning to respect who we are and mirrored in another the wonder of the God's genius then yes we can move forward. So long as we continue to treat both male and female as dispensable objects of our ego and contempt then we will never discover the truth of who we are created male and female in the image of God. We find our true identity in God, looking up to HIM receiving from him our true self.