The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world

I spent yesterday with a group of feminists. Most of them were strong, all of them were female. We were discussing the ways in which NGOs could encourage women to become politically active. Somehow the conversation traversed through gendered obstacles to the crux of the matter: mothers need to bring their sons up to respect women. And so we returned to that age old expectation that “the hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world”. Tails of choosing boys only schools for their sons were shared, each woman around the table nodding in agreement that their beloveds ought to complete their education in a girl-free environment, lest the girls tempt and distract their sons.

Eve’s curse haunts us still. Woman: the weak, the seductress, the vulnerable. Man: acts without taking responsibility. Where then does this leave our struggle with an unequal society? I would argue that in our efforts to create a level playing field, on which men and women can play and contribute to society, the perpetuation of the myth that men are superior to women has spoiled all our efforts. We strive not for equality, a thoroughly biblical concept, but instead for sameness. Women ought to have access to contraception and abortions because they must be able to be the same as men. Women must have an education so they can be the same as men. Women must rise to the top of business, academic and political structures so they can prove they are the same as men. However, I firmly believe men and women are different. Our bodies, our minds, our motivations are different. But our worth can be, and in God’s eyes is, the same. We should turn from perpetuating stereotypes of all women as temptresses (sure, some are) and men as weak victims in the battle of sexuality, for neither stereotype builds women and men into the pillars they can be within our families, communities and societies. Let us celebrate difference and affirm worth. Perhaps if we do this from a young age, our children might grow up to aspire to be the best women and men they can be and our society will accept that women and men and contribute in equal but different ways. Together: in community and in partnership.