Exploring Gender Equality in Christianity: Unraveling the Complexities

Abstract

Research Project: Political, Social or Philosophical Issue within Religion Introduction Historically, women are perceived as inferior beings. In most life contexts, women are considered weaker than men making them experience inequalities in areas that demand equal opportunities/privileges for all persons as humans. While arguing treatment for women from the religious context, it becomes open that the interpretation of the sacred texts plays a significant role in shaping the attitudes towards women within the religious communities. Although all humans are equal in the eyes of their creator, varying religious interpretations leads to varying views on gender roles, women rights and opportunities entitled to women in regard to participating in the religious life. Within this essay, exploration of women treatment from the Christianity religious context will help understand the extent to which women suffer or enjoy being females especially in religions where equal treatment for all genders as human should be dominating although hampered by masculinity assumptions exposing women into unequal treatment. Christianity is among the domineering religious beliefs embraced and respected by many humans across the globe. It is a religion whose followers believes in the powers of a super natural being called God and the bible serves as the sacred book that guides and governs Christians ways of living in accordance to God’s will. However, the Christianity view and treatment of women vary significantly across denominations, historical periods and cultures triggering differences in Christian’s attitudes towards women. While paying close attention on the theological views, it becomes open that different interpretations of Christian theology ad scriptures influence treatment of women. Some of the theological perspectives emphasizes on gender equality citing that men and women are equal in the eyes of God thus entitled to equal opportunities and respect within religious communities. For example, while emphasizing on the need for gender equality, the scripture in Genesis 1:27 confirms that both men and women are created equally in the image of God. Arguing gender roles from such a perspective, it becomes open that just like men, women will enjoy any open opportunity that emerges in their churches and take any role present as nothing differentiate them from their male counterparts. Basically, such an attitude establishes the inherent worth and dignity of women within Christian theology. From a historical context, women in Christian societies have faced a wide range of treatments mostly influenced by social, cultural and economic factors (Eteng, 2). It is open that in some periods and cultures, women have experienced marginalization and restricted in their opportunities as well as becoming subjected to patriarchal norms. For instance in America, when Hillary Clinton aimed at taking the nations leadership, critiques saw her as an inferior being that is not worth taking over a developed super nation like America. Unfortunately, their critiques were nothing major than attributed to the assumed inferiority stereotype that defines the incapability of the female gender in all odds of life. Fortunately, there are times and places where women have held significant influence and leadership roles within Christian communities expressing the worth of women if given a chance. Such an argument can be made real with the exploration of the women in the bible to understand their role and how they were treated regardless of their gender. While looking at a figure like Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene and others like Esther and Deborah in the Old Testament; it is open that these women played important roles in defining women contributions to faith and their value within Christian tradition (Henson, 2-10). As a simple virgin, Mary experienced respect and honor from the society from becoming the chosen one to bore the savior of the world. Esther believed without doubts that God would bless her with a kid even at her old age and upon being blessed with a child, the worth of women in regard to faith and respect for Christianity belief became manifested expressing the worth of such a figure. Basically, Christianity history offers a clear definition of what it takes to be a Christian woman and the worth associated with being a woman regardless of how the society perceives this gender. However, just as much as such a theological view argues for the worth of women, so do other interpreters of the scripture justify the need to view women as inferior to men from the same Christianity point of view. While interpreting some passages of the bible especially those prescribing gender roles and consideration of some church traditions, it becomes open that men often occupy leadership positions among other privileges limiting women from enjoying such privileges (Eteng, 1). For instance, while looking at the teachings in the New Testament...