Faith, Women and Equality

Today, I read a story from Amanpour on CNN urging women to pursue their education and their power.  The way women are treated in Afghanistan horrifies me.  Yet, in my own country, we have men who hold women hostage for decades.

My faith belief is that God created M en and Women in the Image of God.  That image is Spirit and Truth.  The value of Men and Women is our combined, and individual, exploration and exercise of that Spirit and Truth and in our (life, personality, truth, wisdom, love, holiness, justice).  

I believe most people would prefer not to be valued based on their genitalia.  Yet, for thousands of years, the human race, and many of its faiths, has done so.   It saddens me at that loss of potential which God intended.  And, when those who believe women are not the equal of men, I have asked whether they believe God has a penis.  I rarely hear a "cocky" answer.  With such a question, even idiots are careful to consider their response.

I pray women everywhere will feel they are the equal to men.  They are not better or more, they are equal.  Yet, at times, even in the Western World, I meet women who hope they are, they don't know they are.  It always astonishes me.  Yet, that would be because I am not female, have not honored a faith that considered me inferior, nor heard or believed any regular messaging which enforced lies of oppression or inferiority.

I regularly see women in business meetings quietly attending.  Few rooms encourage debate, fewer meetings encourage strong opinions to be shared.   The environment where men have argued and debated was for thousands of years was rarely invaded by women.

I meet women weekly who are stunned to learn that men don't receive better financial training, in secret classes, separate from women.  Frustrated, I engage them, educate them, and never patronize them.  Many feel they are the only ones who do not understand investing concepts.  The reality is that neither do most men.

Over the last 20 years, I have learned the staggering loss created by missed opportunities that create reality.  Yet, women in room after room, where I attend meetings do not fully participate.

Last year, in a meeting I attended by financial advisors, the gender make up of the room was nearly even.  The company providing the training had selected professional experts, without specific intent, excluded women from those expert presentations.  Half way through the three day meeting, the CEO of this corporation made a presentation.  At the completion of his presentation, I was the first to raise my hand with a question.  I asked a basic question about the gender representation on his Corporate Board, relating it to the speaker line up.  As the CEO quickly reviewed the line up, he was stunned, then quickly provided information about the female leadership through out the company.

I was pleased with the answer, but disturbed by what happened next.  The woman sitting next to me quickly told me thank you, admitting that she wouldn't bring herself to ask that question. At the break, nearly every woman in the room came up to me to say "thank you for your question".  Astonished and discouraged, I realized I was the one who asked the question no one else was willing to ask.  Yet, it is one question of challenge which benefits all.

My astonishment could be due to the reality that I have a mother who is exceptional, a sister who is unstoppable, and female friends, clients, and relatives who challenge any concepts or suggestions of inferiority or oppression based on their gender.   It might also be due to the fact that women in my life speak out (or call you out).  It has taught me to do the same.

Ultimately, women will become their own best advocates.  Their Spirit and their Truth will continue to challenge them to develop their equality.  Until then, I am one who will speak out when they either can not or will not.

Consider the reason I am passionate about equality.  The theme of choice and equality for women is echoed throughout the Bible, yet rarely communicated.  When so many have Faiths that seem to flourish with messages of superiority, I have found in the same Faith the demand to expect the values of Equality.

My Faith confirms the equality of women with men.  From Genesis to Revelations, I read stories where women are leaders, where women are consulted, where women are the main sources of support.  These facts and stories developed my beliefs into a simple principle repeated in Old and New Testaments.  It is the principle that God does not value gender nor despises what gender you are, only some people do.