March 8 marks International Women’s Day. It is a day dedicated to celebrating and honouring the achievements of women in the social, economic and political areas. The Gender Equality campaign by the United Nations has taken by storm in the social media to accelerate the progress of gender equality by 2030.
Christians today are influenced by many feminist movements that confuse our role of women in the family and society. The constant bombardment of feminist role model and slogans through social media tempt us to conform to this world. But one might overlook that gender equality has been God’s original design. The creation account in the Book of Genesis has much to say about the dignity, equality and the role of women.
Humanity was the highest point of God’s creation. Human was created “in the image and likeness of God. “God created man in the image of himself…male and female he created them” (Gn.1:27). The word “man” in this verse is “adam” in Hebrew which generally means “humanity”. The creation of man and woman constitute humanity. In the second creation narrative, the motive of God for the creation of woman is that “It is not right that the man should be alone” (Gn. 2:18). God created woman as a suitable “helper” for the man (Gn. 2:19-22). The meaning of “helper” is different from our modern understanding of servant or someone inferior to the man. In the Old Testament, “helper” means one who provides support or strength. St. John Paul II wrote that “men and women are complementary”. Furthermore, not only are they created equal before God but are given dominion over the earth (Gn.1:28) to share equal responsibility from the start.
Throughout the creation accounts, there is no evil but only beauty in God’s creation. The creation of world is pronounced as “very good” (Gn.1:31) and shows the harmony in a world that God created. Gender inequality was not intended by God but is a result of the human fall. As a consequence of sin, the woman loses her original equality and the man was to “dominate” the woman (Gn. 3:16).
Nevertheless, many women in the Old Testament who are often powerless in ancient societies, are given a crucial role in promoting the life of Israel and also be a part of the salvation history. Women in the New Testament too are presented as positive role models of faith, discipleship and equal partners in the mission of God.
Keeping these in mind, let us celebrate with gratitude the gift of being a woman by preserving the domestic role that God initially intended and to be a model of faith, discipleship and mission in the life of the Church.