The status of women, in the
Bible and in North America
Sponsored link.
Overview of this section:
Almost all oppressed groups in the world are minorities. Women are a notable exception. A few centuries ago,
the assignment of second class citizenship to women was considered as normal and natural a part of Christianity as human slavery
and the execution of homosexuals, witches, and religious dissenters.
Women have achieved impressive advances over the last century, but progress
has been uneven across the world. The main impediments to attaining equality have been
culture and religion.
This section links to essays that discuss:
The role and status of women in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament),
where they were generally considered as property, along with female
slaves, male slaves, cattle, etc.
The radically equal treatment of women by Yeshua of Nazareth (a.k.a. Jesus Christ) and
in the very early Christian movements.
The rapid decline of women's rights as the Christian movement matured.
The current struggle of women who felt called by God to the clergy, but were/are
refused ordination by sexist faith groups.
The struggle of Christian women who find themselves
ineligible for employment in conservative religious institutions.
The process by which Christian denominations change, in areas of sexism,
racism and homophobia. There are surprising similarities among the three
forms of discrimination.