Thursday 7 March 2013

International Women's Day - Women and the Church

Since starting training for ministry in the Church of England I think a lot about being a woman. Partly because our being there is still a fact that is remarkable to many people in the church even though we have been being ordained for twenty years now. The comments of others can certainly drive me crazy, the constant obsession with dress (For the record: I don't want to look like a man or like I just stepped out of the 1980s, I just want to look like me) and the constant application of 'lady' to any title (lady-vicar anyone?!) but quite often the many thoughts come from me.

From the incredible frustration of seeing a room full of entirely male Bishops and wanting to stand on my chair and scream 'What is going on here? It's 2013?!!' The incredible vacuum when it comes to female role models. I'm sick of being talked to about gender by men. 90% of every reading list I get given is by male writers. We are so used to it I don't even think we see it any more. I don't want to see women there for the sake of it. I just want there to be more excellent female scholars and leaders. I want to learn from and be inspired by some strong, confident and successful women but again and again these top jobs are occupied by men.

In some ways this all adds up to an enormous level of pressure. As a young women in a universally male dominated institution the fate of womankind can feel like it is weighing on your shoulders. The remarks about how women aren't getting the theological education needed to be senior leaders or building the confidence to apply for the top roles (if they could even apply for them at all, which as we know they currently can't) are common. The beedy eye of expectation is turning towards our generation and I can't help but wonder if we are up for the task.

Of course we want to take it on. Goodness me, we really do, for all the reasons I have given above. But before that I think we have some work to do. I think we need a positive discourse. I'm searching for it myself. Not just what women are not in comparison to what men are but what we are in our own right. What does it mean to be a woman in Britain in 2013? What does it mean to be a Christian women? This is my journey right now and I'm afraid I don't have any answers.

I know what I don't want. I don't want to spend my life thinking about my thighs and embarking on bizarre diets. I don't want to spend my life chasing a man (good job as I'm married!). I don't want to live in the shadow of my husband or for him to live in mine. I don't want to be someones assistant because I'm too afraid to be their boss. I don't want to miss chances because of lack of confidence and be another stat for why women aren't getting into the roles they should be. I don't want my gender identity to be dictated to me by advertising slogans or out of date theories, bad theology and dodgy preconceptions. I want to have a voice and I want you to have one too.

But as for that positive discourse, well Reader, I am still looking. And of course, you can be assured, I'll take you along with me on the way.
 
Linking up with Lulastic's International Women's Day Blog Link Up, stop by for many other fab bloggers celebrating everything female and probably ranting a lot less than me! ;)
 
Happy International Women's Day!
















16 comments:

  1. Wow, Nicola, what a powerful piece! So fascinating to hear all of this from your inside perspective.
    You are so right, it is true of many things, that it is a positive discourse that can be the most impactful. And the hardest to discover and voice! Looking forward to the journey with you.
    Happy IWD and thank you for linking up! x x

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    1. Thanks so much. It really is a journey and hopefully by IWD 2014 I'll have some of that positive discourse to share. All good things start with a rant?!

      Thanks for the blog link up, such great stuff on there!

      x

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  2. Agree with everything you've said here Nicola! :) What I hope doesn't happen is that women just get jobs from some kind of positive discrimination in an attempt to fix inequality. What I hope for is a world in which we are equally valued for our differences which compliment each other, not trying to be the same.

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    1. Hey La, yes I think that's key. Personally I think we need to do more thinking about what being female means and bring that to the table. We are after all more than capeable of occupying the top jobs (or any job for that matter!) without the need of positive discrimination.

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  3. Great post Nicola. I really identify with the 'I don't want' paragraph. And not ranty - just strong.

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    1. Ah good, strong is fine! I think the 'don't wants' are a good place to start. Now for the 'wants'!

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  4. I love this as I'm on a journey of my own regarding my faith and my womanhood. Glad to have found you via the link up.

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    1. Thanks Sara! The link up is brill for that, isn't it?

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  5. Great to find your blog and to read your reflections on this special day. Wishing you well and hoping to follow the journey. A post I will revisit again.

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    1. Thanks Kate, thanks for stopping by and hope to see you again!

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  6. This is such a thought-provoking read. I'm a woman (obvs!) and a Christian in a very conservative, Bible-based, evangelical church, and our vicar's hardline refusal to accept women's ministry is very uncomfortable for me. I put my faith in the Bible but also see it as a product of its time. In today's society, where women can be doctors, pilots, philosophers, lawyers, truck drivers, why shouldn't they be accepted into the clergy? A woman preaching God's word would, I'm sure, preach it in a way that touches me far more deeply than many male clergy ever could.

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment. It raises a really interesting point. I'm from a similar tradition and I think you are absolutely right, the Bible really is a product of it's time and most importantly you can take the bible seriously and see a fundamentally important role for women. I think I need to do a post on this at some point!

      Thanks so much for stopping by and for commenting.

      Nicola

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  7. Very well said, Nicola! I've seen big changes since I was first ordained, but there's still so far to go before woman and men will be working in true partnership throughout the church to serve the Gospel.

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    1. Thanks Perpetua. There have been so many amazing advances, that is for sure! Now it's pushing on for that true partnership as you say. We'll get there!

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  8. As someone who is unsure of whether they have faith in a 'higher power' and feels largely turned off some of the negativity regarding homosexuality, amongst other things, by most of the worlds major religions, it would have been easy for me to flit past this post and not read it at all. However, for me, the concept of being Pro-Choice is more than just a buzz word used in conjunction with controversial topics, its a way of life and your choices, while very different to my own, are what make up life's rich tapestry. You are a pioneer for women the world over and for that I respect you hugely.

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    1. Hi Jayne,

      Thank you so much for your comment. I can totally sympathise with your feelings about religion. In many cases religion has failed to practice what it preaches and is reaping the results of that in people's lack of trust in institutions like the church.

      Given all that I am really touched by your open mindedness and support. Thank you so much.

      Nicola

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