Women Are Sub-Human
I grew up watching my father physically and emotionally abuse my mother. He continued to do so until the last few
weeks of her life.
The idea that women are
not equal to men and subservient to them is well established, as the following examples show. All religions share the blame equally. The linked story discusses Christianity's role.
Living in a society in which
girls are exposed to these types of situations conveys the idea that
women are not equal to and are subservient to men, and moreover that
our society permits and condones it as if it were true. What does years of repeated exposure to teachings and situations
like these do to women's
image of themselves? This is one indication of what it does.
What has this type of treatment done for the Black community in
the United States?
Diversity does not include allowing teachings or visual representations of
inequality to exist in nations believing in the equality of everyone.
Where beliefs and the symbology and practices that represent these beliefs are
allowed in a society committed to the principle that everyone is equal, women will continue to be mistreated.
Religions do not trump the rights of anyone in a free
society, regardless of what anyone says or preaches, and continuing to
allow symbols and practices that convey inequality between men and women in any way is simply wrongheaded.
The Mormon Church had to come to grips with the fact that polygamy is illegal
in North America and also had to fully admit Blacks to the church. If the
people of a nation have outlawed polygamy and racial discrimination in Mormonism why
is any other religion allowed to get away with teaching women are inferior to
and subservient to men, whether that religion or practice be
Christian, Muslim, Judaism or whatever?
At
the moment many nations are facing an influx of people with religious
beliefs that conflict with the concept of equality and oppress
women. People applying for admission to any country espousing
equality of the sexes should include statements similar to these:
"I hereby affirm and agree that in accepting the privilege of
entry to (country) that women are in all respects equal to men and have the
same status, rights, privileges and protection under the law and that I will in
no way engage in, accept, endorse, myself or allow my legally dependent children
to be subject to any beliefs or practices, including those advocated by any
religion or practice, contrary to my affirmation, so long as I am residing temporarily or permanently
in (country).
I further agree that if I violate in any way my affirmation and
agreement to the equality of women, that violation will be grounds for my removal and
deportation from (country)."
Doing so forces everyone to confront the conflict between
religion and laws protecting the equality of women. It is not possible
to
protect religious practices and beliefs that state women are inferior
and subject to men in a free society founded on the principles of
justice.
This is a real test of our belief in equality and
if we say religious practices trump protection of women we are in a real
pickle.