Well Now I’m Stuck: Religion or Feminism
Like most Mexican-American households I grew up within the Catholic faith; Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation all of it checked off and ready for the next step. I’m not going to sit here and preach about how the Catholic faith is the one that is right for everyone, you are all entitled to your own beliefs and I respect that. Instead, I want to focus on one of the aspects of my faith that has always been kind of a gray area for me — now more than ever.
The problem with feminism is that there is a variety of definitions, each left to individual interpretation. Making arguments for and against the movement hard to pinpoint. In this article I’ll be using bellhooks definition — “Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression.” All which sounds pretty good to me, but when examining works used by the feminist movement, there is no denying that some aspects go completely against the belief of the Church.
Posing the question: Can one follow the Catholic faith and be a devout feminist? I don’t have the answer, to me it is a matter of choosing a side between teachings when one would rather be in the middle ground. This is where you all come in. I want to know your personal answers to this question.
To set up where my confusion comes from, let’s take a look at the area I have the most trouble fully accepting. Gender roles— in which feminism and the teachings of the Church have contradicting views, and I’m stuck somewhere in the middle.
When dealing with gender within society the Church teaches that “ biological sex and the socio-cultural role of sex (gender) can be distinguished but not separated.” Overall meaning that there are only two genders in God’s eyes, each with specific roles that are assigned to them. In believing that these roles can be interchangeable is going against the teaching in which women are supposed to gladly subjugate themselves to their husbands. The men have distinct roles of teaching, leadership and authority within society that women are not allowed to hold. Men are the universal teachers of all but women cannot teach, lead or have authority over men. If they were to try to teach or lead men this would mean they have rejected their role assigned to them by God.
I know that’s hard to swallow and infuriating to many — I know it is to me. As a woman, no as a human, I don’t necessarily like being bossed around. But because I grew up within the Catholic church and confirmed my faith out of my own will, I do see where this argument is coming from. Because we believe in God, we do everything we can to please him with our time here on this material Earth in order to join Him in eternal life. This includes accepting the roles assigned to us. Women are given the same roles as men when it comes to teaching or leading children and other women. The part I don’t necessarily agree with is the fact that we cannot teach men. We’re constantly told that we have to find a spouse that will lead us closer to God and that we can’t be the ones to lead the man to God because then he is practicing the faith for us instead of for himself. Um I’m sorry, if my faith is strong enough to inspire others to practice it, why is that so wrong?
And another aspect I’m not decided on;what about those that aren’t sure which gender they identify with, or those that have made a decision that doesn’t match their biological anatomy? There are now teachings within the Church that are more accepting of those who aren’t sure of their gender identity. It doesn’t accept aspects of their life styles — I say let them do what they want in order to be happy — but it no longer casts them out. Instead it tries to understand and show compassion towards them. Contrary to what some practitioners of the Catholic faith like to demonstrate — the Church now moves for us to show our “brothers and sisters” that we are there for them.
The problem feminists can have with this conception of sexuality is that this definition assigns virtuous characteristics to each gender. It brings forth the idea that if we fail to meet these characteristics based on our sex, then we have failed to fulfill our role. Religion is seen as another arm of patriarchal control within society. Feminism points out the idea of difference and how it is used to separate in order to better control. I agree with this concept in that if we are separated at the most basic level — our gender — it is easier to separate ourselves from one another. If we label each other as virtuous or filled with sin then it becomes harder for us to come together and strive towards the same goal. Which is a society that is inclusive and uplifting of us all.
If religion incorporates the idea of a virtuous lifestyle, which is only achieved through gender specific roles, can one still fight for the feminist movement which calls for the interchangeability of these roles in order to make a more accepting society?
