Gender and society

Plato view on women

Women are failed men

Aristotle view on women

“Defective male”

Aquinas view of women

Special place for Virgin Mary and women foot of Jesus cross

Jesus showing men better

Only men disciples

Only men do Eucharist

Three waves of feminism

1st - vote

2nd - sexual and health

3rd - gender roles

Genesis on men and women

• both gods image

• Man made first, dominion over women

• Women original sin

Letters to church in New Testament on gender roles

• man head of household

• Man love his wife as he loves the church

• Women not speak in church

Mulieris dignatatem

On the dignity of women by pope john Paul 1988 open letter

MD key points

• women and men separate but just as important roles due to characteristics given by god

• Motherhood and virginity admirable

• Physically and psychologically predisposed to motherhood

• Respect women

Ephesians on gender roles

“Wives submit to your husbands as to the lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church “

“Husbands love your wives, just as christ loved the church”

“Love his wife and loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband”

Christianity on ideal family

Heterosexual marriage

Reproduction

Catholics on divorce

Doesnt recognise, remarriage adultery

Issues with homosexuality

Marriage is a covenant

Shall not lie with another man

No reproduction

Supreme example of motherhood in Catholicism

Virgin Mary

Simone de Beauvoir on motherhood

Motherhood forces women to crush their own personalities so that they can care for others

Ann Oakley motherhood

Motherhood leaves women powerless and restricted