Look to Women in the Bible

by Letters Editor · Published September 4, 2019 · Updated September 2, 2019

Alvin Botes, Kimberley – Women in South Africa historically have been subjected to the brunt of oppression because of their gender, their race and their class.

It is for this reason that employment equity decrees that white South African women should get preference over black South African men. This demonstrates a seriousness about the past injustices perpetuated against women in general.

Two portraits of women frame the Book of Proverbs: wisdom, personified as a woman (1-9), and the “woman of substance” (31:10-31).

Our biblical authors referred to the crucial role of women as a social fabric, and Catholics should appreciate the fact that woman is the “mirror-image” of society.

Women had a rich role in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Individual women in the Bible have placed the role of females on the pedestal of our everyday thoughts.

It will serve Catholic men well if they accumulate more readings on Tamar, a woman of hope; Rahab, a woman of faith; Ruth, a woman of love; Bathsheba, a woman who received unlimited grace; and Mary, a woman of obedience.

In the words of the businesswoman Sheryl Sandberg: “Gender is a social construct. Therefore the most important thing is to have a more open and honest dialogue about gender issues.”