A Closer Examination Of Sexism In The Catholic Church

A Closer Examination of Sexism
Sexism has been woven through the backbone of humankind throughout history and is still in place in a variety of aspects of our society today. Sexism plays a key role in how jobs, salary, and occupations are filled nowadays. Sexism also appears in everyday life. For example, women often spend more time getting ready because of the burden to feel pretty and fit into the model image that is displayed to young girls so adolescent girls grow up feeling the weight of needing to be beautiful (Thorne). Additionally, men are often pressured to be chivalrous and pay for a meal or give there jackets just so that their partner is not cold. Women are also discriminated against in the workplace, where many times female workers
Examining some of the major religions around the world, such as Catholicism and Muslim, can illuminate traditional sexism perceptions versus reality. These religions are famous for their strict rules, but not just about God. Women are not allowed to serve as bishops, priests, or deacons in the Catholic Churches around the world, although Pope Francis and the clergy have clearly stated that there are not enough priests or deacons. In retrospect, this would mean that the Catholic Church is choosing to continue sexism instead of providing for the needs of their churches and parishioners throughout the world (Bruni). The Catholic Church has often defended their decision by saying that Jesus had twelve male-only disciples by his side as he ventured through the world giving his speeches. In respect, Jesus also had many very loyal women such as Mary Magdalene whom was the first to see him as he rose from the dead and the Catholic Church could not have been founded without her; Mary the Mother who was selected to give birth to Jesus and care for him as he grew up, and she stayed by his side as he was crucified; and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, who had been healed by Jesus and traveled with him along with Susanna, another women like Joanna, and followed his teachings (Atteberry). Another key religion, Muslim which generally originates in Islam, is notorious for spreading statements of sexism and women oppression. However,
Sexism is disguised in a countless number of things such as job restrictions, clothes standards, or living accommodations. While it is ideal to bring genders to equivalent standards and even the values, it is often seen that people, articles, or websites feel the need to drag one gender down instead of just clearly leveling the standards at the higher level. This is more common then most people give credit to and it is a recurring theme in the problem of letting one gender rise above another. A prime example of this is the current pay gap between men and women. Women still receive significantly less wages for the same work as their male counterparts. Although this is changing, the change is slow and laborious. At the current rate of equalization, African American women will not receive equal pay for their work until the year 2124, while Latino woman will have to wait for equal pay until 2233 (Anderson, Gault, and Hartmann). In order to achieve overall women’s pay equality at the current rate of change, women must wait until 2059 (Anderson, Gault, and Hartmann). Additionally, many gender perceptions that people think of today include that boys cannot get hurt by girls nor should defend themselves against girls, boys cannot wear pastels, skirts, or dresses without being perceived as effeminate, and girls are not capable so therefore should not be running large businesses