Injustices Against Women

Eugene Cho, Founder of One Day’s Wages and Lead Pastor of Quest Church, made a statement at this year’s Justice Conference that struck me in my chest. He declared, “There is no older injustice in this world, than the injustices against women.” All of a sudden my thoughts raged concerning the countless indiscretions against faithful wives who “stuck it out” because they did not have other means in which to care for themselves or their children; all of the women and girls who are continuously raped and sold for profit; the girls who are aborted, starved, or sold into slavery just because they are girls and therefore are less valuable to the family; the times when women were not allowed to vote; and the subtle and not so subtle ways in which women are sometimes treated as second class citizens in the church.

I thought about the women who have risen to positions of high offices and power, and contemplated what effects those women leaders are having on the generations and the young girls who are watching with the anticipation of following them. I thought about that brave, brave girl, Malala, who stood up to the Taliban for her education and was shot in the head. I thought about Sheryl Sandberg’s challenge to Lean In and her asking women the all important question, “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”

This week’s politics and failure of the Senate to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which was meant to close the pay gap between men and women, is an indicator that we still do not understand the solutions to the problems in our world need all able-bodied adults at the table, who are valued for their presence and contributions, and rewarded fairly for their labor. It is also a reminder that our cries against injustices cannot begin and end in Washington DC. Even when we have good laws on the books, the leaders and citizens who enforce those laws is what makes a just society.

How do we stop injustices against women? 1. Find out what the Bible has to say about God’s view of His daughters. 2. Mentor more women for leadership and encourage those women to raise their voices on behalf of the common good of humanity.

Today I share a piece from my friend, Lesa Engelthaler, who asked the question:

What If Women Weren’t Afraid to be Heard?

After the scuttlebutt over Twitter’s exclusively male board, I began to wonder if women are as underrepresented in my world — the media.

My family would tell you that ever since I could talk I have had something to say about almost anything. And yet, somewhere along the way I sensed that sharing my opinions was a bad idea, especially as a girl. And so even though I filled dozens of spiral notebooks with words, I never attempted to publish.

In my twenties, a therapist confirmed my “too-opinionated diagnosis” saying, “Lesa, you have a huge need to be heard.” It was not a compliment.

On my 35^th birthday my mom (who championed my heard-ness) asked, “So what would it take to get you published?” It was a defining moment.

I soon enrolled in a journalism class at Southern Methodist University in which students were required to submit an article for publication. Scared but also fiercely competitive, I wrote about a recent visit to Gershwin’s, a swanky Dallas restaurant, where I persuaded pastry chef Salvador to teach me how to make their famed “Chocolate Sack” dessert. D Magazine ran it.

I am still writing. And yet, even though I now write about topics a bit weightier than pastry making, truth be told I’ve never quite shaken the notion that a woman’s opinion (my opinion) is subpar.

After reading Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In I was discouraged by the scarcity of women’s voices in the business world. She said, “Of the top 500 companies by revenues, only 21 are headed by women.” Continue reading at Faithvillage.