Gender equality?

Since time immemorial, gender inequality had always stood out as a form of social injustice against women. In Jesus’ time, for instance, wives were treated as properties of their husbands. Thus, the ever-just and compassionate Jesus came forth as the indomitable advocate of gender equality and respect for women, as we see in today’s Gospel incident (Jn. 8: 1-11).

Those scribes and Pharisees (all male) caught a woman committing adultery but let her male sex partner go free. They then brought her to Jesus to test him. And the answer of Jesus precisely hit the core of gender equality and justice. "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her."

Today, we are supposed to have followed the example of Jesus. In fact, both Church and State legislations are unequivocably clear on gender equality and justice. Our Constitution states: "The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men." (State Policies, Sec. 14). In Familiaris Consortio, on the "Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World," the institutional Church states in paragraph 22: "Above all it is important to underline the equal dignity and responsibility of women with men…. In creating the human race ‘male and female,’ God gives man and woman equal personal dignity, endorsing them with the inalienable rights and responsibilities proper to the human person."

A historical breakthrough has been made in this regard. For instance, our highest national leader is the second woman-President of our country. Just recently, the proclaimed valedictorian of our prestigious Philippine Military Academy is a woman. Other instances can be cited in this context.

However, the sad part of it all is that side by side with those examples of gender equality are many more that grossly violate it. All around us are cases of gender abuse and exploitation of women — starting from the home all the way to the community-at-large.

For one, cases of battered wives are still present in many homes. This was recently described by no less than Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), as quoted in the Philippine STAR of March 14, with this caption: "Exploitation of Women Worries CBCP." It says in part:

"We are aware that many of our women have become victims of violence especially in their own homes. It is a sad reality that this is happening in our country. Our homes, which are supposed to be a sanctuary where peace and love reign, have now become a venue where women are battered and abused." He further stated that the members of the CBCP have agreed "to exhort various sectors to join hands in protecting women from violence and exploitation of all kinds that reduce them to silence and deprive them of their dignity as persons." (From a Radyo-Veritas interview).

An equally unjust and related issue is the frequent incidence of male infidelity in many marriages. And if you confront such husbands with: "What if your wife would do the same?", most if not all would angrily blurt out: "She better not do the same — or else!" This "pagkalalake syndrome" is still quite common among many Filipino males.

On the other hand, some women have their own contribution to make, especially in the growing business of pornography, not to mention prostitution! As a bit of an example, I cannot believe what I recently saw on the front page of a daily newspaper. Almost half of the whole front page was the colored picture of a female model who was almost nude — "with a lettuce bikini for a new ad for the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals." My Lord! What about People for the Ethical Treatment of Women?!

This to me was the height of uncensored pornography on the very front page of a supposedly responsible newspaper publication.

As God’s people — whatever religious denomination we belong to — we are given the responsibility to be fearless advocates of gender decency, equality, and justice. Within our own spheres of moral influence — starting from our own homes, all the way to our churches and secular institutions — to do what we can in implementing what is already legislated in our Constitution as well as in our Church documents.

May the example of Jesus Christ be our constant guide and inspiration, so that as a people, we can really experience what it means to be Christian.