Some Stories to Begin with
Lessons from Myths about Gender Gap
Characteritics of Feminist Leadership
Implications for Theological Education

Some Stories to Begin with…
Women against ordaining women
Pulse beats, short temper and gender stereotyping
Are men better teachers of feminism?
A costly speech by the president of Harvard University

Lessons from myths about gender gap…
Women and men use different parts of the brain differently.
Women and men use their senses differently.
Since the brain has phenomenal ability for change, then it may override biological tendencies.
Brain is vulnerable to the power of suggestion, motivation and encouragement so expectations matter.
The sexes are simply internally diverse. What is important is to understand differences, act on their disadvantages and be prepared for the disadvantages.

Feminist Leadership vs. Women in Leadership
Feminist leadership is not guaranteed by simply putting a woman in a position of leadership. It is not automatic that women are feminists or that feminism comes with being a woman.
Feminist leadership has nothing to do with being famous and powerful as in the case of former President Cory Aquino and current President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Feminist leadership has to do with an alternative vision, passion, perspective, lifestyle, commitment (as in the case of NCCP General Secretary Sharon Rose Joy Ruiz Duremdes and MIT Principal, Anna May Say Pa).

Dealing with prevailing allergy to feminism…
There is a need to deal with feminism squarely rather than avoiding it. Asians especially need to understand what Asian feminism is all about.
There is a need to overcome mistaken notions and preconceived ideas about feminism; we feel threatened because of fear of the unknown. Feminism is not monolithic.
Following are some statements used to dismiss feminism and which we must know how to deal with…

More statements against feminism…
It diffuses the more important struggle for social/national transformation.
It is a western phenomenon and, thus, a foreign importation.
It is about women who are single or man-haters; or are unhappy in their marriage; and have nothing else to do.
It is only for women; it has nothing for men. So how can it be a better alternative?

Dealing with the allergy to feminism…
In Asia and the Pacific, women and girls suffer from discrimination and dehumanization throughout their lifetime.
Asian feminism connects with all struggles against injustice – e.g. sexism, racism, classism, casteism, neo-colonialism, imperialism.
There are Asian feminists who are happily married because their husbands are also feminists.
Asian feminism is inclusive of men, youth and children, even creation.
The spirit of Asian feminism has much deeper roots than we have ever thought of – let me give you some examples…

Roots of Asian Feminism…
Women’s status was a hot issue in 500 B.C. (e.g. should women enter the Buddhist religious order; can they attain Nirvana?)
Male Confucian scholars/officials had frequent debates on women’s status in the 11th century.
Some struggles were part of the socio-political reform movements and national struggles against colonialism; some male scholars/reformers led:
(a) Raja Rammohan Roy (1818) campaigned against ‘certain dreadful practices’;
(b) Fukuzawa Yukichi (1833-1901) & Tokutomi Soho (1863-1957) condemned Confucian traditions of family life, advocated for women’s rights;
(c) So Chae-p’il (1896) strongly advocated for women’s education;
(d) Jose Rizal (1887) strongly advocated for women’s secular education.
(e) China – Qiu Jin, a revolutionary against imperialist forces, clamored for women to be free and to become heroines of a free world.
(f) India (including Myanmar, Pakistan and Bangladesh) – Pandita Ramabai (1858-1922), learned in Hindu scriptures, critiqued oppressive traditions and practices regarding women and was an agitator for women’s rights; Tarabai Shinde (1850-1910) challenged male reformers who only wanted to ‘help’ women but not accord them equal status.
(g) Indonesia – Raden Adjeng Kartini (1879-1904) started school for daughters of Javanese officials.

Defining Asian feminism…
Asian Christian Feminism –
movement, cause, lifestyle, mindset of genuine partnership of women and men;
reclaiming and restoring the dignity of all people as created in the image of God;
by struggling against the evils of sexism, racism, classism, casteism, neo-colonialism, imperialism; and
affirming the interconnectedness of people with all of God’s creation.

Defining feminist leadership…
Feminist Leadership – is a style or model of leadership that is rooted in the belief that women and men are created in the image of God; it affirms partnership of women and men;
is critical of the distortion of God’s image whenever there is discrimination and oppression; is committed to transformation for the sake of God’s will for dignity and fullness of life for all.

Characteristics of Feminist Leadership
Holds a holistic, not compartmentalized, view of life; upholds holistic spirituality.
Based on mutuality, equality, and partnership; not on hierarchy.
Group-centered, not authority-centered.
Visionary – aims at empowerment, transformation and liberation; biased for victims, the weak and marginalized.
Flexible and creative; conscious of the needs and situations.
Small group discussion enables more people to share; circular seating decentralizes leadership power…
Expressing creatively and collectively can be empowering…
Body and spirit are one. Listening to our bodies is part of our spirituality…
Using symbols, finding new meanings help to make worship more meaningful…

Concluding Word
Men and women have differences resulting from the interaction of our biology and ecology. But these differences should not be used to limit or put down the other; but as challenges to understand and overcome.
Asian feminist leadership is contextual, integrated, inclusive and transformational. Both women and men are capable of feminist leadership.
For the world to be whole, we need the leadership in partnership of women and men. If we do not work for genuine partnership, we participate in the continuation of gender injustice and impoverish ourselves and the younger generations.

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