You are on page 1of 5

|   


 

The Church Fathers were very much against


women. They call them heretical, bold, immodest
because they presumed to prophesy, teach and
baptize.

In the Middle Ages, there emerged a charismatic


persecution of women who were condemned as
witches. They suspected women were giving
themselves through their alleged habits, evil
techniques to Satan.
etween the 13th and 18th centuries, about a
million women including Joan of Arc were burned
to death as witches. In spite of this, some women
broke through the limelight such as Julian of
Norwich, Dt. Gertrude, St. Mechtilde, St. Teresa of
Avila and St Catherine of Siena.
Protestantism failed also to see the role of
women other than procreation and nurturing.
However, the emerging Lutheran and Calvinist
Churches did recognize the social and theological
role of women. Some prominent women were
Elizabeth Houton, Mary Dyer and Elizabeth Fry.
From the Catholic side, we have Angela Merici and
Louise de Marillac.
The Women in the Phil. Church History
The Pre- Spanish women did enjoy equal status with
the men. Women can study as well as having the same right
as to the inheritance. Women were having the same right
as their husbands and they were sharing in managing the
economy and the agricultural production.
In the 16th century, Spain brought Christianity and
its patriarchal society in the Philippines. The friar spared
no effort to mold the Filipino women. They imposed
manuals describing the proper behaviour that women
should adapt in schools and in society as a whole. The
image of this is Maria Clara.
During the Propaganda movement, the Ilustrados
denounced the domestication of women and so some
women emerged from the shadow like Gabriela Silang,
Tandang Sora and Gregoria de Jesus.
|           

The Phil. Society still holds a double


standard view of women. That the wives should
always be obedient to their husbands. If the
husband is committing adultery, it is alright but the
woman should not do that. It is a shame and a
disgrace!
The Church too still holds a conservative
view of women. In terms of theology, a woman is
still considered a temptress like ³Eve.´
There is still a sexist tone in the Liturgy like
man instead of human, ³brethren´ instead of
³brothers and sisters´
In spite of this again, women in the Philippines
enjoy a prominent place in all aspects of society.
There is a growing awareness of the ³woman
question´ throughout the country and so the
growing emancipation of women into a full
personhood. ut still in far- flung barrios
women are domesticated, ill- treated or abused.
We have a long way to go towards the liberation
of women.

You might also like