Women and authority

[utunumsint]

while we all applaud and uphold as an ideal woman’s vocation as wife and mother, this is not a thread about SAHM vs “working moms” (how I hate that term). So let us not side-trak the topic.

This is a thread in response to an allegation that women who do rise to power and influence through their work are by definition rabid feminists, anti-life, ungodly, immoral, or whatever other generalization you care to make. I point out that such generalizations are dangerous and not likely to be true. Such a comment about women CEOs, politicians etc. also implies that men in positions of power and influence are be definition ungodly, corrupt etc., an equally unsound generalization.

this discussion according to OP is limited to those in present day, not religious or secular figures of the past

I would just like to point out that I wasn’t making this allegation. I was questioning it. There is a difference.

I accept your rebuke. It was wrong headed of me to think this.

God Bless,
Ut

 

[Rob_s_Wife]

This is a thread in response to an allegation that women who do rise to power and influence through their work are by definition rabid feminists, anti-life, ungodly, immoral, or whatever other generalization you care to make. I point out that such generalizations are dangerous and not likely to be true. Such a comment about women CEOs, politicians etc. also implies that men in positions of power and influence are be definition ungodly, corrupt etc., an equally unsound generalization.

well… yikes. that is not what I thought.
There is a choice to be made in any decision. Choosing family vs work is the reality of women who rise to power and influence at work. I’d think it very unlikely you will find very many CEO ladies with 8 children for example. I don’t know that it makes them less holy or more ungodly. I DO know though that to attain that level of success in one area of their lives, another area must give way some. Best case, I would think they would have to use NFP carefully to avoid family/work conflicts that would put their career in jeopardy. I would also think the dh would either have to set aside his career or the couple would have to have LOTS of outside help from either family or paid nanies. The rise to success takes TIME. Lots and lots of time and energy. It requires a good deal of devotion and determination. While time is spent on that pursuit, accomodations must be made to fill the children’s needs in other ways.

this discussion according to OP is limited to those in present day, not religious or secular figures of the past
I do not think that women who pursue career success are neccessarily immoral for making this choice, but I can see tempations to do things that make that success easier to achieve. B****irth control certainly comes to mind. I don’t know that women are more inclined in this than men though. I think it takes a special marriage to tolorate this. Either the man must be willing to give to the wife’s career or they must both be willing to give on family to jointly pursue careers.

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Again, I want to say I don’t think this is immoral. I know the OP didn’t want past examples, but if we look at any examples (past or present) you will find the women had tremendous sources of help to make their pursuits possible. (Nannies, extended family, understanding husbands, even political/religious encouragement in some cases.) For those few select women, there was a unique situation that allowed their families to be provided for even if mom or both parents were absent much of the time.

I will also add I think “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world” - they may not be obvious, but they certainly have an incredible amount of power.

 

[whatevergirl]

I just wonder whether we need to reconsider what true power is. Is it wielding massive money or influence over others for one’s own sake or is it really transforming people’s hearts through grace and mercy to become better people. That was Christ’s power and if that is what power is, then women like Mother Teresa have more power than the leaders of many nations and companies. Obviously the BVM would rank as most powerful… those who humble themselves shall be exaulted and those that exualt themselves shall be humbled.

 

[dkoinzan]

I just wonder whether we need to reconsider what true power is. Is it wielding massive money or influence over others for one’s own sake or is it really transforming people’s hearts through grace and mercy to become better people. That was Christ’s power and if that is what power is, then women like Mother Teresa have more power than the leaders of many nations and companies. Obviously the BVM would rank as most powerful… those who humble themselves shall be exaulted and those that exualt themselves shall be humbled.

:yup: :clapping:

 

[jc-servant]

Does anyone on this forum know of orthodox Catholic women in positions of authority and power?

Sure, some of my friends from church. I know women who head companies and who are executives. I know women who are consultants that used to be corporate executives. I know women who run small businesses with or without their husbands. I know a county judge who gave me my CRHP retreat weekend. I’m an attorney who is hoping to become a judge in a few more years myself. All of us are orthodox honest faith-filled Catholic women who are quite active in our parish and in other Catholic organizations, etc. (We are also pleasant to be around unlike many people I see in the workplace.) I even see a couple of female friends at daily mass at the cathedral because we work downtown (a bit of a drive from our actual parish in the burbs).

Some of my married friends have a brood of children, some fdon’t have any and some friends are single-never-married. You cannot make a blanket statement about what type of women end up in positions of power or authority or how they got there because each person’s story is different. For instance, attorneys can work hard for even a decade after graduating and then take a break for another decade or so until their children are all in school before returning to careers. I know a few women attorneys who continued to work from home part-time while their children were small by doing administrative hearings by telephone. For me, I’ve been looking for a good man for years, but I’m still single so of course I’ve worked hard to be the best that I can be at my profession. It is not necessary to lie, cheat or steal to get ahead. God will provide when we rest in Him!