In her editorial for this month's
Faith Doing Justice newsletter, editor Sandie Cornish highlights International
Women's Day and explores what makes a woman a good role model.
When did you first hear
the expression ‘spokesmodel'? Where did that come from?
I
know a number of beautiful women with knowledge and experience, and a lot to
say - but I don't listen to them because of how they look. The idea that we
should listen to someone because they are famous for their physical appearance,
and make a living out of it, is quite bizarre. ‘She's a supermodel, she must
know about environmental science' - really? I don't get it.
Perhaps
this phenomenon gives a voice to a few beautiful women who are more accustomed
to being looked at than heard, but how does it empower the rest of us? What
message does it send about who is ‘entitled' to be heard?
It
seems a great leap backwards in the struggle to be faithful to the Gospel
vision of the equal dignity of women and men. But is it only the shallow world of fashion
and PR that holds up ‘spokesmodels' rather than role models? Do we have our own
more subtle version of this dynamic in the Church?
It is worth reflecting on whether or not we are
endorsing only a certain limited range of experiences and attributes in our
choices of women for leadership and public roles. Is there a model, whether
conscious or not, of a ‘proper' Catholic woman at play here?
Women
of substance
As we celebrate
International Women's Day on 8 March, we mourn the loss of a great and good
Australian Catholic woman, and celebrate the recognition of another female
intellectual within the Church. These women are real role models.
Rosemary
Goldie was an independent woman, one of the most significant Australian
Catholic intellectuals of her generation, and a pioneer in lay participation in
the teaching and action of the Church at the highest levels.
Because
she spent so much of her life living and working abroad, not many young
Australian women would know her story. I was lucky to meet her on a number of
occasions and to benefit as a student in Rome from her encouragement. This
brilliant, determined ‘little old lady' was no ‘spokesmodel'. She was the Mary
MacKillop of her generation.
I was also lucky to meet Dr Flaminia Giovanelli during
my studies in Rome. In those days she was in charge of the library of the
Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. She was wise, welcoming and helpful
to students. It is pleasing to see her contribution valued and recognised
through her appointment as Under Secretary (third in charge) to the Council.
That the Council sees gender as an issue of justice in the Church, rather than
simply a pastoral matter, is reflected in the composition of its workforce with
a nearly 50/50 ratio of men and women.
By
Sandie Cornish
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