Women's issues

The federal republic of Germany held its national elections over the weekend. Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, an outspoken critic of the United States and of the war in Iraq, was defeated in his re-election bid by Angela Merkel and the Christian Democrats. It remains to be seen whether this change of power will lead to a resumption of the former close relationship enjoyed between the US and Germany. It is also too soon to tell whether this will be the first time that Germany will have a female leader. In an article leading up to the election, Spiegel magazine discussed how Merkel had “discovered” women’s issues. In this case, “women’s issues” means, essentially, government-subsidized child care.

Across the world, elections were taking place in another nation with rather limited experience with democratic government—Afghanistan. “Women’s issues” in Afghanistan—a land only 4 years removed from domination by the Taliban—are defined somewhat differently. Basic human rights issues like education for young girls or the right to appear in public in clothing other than the burka have been implemented. Voting rights are now guaranteed. And in another country liberated from oppression through the sacrifice of US troops, Iraq is getting ready to vote next month on its proposed constitution. Although the country is largely Islamic, women will be guaranteed the right to vote. Even in Saudi Arabia, progress is being made on these basic “women’s issues.”

In our country, when politicians discuss “women’s issues,” it can only mean one thing. Last week, the Senate Judiciary committee held hearings on the nomination of Judge John Roberts to the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. What was the number one issue for which the Democratic Senators pressed Judge Roberts for an answer? Abortion. Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) even claimed that she, being the only woman on the committee, was the only one who really had the moral authority to demand to know whether, if confirmed, a Justice Roberts would overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion in the US by declaring all state law prohibiting it to be unconstitutional. How can abortion be considered a “Woman’s issue?” Only by claiming that the right to an abortion is a right for a woman to choose what she does with her own body.

In history, we have learned that the Code of Hammurabi, the oldest written law code, considered women a protected class, not one which was fair game for abuse or oppression. In the Bible, it is worth noting that the wife (woman) of noble character of Proverbs 31 is industrious, even operating her own business. Jesus included many women among his followers and disciples, even if he did not designate them as apostles. Women were partners in the ministry of the Gospel, even if they were not permitted to exercise authority over men in the congregation. As the book of Galatians puts it, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Several months ago, Lawrence Sumners, the president of Harvard came under fire for even suggesting that a study should be done to see if there are some differences between men and women which would lead to the undeniable statistics that, in general, more men choose to study math and science than women do. How politically incorrect, to say that there are differences between men and women! Why then, do the same feminists demand women’s studies and gender studies at the university and behave as though men have no say on the issue of abortion?

Martin Luther King, Jr., in his famous speech, declared "I have a dream that one day a man will be judged by the content of his character and not by the color of his skin." It is to be hoped that one day we will also not have to distinguish “women’s issues” from “men’s issues,” but only discuss those issues that pertain to all.