EDITOR, The Tribune.

I found it quite interesting reading about the Christian Church leaders seemingly new-found enthusiasm for the equal rights of women in The Bahamas.  

Our Bahamas constitution has been in flawed existence – as to the equal rights of women – for approximately 43 years. I don’t recall the Church protesting to the State as to just how unfair and misguided certain aspects of our Constitution has been with regards to the equal rights of women in The Bahamas.  I do, however, understand why they would not have protested.  And why it may be extremely difficult for many Church leaders to come to terms with equality – even now.

The Church, in our society, has always represented a more misogynistic view of the world and they use the Bible as their justification.  

The following excerpts, from the Bible, give selective cause to this male driven point of view:

“For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man.” 1 Corinthians 11:2-10

“Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you”. -Genesis 3:16  

“Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.” 1 Corinthians 14:34

“For Adam was formed first, then Eve And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.” Timothy 2:13-14

Contrastingly, though not accentuated enough, the Bible also seems to show God’s favour towards women.  In Genesis, the woman seems to have been so important that she was created alongside the man, not merely from the man or after the man:

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Gen. 1:27

When God decided to give his only son to die for the sins of mankind he actually selected the woman to be the vessel of this special Christ child. Fertilisation of a woman’s egg but bypassing the seed of the male altogether:

“When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 1:18

The first to see Jesus when he was raised from dead was a woman:

“Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.” Mark 16:9

The upcoming referendum on gender equality will not, in any reasonable timeframe, solve the problems that centuries of misogynistic teachings have caused within this country.  

Indeed, it is most unfortunate that a few men in a room easily wrote inequality into our constitution but then it takes millions of dollars and the will of an entire nation to undo this injustice.  

Still, even if the referendum succeeds, this second time around, the real work toward full equality would have just begun.  I do not believe that laws and doctrines, in and of themselves, cause inequality between men and women – people do.  And people have written all laws and doctrines throughout our human history.  

Sadly, until we see a more positive change in the minds of men, toward women, there will always be – in practice – a division between the rights of men and that of women in The Bahamas.

DWAYNE LOCKHART-GAILLARD

Nassau,

April 25, 2016.