Reflections and Refractions

A response to Robyn McSweeny, Minister for Women’s Interests who recently spoke out against Islamic women wearing the coverall burqua, and which was reported by the Weekend West, Saturday 11th April 2011.

The issue of women wearing the burqua has come up a lot in recent times and there is a sense in which people who come to our country from another part of the world should be encouraged to enjoy the freedoms we have here.  But equally, long-time inhabitants should respect the right ofothers to follow their beliefs and to change at a pace which allows understanding of  new culture and traditions to develop in an intelligent, considered and ordered fashion.  Whilst we Aussies may feel that a garment like the burqua or other religious clothing is degrading to women and is designed to keep them under the thumb as it were, many Islamic men treat women with the utmost respect, as taught in the Koran, and care for them in ways that good old Aussie men would never dream of doing.

I find it funny, no – make that sad, that a woman like the Minister for Women’s Interests chooses to speak about the religious practices of Islam in the context of women’s rights and freedoms (The Weekend West, 9^th April), and yet we rarely hear people in Robyn McSweeny’s position speak out about the role of women in the practice and traditions of the Christian Church.  We never see articles in the press or TV exposés about the lack of equality of women within the Christian faith, despite the clear New Testament evidence, and much evidence in other literature of the time that women played a significant leadership role in the establishment of the early church.  In fact many scholars believe women were the foundation, if not the rock, on which the New Testament church was built.

It may surprise many readers to know that, even now in the second decade of the 21^st century, there are many individual churches, of many denominations, which do not permit women to speak, nor to read the scriptures in church when there are men present.  Many churches will not allow women to lead services or to ‘preach’ from the pulpit despite the fact that it is mostly women who are out in the field, often in dangerous places, teaching and practicing the traditions given by Jesus of Nazareth.  The role of women in the church is often limited to looking after the kids, or making cups of tea. This type of attitude is really the Christian Burqua.

Perhaps before Ms McSweeny chooses to comment on the culture and traditions of another people and faith who are seeking to make Australia home, she might take more of an interest in the role and equality of women in her own backyard.