“Next time you are about to call a girl “bossy”, say instead: she has executive leadership skills”
Sheryl Sandberg.
What does it take to prove that you are worthy and meritorious? Perhaps, your whole life. I am woman. Does it comply that physiologically I am weak, academically- inept, Indecisive; psychologically- frivolous; sociologically- reticent and religiously- dirty, unclean? What defines me? My credibility or my gender? Like me, for many other women their gender plays a defining role in our society.
The life of a girl begins with a subtle affirmation that she is someone’s property. She is made clear that she must live ‘under’ the authority of a male either, father, brother or husband, or bosses (most often male)! Like a tiny plant hidden under the sheds of huge trees, she struggles to survive, to thrive to retain and proclaim her uncensored identity. Will she ever breakthrough her way to the radiance of the sunlight? Perhaps, someday! Then, who will decide what she deserves? Whether full sunshine or a ray of light. Certainly, she cannot as she is not a “decision-maker” but a “rule-taker”. All through her life she has been pruned to patriarchal norms of the society that underscores, what a woman can or cannot or rather should not decide the fate of her own life or for others as well. The society makes her believe that she is incapable to lead her own life and solve her own problems itself. She is not a leader but a follower. A follower who is bound to her ruling authorities, those who decide on behalf of her. Will she voice-out her decisions for life? Her resilience is peacefully subverted or rather forcefully!
Just as the leading voices of women like Miriam and Noadiah are silenced in the Hebrew Bible. Two of the prophetesses, Miriam and Noadiah met with similar fate in their lives. Miriam, presumably the first Biblical prophetess (Exodus 15:20) who undoubtedly played a significant role in the History of liberation of the Hebrew, (later Israel), ultimately singled out and silenced for her audacity. Similarly, Noadiah who probably was a leader of a prophetic band was condemned and silenced. Both characters exerted certain qualities of leadership and looked the authority on their faces. In the context of the patriarchal power structure of the Hebrew society, both these women posed a threat to the male leadership and thus their capability was perceived as vulnerability and their voice as wild dissent.
Often is female leadership treated as a threat. This threat is built upon a whole set of gender stereotypes and gender-oriented prejudices. The politics of leadership rests upon prejudices about ‘ideal’ woman/ or a ‘macho’ leadership. Gender-leadership gap is consistent and systematic, it begins right from home and continues in classroom, workplace, religious places affecting socially, politically, economically and so on. Therefore, gender integrated leadership development should begin at home so that its ethical values should be inculcated into larger social space. Afterall, women leadership is still an exception but never the rule. Therefore, never let a woman ask you, “why not me?” But, the real question is “will you continue to suppress women around you or will you move away from our spaces that you have occupied?”
Prayer
Creator God, we thank you for creating us in your image, all genders equal in your sight. You also created women wonderfully and inherently like men to lead for the welfare of all in the society. Guide us, O Lord, with the essential truth of equality, love and respect so that we could be the change that you intended. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen
Author: Akanksha Samuel Makasare
About the Author: Akanksha earned her Bachelor of Divinity from Allahabad Bible Seminary, Prayagraj and Master of Theology in the Department of Old Testament from Union Biblical Seminary, Pune. She is currently working as an Assistant Professor at Allahabad Bible Seminary.
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