Mixed Messages

While I think Emily Reimer-Barry makes some good points about the way women are treated within the Catholic Church, I think it is important to recognize the positive messages sent to women. For example, the Church clearly states, with no room for doubt, that men and women are equal. This message is at the heart of feminism, and the Church's statement is very significant and powerful in today's society. The Church also encourages all people, especially young women, to respect and honor their bodies as a gift from God. This message encourages women to recognize their worth and treat themselves with the dignity they deserve. A lot of these messages have been translated to me through my years of Catholic schooling. Especially in high school, I have been taught that being a woman means being a powerful "agent of change." Although some of the message are a bit lofty, they convey an important message that being female does not make me any less of a person. Quite the contrary, it makes me a strong and powerful person capable of just about anything. However, as with anything, there are always some negative messages mixed in with the positive ones. I have heard many of the traditional opinions about the differences between men and women. For example, some people still believe that a woman's sphere is the home, and that this responsibility should come above all else. Nevertheless, the many positive messages tend to override the few negative ones.