Women Are Sub-Human

I grew up watching my father physically and emotionally abuse my mother. He continued to do so until the last few weeks of her life.

The idea that women are not equal to men and subservient to them is well established, as the following examples show. All religions share the blame equally. The linked story discusses Christianity's role.

There is a missing link that has expired in the article linked to the image above. It is here in the Wayback Machine.

Living in a society in which girls are exposed to these types of situations conveys the idea that women are not equal to and are subservient to men, and moreover that our society permits and condones it as if it were true. What does years of repeated exposure to teachings and situations like these do to women's image of themselves? This is one indication of what it does.

What has this type of treatment done for the Black community in the United States?

Diversity does not include allowing teachings or visual representations of inequality to exist in nations believing in the equality of everyone.

Where beliefs and the symbology and practices that represent these beliefs are allowed in a society committed to the principle that everyone is equal, women will continue to be mistreated.

"The government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion." -- John Adams

Religions do not trump the rights of anyone in a free society, regardless of what anyone says or preaches, and continuing to allow symbols and practices that convey inequality between men and women in any way is simply wrongheaded.

The Mormon Church had to come to grips with the fact that polygamy is illegal in North America and also had to fully admit Blacks to the church. If the people of a nation have outlawed polygamy and racial discrimination in Mormonism why is any other religion allowed to get away with teaching women are inferior to and subservient to men, whether that religion or practice be Christian, Muslim, Judaism or whatever?

At the moment many nations are facing an influx of people with religious beliefs that conflict with the concept of equality and oppress women. People applying for admission to any country espousing equality of the sexes should include statements similar to these:

"I hereby affirm and agree that in accepting the privilege of entry to (country) that women are in all respects equal to men and have the same status, rights, privileges and protection under the law and that I will in no way engage in, accept, endorse, myself or allow my legally dependent children to be subject to any beliefs or practices, including those advocated by any religion or practice, contrary to my affirmation, so long as I am residing temporarily or permanently in (country).

I further agree that if I violate in any way my affirmation and agreement to the equality of women, that violation will be grounds for my removal and deportation from (country)."

Doing so forces everyone to confront the conflict between religion and laws protecting the equality of women. It is not possible to protect religious practices and beliefs that state women are inferior and subject to men in a free society founded on the principles of justice.

This is a real test of our belief in equality and if we say religious practices trump protection of women we are in a real pickle.