蜜芽传媒

Good morning. Today is International Women鈥檚 Day. It鈥檚 perhaps as important as ever for women to stand together in the cause of justice and equality, because this is still very much a rich man鈥檚 world. Many women have benefitted from the global struggle for equality, but there鈥檚 still a vast gender gap to be bridged.

International Women鈥檚 Day is even being celebrated in the Vatican today, thanks to years of persistence by a team of women organisers. Some people might ask, why bother? Aren鈥檛 religions part of the problem rather than part of the solution? Well, yes and no. Religious leaders often conspire with oppressive political and cultural regimes to control women, not least through their sexual and reproductive capacities. But religions are a bit like families. You earn the right to criticise by being willing to stay in and battle on despite the difficulties. The critical voices of faithful insiders can be more effective than those that come from the outside.

For many women, religions are communities of inspiration, hope and grassroots activity among the world鈥檚 most vulnerable and marginalised people. It鈥檚 a difficult balancing act to navigate the turbulent encounter between religious faith and feminism, but this can be a fertile and creative quest where new meanings are birthed from ancient traditions. Feminism inspired by faith entails a persistent commitment to two worlds that may be less separate than they seem.

Last month in the American Senate, Senator Mitch McConnell invoked a little-used rule to silence Senator Elizabeth Warren in the middle of a speech. He explained that he had warned her about the rule, but 鈥淣evertheless, she persisted鈥�. Senator Warren then went outside and recorded herself making the speech on the steps of the Senate. The video went viral, and Senator McConnell鈥檚 words ironically became a rallying cry for women around the world 鈥� hashtag nevertheless she persisted.

That story makes me think of Jesus鈥檚 parable of the widow in Luke鈥檚 Gospel who wanted a judge to avenge her for a wrong she had suffered. The unjust judge resisted until she wore him down with, well 鈥� with her nagging! 鈥� and finally he gave in in order to get some peace.

Today is a day when women of all faiths, cultures and political persuasions can gather together and say, with that widowed woman of ancient times, hashtag nevertheless we persist.

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