Let’s start with Canada and I encourage
you to take a look at the link on Global Gender Gap to get all the data you
want.
In 2017 Canadian women rank at 20
out of 115 countries when it comes to political
empowerment compared with Norway at 4, Sweden at 8, Germany at 10, Denmark
at 16, United Kingdom at 17 and the United States at a distant 96 (shocking,
isn’t it?). Is it any wonder that
American women are becoming angrier every day? “Women’s unmet demand for family
planning” is nil for Canada, Scandinavia and United Kingdom but at 8 for the
USA (and we know this is only getting worse for “the greatest country in the
world”).
When it comes to social
development Scandinavia leads the way in almost every facet. Here is one little
tidbit which is very telling of the type of mindset Scandinavians have; communities
in Sweden MUST clear the sidewalks immediately after any type of storm because
the government knows that most women walk at least part way to their work and
THEY ARE STRONG VOTERS. It is important for the politicians to keep women happy
– and they do! Here in Canada we know that businesses are required to do the
clearing of sidewalks and while many in downtown districts do a fairly good job
there is a long way to go to give real satisfaction to pedestrians.
On a more serious note European
countries are far ahead of both Canada (although I must say I am pleased with
our stats) and the United States when it comes to respecting and empowering
women. I cannot account for it except for one possibility and that is the fact
that Americans, and to a lesser degree Canadians, are still at least nominally
religious. Thus when we come to religion we have a real dilemma since those who
are avowed “Christians” (I will write from the Christian point of
view although much may relate to other religions as well) cannot hear anything
beyond the rote of their Bible.
Before we go forward, let us go
backwards. Dipping into the Bible we know that in the Gospels Jesus is depicted
as a liberal man who treated women with deference and equality. Historically we
know that as the Apostles went out to spread the Word into the world they were
confronted by the patriarchal Greco-Roman society (as well as having to deal
with the Judaic patriarchy within themselves) and therefore much of the
doctrine of Christianity, over time, became predominantly patriarchal. As time
went on women were thrown under the bus as men pursued their own aggrandizement
in the church and out of it. A little taste of power goes a long way so here
we are today.
So much for the history lesson on
how religion became a male dominated world. Let us zip along to Puritan New
England and put some focus on the Founding Fathers. Despite Abigail Adams plea
to her husband John to “remember the ladies” as he helped write the American
Constitution women were excluded from any rights by reason of their ABSENCE. John
didn’t want to fight with “petticoats”. The stage was set for the continuation
of female subjugation in the new republic. The misfortune continues as America
relies heavily on the religious (and religion) in their political sphere.
[NOTE: Abigail Adams was a remarkable woman for her
time, or any other, and I do recommend reading her biography. I have to like
any person who cannot wrap her head around the Trinity. “There is not any reasoning which can convince me, contrary to my
senses, that three is one, and one three.”]
"Remember the ladies, and be
more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such
unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be
tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the
Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves
bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation." – Abigail
Adams
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