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Published Letters: 113
Editor's Choice: 18
"Kristin Aune, a sociologist at the University of Denby, sees a direct correlation between dropping church numbers and strong female characters."
Even if the correlation is there, it doesn't have to go in that direction. Maybe freeing yourself from a deeply patriarchal church that doesn't deem you good enough to celebrate mass (yes, I grew up Catholic) makes you more able to accept and enjoy strong female characters.
The patriarchal system seems like a major hurdle for many otherwise open-minded people. While pursuing his doctorate, my husband took a course about multiculturalism and religion, pointing out hidden prejudices, etc. In a discussion of different views of Christ, many were fine with visually representing Jesus in a variety of phenotypes: Asian, African, European, whatever. The general thought was that appearance shouldn't matter, the focus was on what he said and did, and making God in our own image is a way of relating to him. But when my husband suggested "female" as an alternative, it brought everyone up short, including the women, and most resisted it.
Gender bias runs deep, and it's hard to break out of.
All your words are but to say: you are a woman, and your part is in the house. But if you are raped unwillingly, you have leave to be stoned to death, for the men will value you no more.
(Original: "All your words are but to say: you are a woman, and your part is in the house. But when the men have died in battle and honour, you have leave to be burned in the house, for the men will need it no more.")
