By Nicholas Thomas
“Life is unfair.” This is a quote pulled from the popular sitcom “Malcolm in the Middle,” but it is also a quote that rings true whenever things do not go the way we want them to. And that happens to most people a lot.
I can safely say that, for the most part, a lot of things in life do go my way. I am an able-bodied, 21-year-old white male who attends a private Christian university that offers me countless opportunities not only in my future career field, but also in the church that I attend. Although I’m brimming with young adult angst and am mostly broke, I have a bright future ahead of me. I don’t really have a lot to complain about.
This is not the case for women.
Yes, it’s true; I am a feminist. I was fortunate enough to be raised in a household with two of the strongest women I know: my older sister and my mother. Both of whom have provided not only for my family, but also for themselves in their professional fields.
I was always taught that anything was possible as long as you worked hard, and the women in my life are perfect examples of that. Yet for some reason, women have almost none the same opportunities that men do. What’s up with that?
In the church, it’s even worse: women cannot preach or lead worship. But don’t worry, not only can women watch the children during service, they can also lead women-only bible studies. So obviously their voices are being heard in the church, right?
You’re probably asking, “Why are you so worked up about women’s issues?” The reason is simple: it’s my fault. It’s the fault of men. Men, throughout history, have made themselves out to be the superior gender, putting themselves in every major position of power.
What makes us so special? Are we smarter, stronger or more capable of doing things than women are? Are we holier than or more spiritual than women? The answer is no.
Men, we cannot go through our lives thinking that we are better than women. We cannot continue to grow in anything without realizing that women are our equals, which they are. Women are more than qualified to lead the world we live in, whether it’s in the workplace, a church or the Oval Office.
We cannot live our lives thinking that one gender is superior to the other in any way, shape or form. The church, in particular, cannot continue to grow with this backwards way of thinking that women and their opinions are not important, because they are. The simple truth is this, women were not put on this Earth to serve men, they were put here for the same reason men were, to continue to better the world and the Kingdom of God.
There are things that will always be different about men and women, but in the work field and in the church, women deserve to be treated as equals on all accounts, and their voices deserve to be heard by all.
They are women, let them roar.
Nicholas Thomas is senior at Oklahoma Christian University.
The opinions of guest columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Talon or Oklahoma Christian University. Guest opinions are presented to foster public debate on important topics and comments should be respectful and signed.
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Nick, It’s good to see one of “my own” exercising his God-given talents so well. And I do appreciate your speaking up on “our” behalf, but the truth is, outside of the church of Christ, women actually do have it a lot better these days than they ever did. A lot of inroads have been accomplished since the 1970s and to complain that women have no opportunities, etc., is to ignore all the strides that have been made in the right direction over the past 45 years. Sadly, though, that doesn’t seem to be the case so much within the church of Christ; I am referring to the denomination, not the actual body of Christ where women do enjoy the same freedoms bought for them by Jesus as do men (I am sure you are familiar with “In Christ there is neither male nor female…”). Many other denominations have let the Spirit move them into a greater era of equity; sadly, though, again, the church of Christ has not. For that reason, I left the church of Christ long ago: I didn’t want the actual body of Christ to leave me behind. Kudos to you, kid, for using your talents to “write” the wrongs of the world. Just don’t let the blinders of being at a “private Christian university” restrict your view outside.