Of late there seems to be many conversations happening around me that are about gender issues and inequalities. We seem to manage avoid discussing this subject frequently.
How do we start these conversations in a constructive way?
How to we enable people to be able to voice their experiences without it becoming a blame game?
Discussing this with my wife it felt like as men we often assume that because women within our groups are not being vocal about their feelings that everything is alright (appreciate this is gross generalisation) and so carry on regardless, thus making it harder for women to voice their experiences, thus making us men assume everything is ok for them and so the circle goes on.
This conversation has been going on for years within the church. Alternative worship groups and Emerging churches don't seem to have broken this male dominated culture. Though in the established church there is a higher representation of women than men within the congregations the men are still the ones that hold the power primarily, what are our alternative worship groups doing to challenge this inequality?
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Good post Steve and well worth the read and the thoughts that it provokes! How do we indeed start an open discussion.
Personally I find the whole issue of gender difficult to discuss, as the sexes do share feelings in such different ways (as a generalization). We chaps could do with a listening ear, and I hesitantly suggest that the ladies could do with saying more directly.
Linking this with the earlier post on flat leadership, it is interesting to see how few of the Alternative / Emergent groups are female lead or driven. Visions being the most obvious example.
I agree that the situation just perpetuates itself in each group. However I do feel that the "movement" is making an effort to ensure an equal voice across the sexes. Look at the make up of the Blah tour.
The emergent groups for me seem more a collection of like minds than a group that has gathered due to local geography, and as such each group needs to ensure that all views are covered. Irrespective of Gender, Race, or orientation.
Starting that constructive conversation and ensuring equality in our groups? Well, in your post it would seem you have made the correct start. Talking to your wife (who I am sure will make a lot of sense) and keeping that communication path open sounds good to me. Now if only you could give me some lessons!
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