Feminine dignity and vocation

Just a couple of days back, I happened to catch Oprah's "Woman Who Changed the World" show where Gloria Steinem was a featured guest.

She lauded Steinem as a leader of the feminist movement in the US during the 70s, saying women today stood on the shoulders of women like Steinem who had championed vigorously for women's rights through the decades.

In the very next breath she complimented the 74-year-old Steinem on looking youthful and attractive, asking archly if she had anyone special in her life or was dating for she still looked so good.

In that one question she managed to dismiss all the progress women like Steinem made, transforming women into objects valued and desired by the opposite sex based on their physical appearance. Oh Oprah!

I can't say I blame her for one has only to scan women's magazines, popular TV serials or MTV, the bellwether of pop culture, to come to the conclusion that it seems to be highly important that a woman is attractive and desirable.

Never mind about character, personality, intelligence or the intrinsic value of each woman, all that seems to be secondary, for ultimately, a woman's worth is measured and validated by how alluring she looks, much like a beautiful work of art.

What makes it worse in our so-called progressive times is that women now aspire and CHOOSE to be objectified.

Many of us seem to think that the ultimate goal in life is, "to look sexy to attract a man/men and get a husband or life partner, if not, I am a failure as a woman ergo unable to express my sexuality fully as a woman."

That is the biggest lie that any woman can buy into.

There is nothing wrong in taking pride in one's appearance and treating one's body with respect, appropriate as "temples of God", but an inordinate amount of time, money and attention spent on looking good leads one to value superficiality and be satisfied with external beauty while ignoring the cultivation of the beauty of one's soul and inner being.

This can only lead to unhappiness for looks fade over time, and for a woman who only values herself via her looks, the future is bleak (despite the advances in aesthetic medicine).

Here is where I laud Catholic social teaching that "rests on the threefold cornerstones of human dignity, solidarity and subsidiarity" and Pope John Paul II, who in his lifetime really recognized the pivotal role that women play in society.

In his Apostolic Letter, Mulieris Dignitatem, on the Dignity and Vocation of Women, JPII helps women understand what exactly is their true dignity and vocation as woman by enumerating the graces that were bestowed on women from the very beginning of time, and that will enable them "to acquire in the world an influence, an effect and a power hitherto never achieved" in order to "aid humanity in not falling".

Like Mary, all women are called to a special union with "the living God"and to overcome the inclinations of "original sin" that view women as objects of "domination" by drawing on unique, "personal resources of femininity" which can be found in the deep and profound discovery of self-identity, of "who I am" as created by God.

To be able to see myself as the woman I was created to be, through the eyes of Jesus, and be empowered by that radical and affirming love.

To acknowledge the gifts of my womanhood: sensitivity, strength and the courage to be a prophetic witness, "the apostle of the Apostles".

To understand the distinct gifts of motherhood (whether I am single or married) and virginity (by saying yes to the gift of Christ's spousal love) and live them out fully in my everyday life.

To dare to receive Christ's redemptive love 'in order to love in return' and thus become the "perfect woman" who is "an irreplaceable support and source of spiritual strength for other people, who perceive the great energies of her spirit".

All this can be ours, as women, if we, like the Samaritan woman, listen to the entreaty of Jesus, "If you knew the gift of God" and claim it.

By claiming my true dignity and vocation as woman, I claim the "essential equality" of being created in the image and likeness of God and I am better able to recognize the truths of my existence.

That I am a woman, fearfully and wonderfully made, much loved and cherished as an individual, regardless of what others, men and women, think.

That I am a woman who is able to live out the fullest expression of my sexuality every day because I am able to love others as Jesus loves me.

He has truly done great things for me and holy is His name!