Feminine Geniuses
While watching the morning news last week, I heard the story of a female obstetrician who was in the hospital preparing to give birth herself when she heard the wails of a mother in labor down the hall. Knowing the woman’s doctor was unavailable at the time, the doctor and mother-to-be put on a second hospital gown to cover her backside, delivered the woman’s baby, and headed back to her own hospital bed. When I shared this story with my mother, she said, “That shows you how strong women are, doesn’t it?”
My mother, perhaps the strongest person I’ve ever met, is so right. In this age of increasing diversity of female roles, of female executives and innovators, I’m proud to call myself a feminist. However, this moniker is troublesome because of the associations projected onto it.
There are many conflicting stories about just how women “should” strive for empowerment. Perhaps the loudest narrative is that which tries to limit women’s choices to two ends of a spectrum: Either you can live according to a man (a distastefully docile and antiquated choice, its opponents argue), or you can climb the corporate ladder and bask in enlightened sexual “liberation.” Those who propagate this narrative insist that there is no middle ground and only one right choice.
The truth is that both of these routes are severely limiting, as is any path that puts a woman entirely in the service of this world, believing that her identity is only meaningful in relation to something or someone earthly.
I like to define feminism as a movement to uphold the equal-but-unique dignity, intelligence, and giftedness of women. (Not to brag, but I think Pope Saint John Paul II would agree with me – in his Letter to Women, he writes, “As far as personal rights are concerned, there is an urgent need to achieve real equality in every area: equal pay for equal work, protection for working mothers, fairness in career advancements, equality of spouses with regard to family rights and the recognition of everything that is part of the rights and duties of citizens in a democratic State.”)
How, then, do we protect feminine dignity, which is viciously under attack from so many directions? By remembering that dignity and purpose are not located in a spouse, a career, a beautiful body or a good reputation, but in the Lord our God.
The Communion of Saints is the ideal place to look for feminist inspiration. Again, let us defer to JPII: “The Church's two-thousand-year history, for all its historical conditioning, has truly experienced the ‘genius of woman;’ from the heart of the Church there have emerged women of the highest calibre who have left an impressive and beneficial mark in history. I think of the great line of woman martyrs, saints and famous mystics. In a particular way I think of Saint Catherine of Siena and of Saint Teresa of Avila, whom Pope Paul VI of happy memory granted the title of Doctors of the Church.”
We also think of Saint Joan of Arc, Saint Edith Stein, Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, St. Mother Theodore Guerin and, most of all, the Blessed Virgin Mary. These women have something essential in common: they understood their purposes and capabilities as gifts from God; thus, they were not limited by stereotypes and misunderstandings, but were free to live and love as noble – and genius – daughters of God.
I’ve been blessed with many models of feminine genius. My mother teaches me every day what it means to give from the deepest parts of oneself out of love. My friends are living up to their potentials as superwomen by becoming teachers, doctors, members of the military and more. The women in my office demonstrate that it is in fact possible to be holy, sassy, kind, stylish and intelligent all at once.
If you’re a woman, take a moment today to appreciate the genius the Lord created when He created you. No matter who you are, give thanks today for the feminine geniuses who have enriched your life.
