Horizons magazine is published by Presbyterian Women (PW) the national women’s organization of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
Issue link: http://horizons.epubxp.com/i/623149
8 just sexism, but also racism, hetero- sexism, ableism and other forms of discrimination. The formula is dis- tressing: microaggressions plus (inter- sectional) discrimination can cause psychological, emotional and physical distress for women and other minor- ity groups. Part of the hidden violence of microaggressions lies in their ambigu- ity. "Surely, I didn't hear him cor- rectly," she may think. "Oh, he didn't mean it like that," a friend may encourage. "Don't be so sensitive!" he may reprimand when confronted about his words. Microagressions often happen quickly, and in casual encounters when one is not expecting to be undermined, invalidated or attacked. Types of Microaggression Based on Gender Microaggressions based on gender are different than blatant forms of sexism. If a pastor declared from the pulpit that women have smaller brains, thus making them ill-fit for leadership, most people would quickly call him sexist. If a church member said that all women should do is bake in the kitchen and bear children, he'd likely receive a swift wallop to the head and be deemed as closed-minded. When called to consider sexism today, some people cite how much has changed o ver the years, how far women have c ome. Women can now vote. And play college sports. Be CEOs. Doc- tors. Attorneys. Politicians. Women can be ordained in many denomina- tions. "We're all treated equally," is the common refrain. Yet so many women—particularly women of color and LGBTQ women—experience a very different reality every day. Some facets of society and the church eagerly condemn blatant forms of racism, sexism and hetero- sexism. Yet even people committed to this just vision can unknowingly hurt and invalidate persons of color, women and LGBTQs with microag- gressions rooted in misguided and harmful assumptions about what womanhood means. Gender Appropriate Behavior In church and in wider society, women are often relegated to what is deemed "gender appropriate roles," as illustrated in the comments about parenting while serving as a pastor, or cooking rather than working as contractor. No on blatantly said, "women should stay home to parent and cook," to the female pastor or contractor, but the hidden message behind the comments alluded to a particular, culturally biased understanding of the world. Assumptions such as these extend to the constant questions posed to single women in church about when they will marry, or young married women regarding when she plans to have children. Sexual Objectification Christians often blame media and popular culture for objectifying a nd/or hypersexualizing women, but t he church does it as well, as indicated by the statement by a congregant introducing a new graduate student at church. And after 14 years of serving churches, I can't tell you the number of times I've received comments about my appearance, sexiness or clothing after preaching or leading worship. Statements like these, though often intended as compliments, undermine what women have to say by reducing their presence to mere appearance. It subtly implies that how women look is more important than their intellect, leadership abilities or emotions. Exclusive Language The benediction that referred to all humans as "man" and to God as "Him" is standard refrain in virtually every Sunday in most congregations. Yet, in 1971, Webster's Dictionary deemed it academically archaic to refer to humankind as "man." "Who cares?" you may think. "They're just words and everyone knows what the pastor means when he says 'man' or calls God 'He.'" Perhaps this is true for some women, but it's likely not true for the six-year-old girl sitting in the second pew who hears that God's (read "His") peace and presence is for men and not for her. Hearing such gender-biased lan- guage every Sunday for her entire child- hood and adolescence "You're being too sensitive . . ." " S u re l y h e di dn 't e n it t h t w y . . ."