The Working Woman
The Working Woman
Question
Does Your Holiness support women working, despite the fact that the Bible punished Adam with work, and the woman with the pain of pregnancy and childbirth? Does this mean that the woman bears both her punishment and Adam’s punishment?
Answer
1- I would like to say first that work itself is not a punishment.
Before the Fall, the Bible says: “Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it” (Gen. 2:15). Work is beneficial in many ways. As for Adam’s punishment, it was the hardship in work, “by the sweat of your brow,” as well as not obtaining a good result from his work. This is stated by the Lord to him: “Cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you” (Gen. 3:17–19).
2- Also, the woman’s participation with the man in work is a divine commandment.
For if God commanded Adam to work, He said concerning the creation of Eve: “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him” (Gen. 2:18). There is no objection to the woman being a helper to the man in work, and helping him through work.
We say this especially in difficult economic circumstances, in which the man needs the woman’s assistance in helping him bear the financial burdens necessary to meet the needs of the family. Women’s work has become one of the necessities.
3- We notice that God did not command that the woman should not work, but mentioned the opposite.
For it is stated in the Book of Proverbs concerning the virtuous woman whose “worth is far above rubies” (Prov. 31:10), that she works in many fields. And that she “does not eat the bread of idleness,” but “give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates” (Prov. 31:27, 31).
4- Through her work, the woman participates in the advancement of the entire society and contributes to its responsibilities.
What then shall we say about female doctors who contribute to the health responsibilities of society, and female teachers who carry a burden in the field of education… and even female farmers who work alongside the man in the field? And what about women who work in the fields of culture, journalism, and media? And those who make a serious and beneficial contribution to the service of the Church… Shall we say to all of these: Do not work!!
5- And if the woman does not work, does this implicitly mean that she should not be educated?! Especially at the university level, which prepares them for work.
And should we also prevent her from technical education and vocational training?! All of this prepares the woman for work. Thus, the woman’s level in education and work declines!! And the woman sits at home with nothing to do except chatter with her neighbors and talk about people’s affairs!!
6- And if the woman does not work, and consequently does not study…
Then the gap between her and her husband in thought and experience becomes wider!
The man finds no pleasure in talking with his wife, and she becomes merely a servant who prepares his food and takes care of the house and its cleanliness, without being his partner in thinking and planning, with a mentality that deserves respect and appreciation… This reduces marital disagreements, as there is closeness in intellectual level.
7- With the presence of working women, the moral level rises.
Without women’s work, a man’s view of women may become limited to sex. But when she works alongside the man, and he sees her abilities and experience in work, and her insightful opinion in managing matters… then he sees her as a human being: possessing the talents of a man and sometimes surpassing him. Thus, the focus on sex changes and turns into a focus on work, achievement, and success. In this way, the moral level improves as the view of women changes.
8- I will give you an example from the Bible: Deborah the judge (Judg. 4:4).
She worked in judgment. “And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment” (Judg. 4:5). She was respected. No one told her that work was for men alone. Rather, Barak, the commander of the army, could not go to fight King Sisera without her. He said to her: “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go” (Judg. 4:8).
9- My advice to you is to study the working women in the Bible, as well as the work of women throughout the history of the Church.
And do not rely on any one example that, at the same time, does not support your thinking or confirm your question. Read about Ruth, who worked in the field. And about Esther, who was a queen and had a leadership role in the course of events. And about Phoebe the deaconess, a servant of the Church, who “has been a helper of many and of myself also” (Rom. 16:1, 2). And about “Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord” (Rom. 16:12). And about Lydia, a seller of purple who worshiped the Lord (Acts 16:14, 15). And about Tabitha, who “was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.” And when she died, the widows who had benefited from her work and charity wept for her (Acts 9:36, 39). Saint Peter raised her from the dead.
10- History, too, is full of examples of working women.
Read about women in history, and about female evangelists. And about the women saints who had an influence on men, such as Saint Macrina.
And we will meet again in a detailed study, if the grace of the Lord wills and we live.
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