The Position Of Women With Respect To Men: Genesis Story Used By Mary Daly - Essay Example

Mary Daly uses the Genesis story as an exemplar that continues to influence relationships between men and women ever since. It is significant to analyze the effectiveness of any argument. This essay will use the Toulmin method to analyze Daly’s claims with a view of responding to the argument and improving it. The Toulmin model will identify the claim, examine the claim for qualifiers, and examine the claim for exceptions to draw a persuasive argument for or against Daly’s claims. Mary Daly identifies manifestations of the "divided consciousness" of a repressed group, such as women. Ideally, there have been numerous debates on feminism with relation to religion. Notably, all feminist critic of the Bible revolve around the story or stories of the creation of woman in the book of Genesis. Mary Daly uses the Genesis story to base her argument on the relationships between men and women. Mary Daly presents various arguments about Genesis, in relation to the position of women with respect to men. Indeed, the position and roles of women in different cultures is equally controversial. Mary Daly brings these arguments because there are people who believe that women are equal to men in the eyes of God since the book of Genesis refers to both of them as “men” and does not separate their duties. However, others argue that women are inferior because they came from man (“NPR” 1). These beliefs led to Mary Daly’s claim that “women become more like men when they are pious and faithful and if not, the name of their sex bounds women and shows that women are different from men and only men can perfectly achieve Christ-like qualities (“NPR” 1).” Additionally, Daly suggests that womanhood possess specific qualities that distract them from serving God. She further asserts that men are logical, smart, and understands more quickly than women understand (“NPR” 1). I find this part of Daly's argument interesting. Indeed, I agree with Daly's argument, which equally relates with the texts in the book of Ephesians where the Bible mandates women to submit to their own husbands as they submit to the Lord (“NPR” 1). However, the Bible neutralizes the aspect of submission by urging the husbands to love their wives just as Christ loved the church. This seemingly puts men and women at equal terms as Daly seeks to argue by claiming that women become more like men when they are pious and faithful. In fact, the Genesis story depicts the man as the God-ordained leader of the home. However, the husband can help his wife to obey and submit to him by obeying God’s command to love his wife (Stelzer 1). It is also true that although God designed man and woman differently, he created both of them in His own image and hence their equality. This correlates with Daly’s assertion that the name of their sex bounds women thus shows that women are different from men if they are not pious and faithful. Notably, Mary Daly uses qualifiers and exceptions to support her claims as seen in the Toulmin model (“Colorado State University” 1). Mary Daly uses the qualifier “more” to explain that women can be equal to men if they are pious and faithful. On the other hand, Daly uses the exception “if they are not” to show that women can only be equal to men under certain conditions otherwise the name their sex, shows women to be different from men. The use of the qualifiers and exceptions in Mary Daly’s claims is effective in supporting and cementing her argument since it addresses all the dynamics of her argument. They help us to understand that men and women are physical different but women can be equal to men under certain spiritual terms. Woman came from the man’s rib and not from his head to rule over him and not from his feet to be trampled upon by him (Stelzer 1). Indeed, the use of the man’s ribs sought to make the woman equal with the man where the man would provide love and protection to the woman. Again, the idea of submission suffices throughout the Bible and depicts the authority structure established by God where the man is also under authority. In the genesis story as well as in the modern and traditional societies, women played the responsibility of helping their husbands. Notably, the role of offering help is a fundamental responsibility that depicts the possession of substantial strength and capacity. As such, the woman does not occupy a weaker position in the family set-up. However, many obstacles can prevent women from serving God better thus giving men a better chance to achieve Christ-like qualities. Nevertheless, this does not make women less humane. The Bible is not a feminist manifesto but has a patriarchal thrust (Pardes 1). Indeed, we can criticize the punishment of Eve in the Genesis story since Adam was still in authority while Eve was committing the crime. Indeed, Mary Daly condemns patriarchal religious institutions and asserts that women living in such institutions are worse than the dead ones (Ruggerio 1). Notably, the modern society disregards “patriarchal” cultures by allowing women to participate in powerful positions like in politics and administration just like men (Stelzer 1). The Genesis story is the warrant upon which Daly bases her understanding of “patriarchal” culture, and the evidence she uses justifies her criticism of the “patriarchal” culture. Works Cited “Colorado State University.” Analyze The Claim. 2013. Web. 29 October 2013. < http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/page.cfm?pageid=1244> “NPR.” Mary Daly and “Un-biting the Apple”. April 15, 2013. Web. 29 October 2013. < http://religionandsex.umwblogs.org/2013/04/15/mary-daly-and-un-biting-the-apple/> Pardes, Ilana. Creation according To Eve: Beyond Genesis 3. 2013. Web. 29 October 2013. < http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/creation-according-to-eve-beyond-genesis-3> Ruggerio, Alena. Remembering Mary Daly. 2013. Web. 29 October 2013. < http://www.eewc.com/Articles/remembering-mary-daly> Stelzer, Becky. Inferior or Equal. 2007. Web. 29 October 2013. < http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v2/n1/inferior-or-equal> Read More