In the chapter, ‘Promoting Women’s Dignity in the Church and Society in Hong Kong’, Mary Yuen explores the role of women in the Church circles based on the understanding of the Christian faith and various teachings. Mary Yuen says that it was not until the 1960s that the women in North American and Europe finally began to be treated more or less equal, and the church became more responsive to the issue of gender equality (Yuen, 2014).
Despite advancement in women’s rights, Mary Yuen believes that the Catholic Church, especially the Chinese church communities still have an array of reservations about the feminist theology. Although some people maintain that feminism is part of the Western society and may not be suitable for Asian or Chinese society, Yuen (2014) believes that “these theologies developed into diversified forms according to different contexts” (p.124).
The positive developments in the treatment of women were achieved with the help of the Church leaders from Vatican and Asia who have provided guidance and encouragement in fostering gender equality and protection of women’s dignity. The central question that Yuen raises is whether the practice of Church leadership is adequate if applied to gender justice and equality. Yuen believes that people should not seek leadership only from the top level of the Church hierarchy; she maintains that regular people in Churches are also leaders who may give inspiration to other believers and help them follow the right path.
Mary Yuen believes that globalization has had a dramatic impact on society, particularly on the underprivileged women. Yuen attempts to show the reader the globalization impact by sharing the experiences of two women in real-life contexts. The two women, arrived in Hong Kong in search of a better life, and as globalization came, both experienced financial difficulties and had to adjust to the way of life, bear the unfair treatment from employers, and try to seek help from the society leaders.
Yuen places the women’s position in the context of religious teachings such as Papal Social Teachings, the Asian Church Teachings, and Social Teachings on women’s place in the church. A number of Catholic feminists theologians criticize the Papal teachings maintaining that women’s role as Church leaders diminishes as they are expected to nurture and care for the family (Yuen, 2014). Yuen agrees that, according to the papal teachings, women are not always allowed to exploit their potential and choose their role in society. The social teachings also lack women’s voice in the decision making process (Yuen, 2014).
Although the Church’s teachings have their limitations, some women in Hong Kong have managed to take an advantage of the social teaching principle which states that all human persons irrespective of their status and background are created equal in the eyes of God, and that all women and men may enjoy the same dignity (Yuen, 2014). Some women in Hong Kong succeeded in taking an advantage of this tenet and became religious leaders in religious ministries.
Yuen refers to Sister Ann Gray, who had worked in Hong Kong for more than ten years protecting the rights of women. Sister Ann Gray researched the sex workers’ industry and came to a startling conclusion that most of them were forced to become sex workers because they were earlier mistreated and neglected by society. Having set up an outreach mission, Sister Ann worked to help the women and make them feel part of the community.
Interestingly, her initial attempts were disapproved of by other Church members and it was not until a few years later that her mission and her belief came to be shared and supported by other Church representatives.
With all the positive developments that have been made in the Church and its vision of women, Yuen still sees several shortcomings present in the religious teachings and practices. Despite that, more and more religious laypeople are able to employ the principles of social teachings and become full-fledged members of the ministries and serve as inspiration and role models for others.
Works Cited
Mee-Yin Yuen, Mary. “Promoting Women’s Dignity in the Church and Society in Hong Kong-Inspirations from Church Leaders and Women Christians as Leaders.” Feminist Catholic Theological Ethics: Conversations in the World Church, Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church. Ed. Linda F. Hogan and Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator. New York: Orbis Books, 2014. 123-136. Print.