Some women are quick to point out that they deserve equal status, authority, rights and respect as men. They often claim that they can lead just as good as men or often even better. This often causes conflict in churches, households, secular organizations and even in politics.

However, historically this was not the case. The rulers of most countries were always men with a few exceptions. In most religions, the spiritual leaders were mostly male. The bible was written by only men.

But today, men and women are treated equally in almost all societies including Christian households.

What changed?

In 1848, the first Women's Rights Convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. Initially they demanded a right to vote in the United States, but later as more women became involved who also demanded more authority and recognition in other areas of society. These feminist movements gradually led to changes in laws and social norms that gave women equal rights with men.

• 1866 (Philadelphia, USA): American Equal Rights Association (AERA) was founded by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony
• 1869 (Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA): Became the first territory or state to grant women the right to vote.
• 1913 (Washington, USA): Thousands of women marched through the city to demand voting rights.
• 1920 (Nashville, USA): Women was granted the right to vote nationwide.
• 1963 (Washington, USA): The Equal Pay Act was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy, it prohibited employers from paying men and women differently for equal work.
• 1964 (Washington, USA): The Civil Rights Act was signed into law which prohibited employment discrimination based on gender.
• 1970 (New York City, USA): Thousands of women participated in a strike to demand equal rights in education, employment, and politics.
• 1970 (Chicago, USA): The first abortion, the Jane Collective, clinic was established.
• 1971 (USA): Title IX of the Education Amendments, signed by President Richard Nixon prohibited gender-based discrimination in educational institutions receiving federal funding.
• 1972 (USA): The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was proposed to amend the U.S. Congress to include equal rights for women. It also sparked discussions of equal rights between spouses and mutual respect in relationships.
• 1973 (USA): The US Supreme Court ruled that a woman's right to an abortion is protected by the Constitution.
• 1979 (International): The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is an international treaty that sets out standards for eliminating discrimination against women.
• 1980 (USA): The Women's Health Movement advocates and pushed for greater access to reproductive healthcare and an end to forced sterilization.
• 1992 (Beijing, China): A global conference marked a turning point in the women's rights movement.
• 1993 (USA): The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was signed by President Bill Clinton to provided funding and resources to combat domestic violence and sexual assault.
• 2017 (Washington, USA): A global movement sparked in response to the inauguration of Donald Trump as the US president instead of his female rival.

Today we have the UN-Women programme, which is a key component of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To ensure even more privileges and power to women.

In addition, modern movies and adverts often depict women as goddesses and men as the weaker gender who are often at fault for all the problems that occur.

Although these movements accomplished many things at a governmental level, it no doubt influenced our culture and our society as well the role of women in households. For example, the Feminist movements encouraged:

• shared financial responsibilities
• shared decision-making
• shared parenting
• shared domestic responsibilities

Although these seems like fair qualities, the roles and responsibilities of men and women have been blurred. This often leads to anti-male sentiment, division in society and instability in families. Statistically the divorce rates and single-parent households had increased. In addition, it also increases anxiety for women as they are often expected to prioritize their careers above family relationships.

What is written in the Bible?

Feminism was not an issue in the biblical times. Therefore, there are very few scripture regarding this matter.

Women often quote Paul out of context to proof that women are equal to men, for example:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. -- Galatians 3:28 (ESV)

However, authority is not the issue here. Paul was making the point that God saves everyone who are "in Christ Jesus".

The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. -- 1 Corinthians 7:3-4 (ESV)

Paul was not making a statement about authority or women rights. Paul was addressing the issue of sexual interactions between a married couple to prevent the temptation to fall in sexual immorality with other partners. A few chapters later, Paul wrote:

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. -- 1 Corinthians 14:33-35

This implies that the church leadership and teaching should come from men and not women.

However, the Paul did commend Phoebe:

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant ("deacon") of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. -- Romans 16:1 (ESV)

Paul did not appoint her as the head of the church, but instead introduced her as "a servant of the church".

Women would also refer to Deborah as a leader of God's name to legitimize female leadership (Judges 4-5). However, Deborah became a leader in the absence of strong male leader in a time of crisis. The bible does not state why Phoebe was leading her congregation or why her leadership was approved by Paul.

Paul also wrote:

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. -- Ephesians 5:22-24 (ESV); Colossians 3:18

For husbands, it is very hard to love a rebellious wife, therefore Paul also encouraged husbands to love their wives (Ephesians 5:25-33).

Peter also supported this view:

Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. -- 1 Peter 3:1-2 (ESV)

This was not only an apostolic idea. God authorized these roles:

The LORD God said... "Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." -- Genesis 3:16 (ESV)

Although not explicitly stated, the mosaic laws further implied that men were in leading roles and had to take the responsibility for their actions, for example Exodus 21:10 and Deuteronomy 22:28-29.