Is a woman's place in the home?

The early church had a lot of female leaders. It was only after a couple of hundred years or so was it decided that women were not suitable.

With you on that one, feetlebaum...

What clowns these bishops are -- one is reported (Bath & Wells) this morning as saying that the recent riots were 'spiritual'...

But why any woman would want to be a bishop, a manager in a throughly misogynist enterprise is beyond me. But then, many things are...

Difference and being complementary to each other are fine as long as there is fair division of labour and equal recognition for what each person brings to the relationship and society. I'm happy for stronger people to take on hard psysical tasks at home and I'm sure they don't mind me doing the intricate, fiddly things they find hard. At work, that could be very different, when we have technology and machinery that any gender could use. I struggle to get why men and women confine themselves to certain roles, though, especially when they miss out on the benefits of having done them. I do think that there should be some adjustment for women bearing and feeding babies so that they aren't disadvantaged when they get to retirement age, and this is still evidently not happening everywhere.

I don't think men are superior but I do think men and women are different. Not just on the obvious physical level but mentally too. Now of course this is a generalisation and there will always be men and women who make a lie of the rule but on the whole men tend to be physically stronger and more logical in thought. Women tend to be more intuitive and have stronger language skills. Men and women are equal in that they evolved to create one whole it's just that they bring different characteristics and skills to that whole.

I'm now quaking behind the sofa waiting for the hail of incoming

Always a mistake to want to BE the same rather than being accorded the same opportunities, respect & value regardless of gender (and all the other isms!!)

I just wonder if, because we have endeavoured so hard to achieve equal rights - never mind superiority - (incidentally I have always said I don't need equality, I have always been superior) - but carrying on.... we have encourage the 'ladette' culture, which seems to exist amongst many young women today?

Think men do have bigger brains..it's to keep all the useless facts they feel the need to store! Small and efficient brains belong to women!

She has some theory about them having bigger brains. I think it's the convolutions rather than the size that counts? Anyway I thought size didn't matter. At least that's what men keep telling us!

Don't hold your breath!

Good luck with that, petallus!

Some time ago I was surprised to find a letter written by me when I was in my early twenties saying I believed men were superior to women. I've no idea why I thought it but it may have been because they seemed to occupy all the powerful positions in society and had a sort of gravitas and certainty about themselves that women in those days did not have. I think I expected that any future partner would be stronger than I was and take the lead and be wise and look after me.

I have been horribly disappointed throughout my life on this score.

Incidentally, I became a radical feminist in my thirties/forties.

I'd be interested to know why Nonu thinks men are superior. I like to think I'm open to different points of view but I would like some back up in terms of evidence so over to you Nonu

Of course, for Christians, the first manifestation of the "the Word made Flesh" was through the medium of a woman. I should have thought this should give women first dibs at a bishopness/bishopicity/bishoptude.

On another point, although it may sometimes seem that men and women are different races, they do both belong to the same species.

I have just been listening to 'Sunday' on Radio 4, which was mainly about the synod's vote on whether to adjourn the debate about women bishops. One woman asked a very pertinent question: Has the Church of England actually asked its ordinary members if they care about the gender of their bishops? Or does most of the opposition come from men who can't take the competition for the top jobs?

How do you feel that we as a friend suggested to me the other day we should step out of our comfort zone , or am I being "provocative" hum !!!

No, not worth debating when you are just being provocative, Nonu

As somebody said not really worth the trouble of of a debate we all have our opinions , they may differ , but we are entitled to them You may have a different different idea

Nonu Men and women can do all sorts of things well and should not be limited by gender stereotypes. I am a feminist but that does not prevent me being happily together, for 41 years, with my DH! I have cared for my children, held down a ft responsible job etc and so has he!

Or certifiable!

Anyone who thinks men are the superior race has got to be a bloke!

In that case, not worth the trouble of a debate!

We seem to have had a conversation similar to this before with Nonu.
Nonu, wasn't it you who insisted that men were a superior race?

I'm a widow. Very happy on my own now I've got used to it.
I wouldn't want a man telling me what to do!
I think women are still oppressed and second class citizens!
I have fought against this all my life and will continue to do so!

Nonu, are you by any chance a bloke?

Same here, Greatnan