feminine-genius: From the other side of the pond

Available now from Servant Books

How exciting! Genevieve's first book, The Authentic Catholic Woman, is available from Servant Books now by calling 800-488-0488. With a forward by Christopher West, this work offers a spiritual and practical outline to help all women understand God's plan for their lives.
From Father Roger Landry:
"Genevieve Kineke does all of us a great service in this important new book. Through her profound yet clear exposition of the authentic femininity of the Church as the paradigm for Catholic women today, she not only provides concrete, practical help for women seeking holiness amidst the joys and struggles of married, religious or single life, but provides all Catholics, men and women, with a much deeper understanding of what the Church is and how we, in the Church, are called to respond to Christ and others. This book will nourish every disciple."

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From Benedict XVI
“People have realized that the complete removal of the feminine element from the Christian message is a shortcoming from an anthropological viewpoint. It is theologically and anthropologically important for woman to be at the center of Christianity."
Anger and Patrimony (from Donna)
This is just another of the unintended consequences of the cultural acceptance of contraception and abortion! Men's sexuality has been robbed of its creative essence. It is now viewed as something that imposes a burden on women (when conception happens to occur), something used to control women or something that is purely recreational. Why would men bother?? In taking away their responsibility, we've also robbed them of their significance! In the big picture of humanity, men have been made into nothing more than a nuisance women have to figure out how to control in order to bring about the next generation. Men don't see it as their task to protect the vulnerable because they see themselves as the vulnerable ones. A few well preserved vials of sperm would make men entirely obsolete in the world's ethos today!!
Excellent, Dom! (from Teresa)
That is astounding Robin, and good for you for standing up. At the heart of that matter, I think, is even worse than a gender mixing message. There is an increased sharper and sharper focus on the "self." Solid Catholic teaching returns our focus away from ourselves to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The original sin, Eve denied her womanhood when she desired to be like "gods." Since the only god she knew was the Father. Where was Adam? He stood impotent... in other words, they were divorced. There's a young girl at Robin's son's high school who was just told that she is the center of the universe and it's a tragic disservice to her.
Find the logic (from "me")
Ditto what Mary said! A lot of high schools have very poor math and science depts, for boys and girls. I also am educated as a chemical engineer, but chose to teach the two years before we had children because its hours were more suited to spending time with children. (I was looking ahead). When it came time and I was pregnant with our first, I realized that I did not want to leave him with someone else, and was able to stay home full time. I am not sure it would have been that easy if we were used to another engineering income and not just a private school teacher income. Also some of my first job offers were out on oil rigs - I had no interest in that at all even though I enjoyed my engineering classes and did well in them. No one discouraged me from an engineering job, on the contrary I got a lot of flack for my decision not to pursue an engineering career.
Find the logic (from Mary)
I've been lurking, but this is one that irritates me. Beats the heck out of me what these "barriers" are. I was educated as a chemical engineer, where 1/3 of our class was women. However, in electrical engineering, only 1 or 2 out of 30 were women. Is it possible that women are Just Not Interested in some areas? Nah, it must be The Man keeping us down so we must legislate (and, I agree -- when they say "legistlate", I hear "quota"). And actually, I have a friend that was also a chemical engineer. When she lost her job, she decided not to go back into engineering and started working from home so she could spend more time with her 3 kids. Also, if nothing else, there are all kinds of incentives for women to enter science and engineering -- scholarships not available to men, guaranteed housing on campuses that do not guarantee housing to the general population, etc. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that schools in general are not preparing students for the hard sciences. It is truly a sad state of affairs, the lack of science education these days.

Pope Benedict's Monthly Prayer Intentions

General intention: "That there may be an increase in the number of those who, as volunteers, offer their services to the Christian community with generous and prompt availability."
Missionary Intention: "That the World Youth Day held in Sydney, Australia, may awaken the fire of divine love in young people and make them sowers of hope for a new humanity."

A short while ago, this blog noted the clash of cultures when one cricket team in India introduced American-style cheerleaders. This excellent column takes the debate further, in questioning first, why the cheerleaders differ from the degrading sexual escapades currently emanating from "Bollywood," and secondly, whether such promiscuity in general is helpful to women overall:

Indian sexuality — in films, advertisements, magazines, public discourse — is today as unapologetically raunchy as anywhere else in the world. And maybe that’s what’s at the heart of the cheerleaders debate — and it’s a point that we have all entirely missed. Is manufactured sexuality really a mark of liberation for women? Or have we just internalised all the worst clichés of post- feminist clap-trap in the name of emancipation?

In our attempt to break Indian women free from the conventional orthodoxy of right-wing moralists, have we just replaced one kind of stereotype with another? And with one that is as oppressive and unforgiving?

She argues her way into the classical liberal trap that says that 1. any restriction on speech or behaviour is reprehensible; and 2. any idea that aligns a theoretician with "right-wing moralists" has to be eschewed out of hand. Thus she has to defend freedom to be trashy, abortion on demand, and women's liberation in all forms; no wonder that she finds herself stewing about "raunch culture" in all its glory.

Hey, if "moralism" is your unequivocal enemy, then anything goes. That would be your "cul-de-sac of choice," my friend.

Speaking Engagements

February 28th, 2009 Peoria, IL
Bishop's Commission on Women--Day of Recollection
October 10-12, Aberdeen WA
Southern Deanery of the Seattle ACCW
3 May, 08 -- Harrisburg, PA
Diocesan-sponsored day of reflection for women
5 March, 08 -- Saint Patrick's Parish, Natick MA
WINGS program
10 Feb, 08 -- Congress for Women, Rome, Italy
Pontifical Council for the Laity, 20th Anniversary Observance of Mulieris Dignitatem
Contact info
Kindly email me at gskineke [at] dignityofwomen.com for me to speak to your parish or women's group.

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