Blog 1 (Dellafemina)

Christina Della Femina

WGS 3463-995 Women in Abrahamic Traditions

Blog/Essay 1

            The first creation narrative read in Genesis 1:1-2:3 proves equality for both genders. Genesis 1:27 says that “god created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them”. The first mention of the creation of people was not divided by gender; it is described as humankind. As this gives the reader a sense of equality, God then differentiates the genders by calling them man and woman and commands them “have dominion…over every living thing that moves upon the earth” (Gen 1:28). However, man are still mentioned to have been created before woman, which gives the sense of man being primary. 

            The second creation narrative creates a different image of gender in that it creates a hierarchy between the two. The first mention of gender occurs when God creates man from dust and put him into Eden to till and keep it (Gen 2:7-15). Man is told what he is allowed to do and not do (Gen 2:16-17), which creates a hierarchy where man is inferior to God. It is then decided that man needs a partner, and after all animals are deemed unfit for this position, God creates woman from the rib of man (Gen 2:18-22). Use of the word partner would likely give the impression of equality between the two, but that is not the case. John Chrysostom insists that because Eve was created from Adam’s rib she is his equal (Stewart 46), but that is merely one interpretation. God removes the rib from Adam, and he is able to live and function. If woman is the rib of Adam, then it is can be said that man can live without woman; she is unnecessary. The inferiority of woman continues when she is referred to as “his wife” (Gen 2:25) rather than woman. 

The behaviors and attitudes towards women can be greatly attributed to the presentation of gender in the second creation story told in Genesis. In Women’s Bible Commentary, Anne Stewart points out that many of those who have interpreted the bible put emphasis on the latter creation narrative (46). That alone creates a whirlwind of injustices that women have dealt with for years. That one line shaped a belief that woman would continually have to fight against even in the modern age. Frankly, both versions of the story created a division between gender. Both narratives create man before woman, which sets up the idea that women are somehow secondary to men. Regardless of woman being taken from Adam's rib in the second creation story, she is still secondary to him; an afterthought.