Jean Vanier, Founder of L’Arche Community, has written a very interesting book entitled Man and Woman God Made Them, on the theme of the equal dignity of men and women in the light of the Biblical Genesis account. In his book, he explores the differences between man and woman, considering these a call to complement each other and an invitation to communion as the Genesis recounts so that the “two can become one.”

If we examine the Genesis account of humankind’s fall, it doesn’t blame the woman and neither man for their fall from grace or for being expelled from paradise. It only records their free choice in their breaking off communion with God. The differences between man and woman were not to determine who would dominate over the other but rather, they were bestowed to help men and women complement each other. The truth is simple—inequality enters into the picture when either of the two tries to rule over and manipulate the other. The problem of women’s subjugation or even that of men comes from the insensitivity of one sex over the other, consequently going against the very essence of humanity which is love.

Against this background, the history of humankind has been adversely influenced by structures of sins, which perpetuate the subjugation and repression of women, their enslavement through prostitution dens, their exploitation through pornography, etc.

Then with the passing of many centuries, and, in a particular way, through Christianity’s great respect for women, best exemplified in our love for the Blessed Mother, constant efforts to dismantle these structures of sin have been made. Especially in modern times, we are witnessing how the curse of the indiscriminate rule of man over woman, since time immemorial, is now slowly but surely being lifted.

What we are seeing could be the fulfillment of the apocalyptic prophecy of women winning over the dragon. Within this context in the 20th century, the great struggle of women against oppressive structures encouraged by a patriarchal mentality in a selfish way, and further aggravated by dictatorial and communistic regimes, now acquire special significance.

Such a struggle as women have waged in the last centuries to regain that “paradise lost” is so overwhelming that we cannot but admire them, aware as we are nonetheless, of the long list of women who have also contributed to the decay of an already fallen humankind.

Modern Popes, especially John Paul II, have attributed to the feminine genius the immense contribution of women to peace, harmony and brotherhood in present times. Who can forget Philippine president Cory Aquino who led a peaceful revolution that inspired the whole world, signaling the fall of dictatorial and autocratic regimes? Then other women leaders followed, like India’s Sonia Gandhi and Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi. Who can forget Helen Keller, who inspired people in the 20th and 21st century to care for people with disabilities; or Mother Teresa, for her love for the poor and marginalized; and Chiara Lubich for contributing to unity among Christian Churches, with members of world religions, and even with people who hold different convictions?

The fields of literature and cinema have been enriched by great women like Nobel Laureates Pearl Buck, Toni Morrison, and Herta Muller, and Oscar winners and nominees like Jane Campion and Sofia Coppola. In the field of human rights and care for the environment, we have Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai, and Dorothy Day, and in modern medicine, Madame Curie and Florence Nightingale, and for economics, Ellin Ostrom, the first woman Nobel Laureate in Economics who, by her research and studies, has shown that people can still be the center in economics disavowing consumerism and individualism as the prevalent behaviors in the market.

In modern popular literature we have authors like JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer, whose books have been on the best sellers’ list now for years, stimulating the imagination of many young people and helping them appreciate reading, which habit is waning in many people.

Indeed, nowadays, many women are on the frontlines, steering the rudder of human history, guiding it toward a future of hope and stability. These women have been true to their identity—not overpowering men, but complementing them, and creation as well. They point to the essentials which are relationship, communion and peace—universal longings of every person. In a real sense, these women make the future of the planet and the whole universe a safer and more secure place, both for our present generation, as well as for the coming ones.