What Is a Woman?

Women have come a long way since the days when they were considered a mere appendage to a man or property. Today, women are thriving in the workplace and are gaining ground on their male counterparts. In fact, many younger generations prefer to work for companies that prioritize gender diversity in leadership roles. This is likely because these organizations are more likely to foster team building, which in turn leads to better morale and productivity.

In her talk “Ain’t I a Woman?”, feminist writer Bell Hooks argues that when people ask what a woman is, we must consider more than just our sex. Instead, she suggests, we must consider our experiences, expressions, behavior and identity. Then, we must add to that definition the idea of a woman’s capacity for deep feminine love and empathy. We must also consider that a person’s experience of being a woman is often different depending on her race, history and culture. Then we must recognize that the word woman has a variety of spellings and pronunciations: from its Latin origin to the slang words (wom, womxn) that are now used to describe a person’s identity or political stance.

Sadly, we live in a world where the word “woman” is used to discriminate against some groups of people, including those who are raped or have abortions and who are suffering from other forms of gender-based violence. We still have a long road ahead of us until all women have equal representation in politics, and are free from violence, whether physical or mental, and sexual assault. We must fight for their rights to access safe, affordable healthcare, to be able to decide if, when and with whom they want to have children, and to be able to choose their own career paths.

Finally, we must remember that women are made in the image of God and that the answer to the question of what a woman is must begin with that truth. As Catholics, we believe that when the angel knelt before Mary, he reverenced not her chromosomes or gender identity but the fact that she was chosen by God to bear his son.

The question we should really be asking is how can we support women and girls to be their best selves? Fortunately, there are many ways to do so. For example, employers can help by implementing structured interview practices, diverse hiring panels and objective promotion criteria. They can also create flexible policies that allow employees to balance their responsibilities and make room for family and friends. This will give women the freedom to lead, without fear of burning out. And they can encourage female leaders to speak up and advocate for themselves and their colleagues. By making it easier for women to thrive at work, we can create a better world for everyone.