Macierzyństwo i dziewictwo w teologii feministycznej : stanowisko Elizabeth A. Johnson

Abstract

One of the most important questions in feminist theology is a problem of the social roles of women. Among them there are two distinctive roles – of a mother and of a virgin. Elizabeth Johnson, as a feminist theologian, also considers these questions and proposes the following interpretation. Maternity is seen by Johnson as an experience of happiness, suffering and also as a source of women’s strength. Johnson protests against the stereotypical thinking of a mother as a tender guardian. She highlights that a mother is able to be an aggressive defender of her children. She emphasizes that a woman has a value in herself and not only in being a mother. This way she wants to liberate women from the pressure of being mothers and from their total sacrifice for the sake of their children. Virginity is understood by Johnson as sign of women’s autonomy. She underlines that Mary’s virginity must be interpreted in a spiritual way in order to avoid creating grounds for depreciation of feminine sexuality.