Case Studies
- Because of what you do, more men see that women can be competent and reliable, making a solid contribution that commands respect. I predict you will find more and more of them willing to "take a chance" on you.
- You pave the way for other women, especially in your field. As a result of your work, more of us will find acceptance, even appreciation, in areas women have had difficulty penetrating.
- Frustrating as you find the limitations placed on women’s activities in societies like Korea’s, you can play a key role in helping the men of such cultures open their mind to the possibility of women’s contributions. You may not yet be able to work in Korea, but every contact of yours with a Korean man can deal a devastating blow to his prejudices.
THE CASE OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSULT
Lion’s Den Situation:
I am a planner of major technical projects. When working for a consulting firm recently, I asked to join a team for a project in Korea. But I could not be considered because I am a woman.
The project was related to my specialty, my technical competence is unquestioned, and I have the international experience and the cross-cultural view important to such projects.
This situation is neither unique nor very extreme for women in business over-seas. A Christian sister from another country took a low-paying position at a university rather than a good one at a corporation because in the corporation, a sexual liaison with the her executive was a condition of employment.
How can we as Christian women deal with the anger, rejection and frustration? Moreover, how can we change our workplace (without buying into worldly feminism)? How should a Christian woman handle herself in this competitive world? How can she handle being "on trial" for her sex? How can we go as Christ’s representatives to the international marketplace, if we can’t be sent? —E.M.T., Philadelphia
Christian Solution:
Our first reply comes from Dr. Joyce Main Hanks, who has taught French literature at the University of Costa Rica, Central America for over two decades.
Years ago, as I approached adulthood, my mother warned me: "You’re going to discover it’s difficult out there for competent women. Often you’ll find yourself in a subordinate position to men less gifted than you, just because of your sex." She didn’t give any guidelines I can recall for dealing with the hurt and loneliness, but she warned me I would experience them too.
The world is unfair. Not just to women, of course; oppressed groups of all stripes face similar problems. Ethnic minorities, foreigners—the list seems practically endless. All of us feel frustrated as we are rejected because of what we are, instead of being valued for what we can do. Unfortunately, we cannot change the label the world pins on us, and it blocks out acceptance again and again. God’s obvious, delighted approval of us makes a tremendous difference, but he does not eliminate the problems we face. However, your situation offers us hope in at least three ways:
Such a pioneering ministry proves costly. You risk unnecessary failure unless you find a small group where you can vent your frustrations freely and experience the love, healing and forgiveness you need. Unfortunately, in the present state of things, such a group may be composed entirely of women. But we may find men sympathetic enough to understand the problems we face as women, and to pray with us. Christian feminist groups often have a sprinkling of male members and sympathizers, a source of hope and encouragement for us all.
Peacemaking needs to be occur between women and men as well as between nations, of course. You may well find yourself sent as peacemaker to both these situations. Sometimes peacemaking involves saying hard things, even shocking people, as in the time I refused to serve as secretary to a parachurch group that traditionally allowed its women no other role. Expressing my reason lovingly—not countering rejection with rejection—demanded more of me that I had thought I could give.
At this point we may part company with some aspects of traditional feminism. We want to avoid an explosion of anger that might distract from the meaning of our protest, or detract from its impact. As we deal with our frustrations in a context somewhat separate from the marketplace, we can receive strength to make decisions and protests thinking mainly of others rather than reacting in anger stemming from our personal situation.
As women, we now find ourselves welcomed in numberless contexts previously closed to us. As you continue patiently on the cutting edge, you will help open the remaining closed places, and solidify some of the gains we have made.
Our next reply is from the late Paul Taylor, who, at the time this article was written was a retired architectural engineer and Dupont executive. Mr. Taylor spent about eight years on assignment in four different Latin American countries.
When things are stacked against you, it is more important than ever to draw on the positives. Christians often underplay the tremendous advantages they bring to the marketplace, even the international marketplace. In some situations, Christians are chosen because they are the best choice. Christians in China today have a reputation for consistently and steadily producing high quality work. Their values enable them to adjust to international cultures. Mature Christians will have an appreciation of others, an ability to see things on balance, a desire to reach out in hospitality and a deep integrity—all things that are selling points with corporations seeking to place people in international settings.
Once you’ve evaluated your strengths—not just your technical strengths, but those you bring as a Christian—you need to target your efforts. It might be appropriate for you to start in a country where the role of women is more acceptable, perhaps one with highly visible women in government. You can select industries that have been historically more open to women, industries such as banking and insurance. Or try entering a country through the university system first. There are also certain companies that have a reputation today for giving women more opportunities.
Train yourself in a targeted manner for entry into top positions. Do not rely on joining a company at entry level and working the system to the position you want. Develop a skill that uniquely moves you into a high level, specialized spot. Then time your approach. Never try to move in against incumbency. Look for some sort of a vacuum in skills or leadership as your entry opportunity. If your position is high enough, and if they need you badly enough, your gender will be less of an issue.
Develop a manner of dealing with men that strikes an appropriate chord in the culture. Each culture allots only a few role models of leadership to women (or men, for that matter). In many cultures women in the workplace are regarded much like the "mistress" and lover. In the same cultures, however, men may have a high regard for their mothers as leaders. Adopting the style and mannerisms of a mother-leader will smooth the road to acceptance in those cultures.
We are called to be ambassadors for Christ and for His kingdom. Prepare yourself so that your whole approach to the country you are serving will broadcast all that you stand for.
In the Lions Den, Marketplace Networks, Summer 1989, pages 15, 16
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