The Taming of the Shrew and Christian Relationships

What’s My Role? Who Am I? How Do I Act In Relationships? 1. The Taming of the Shrew is a play about the power struggle between men and women to be in control. Petruchio exhibits male stereotypical behavior to control Katharina, while Kate uses her foul tongue and manipulations to try to get what she wants. We see this in relationships all the time, and it is directly spoken against in the scriptures. Unfortunately, it is a reality of our society. In fact, statistically, 50% of all Christian marriages will end in divorce which is the same as the national average. Why do you think that is? How does it relate to our discussion of gender roles, stereotypes, and being renewed by Christ daily? What, if any part, does each person’s desire for power have to do with the decline of the relationship? What can you do now to ward against the behaviors that could lead to divorce in the future?

I think that Christian marriages end just as easily when a spouse gets off track and breaks their relationship with God resulting in breaking their marriage. When spouses disagree with their roles in their relationship, they might often fight and argue ending up permanently damaging their relationship. The main things you can do to ward off the behaviors that could lead to divorce in the future are all based on the fruit of the spirit. Galatians 5: 22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Oliphant 2

If people would practice these important values in everyday life, then relationships would grow and become stronger instead of tearing apart. The first step is love. Love should be everlasting like God’s love for us. Joy should be one of your highest goals. In having joy friends are made and good memories occur. Peace is the next quality and a missing piece in the world. If you can keep peace, be agreeable and not seek an opportunity to be right, but for an opportunity to create peace and joy in any relationship then divorce would be ten times less likely. Forbearance and keeping your cool is more difficult for some than others.

This goes along with peace, because if you pursue a strong self control, a stronger relationship will grow. Kindness and goodness such as simple favors like holding a door mean more than they appear. It says that you have enough time to help someone even if they are fully capable. In this you are proving you have manners which might just show you have a good strong personality. Faithfulness is an enormous necessity in a relationship. It shows you will believe when you say in your vows “till death do us part”. Gentleness and self control show you aren’t going to abuse yourself or others like your partner. Faithfulness and self control make up 75% of a relationship in my opinion. All of these traits should be the basis of all serious relationships before marriage. 2. What are the main stereotypes of your gender? In what ways are they correct? Which of the stereotypes do you possess? Which ones about your gender bother you the most? Why?

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Which of these stereotypes do you fall into most easily when your mind is not being renewed daily by Christ? Which ones do you want God to change about you before you get into a relationship (friendships or romantic)?

The main stereotype of my gender that bothers me the most is when people, generally males, tell women to do things that the man himself is very capable of doing. There are a lot of sexists in the world and our culture is one of the most demeaning towards women. From our jobs to our songs, everything is becoming demeaning to women. The most famous songs, rap and all genres, talk mostly about the female body. One of the worst parts of this stereotype is that it is the women who sell their bodies as prostitutes, and the women who are too flirtatious. These are the women who have given the whole gender a false record of being needy and easy.

Accusations like these happen to both genders but more to women, in my opinion. Ever since the beginning of time, woman has been subject to male, which I think is wrong. I believe everyone should have as close to equal power as possible. From taking out the trash to cleaning, I believe the work should be split as close to equally as possible depending on the couples’ jobs. Another thing women often get mistaken for is the idea of a house wife who does nothing but waste money, while all the hardworking women are automatically taken as wasteful. This idea comes from all of the reality TV shows about rich women, which in reality these shows are anything but real.

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In all I believe as Christians we should not listen to all the stereotypes and we should look deeper into a person’s heart, because what you think about someone does not matter if it is not true. Only what you know about someone really matters.

4. Theologians (people who are educated and or teach the scriptures) suggest that there are two ways of viewing the relationship between man and woman. Read the arguments for both sides and determine which one reflects your beliefs about the roles of men and women at home, in society, and in church. Use the scriptures you feel best support your view and incorporate them into your paragraph with explanation. What is it about the other view you disagree with? A. Complementarian: This view affirms that men and women are equal in the image of God, but maintain complementary differences in role and function (men and women have different roles to play that together create a complete picture) b. Egalitarian: This view affirms that men and women are equal in the image of God and in their roles/functions, mutually submitting to each other.

I disagree with the Complementarian view because I think women and men were created alike, not for one to serve the other. These quotes from the bible help show this view. Romans 16:7 says “Junia was a female apostle.” To me means this if man and woman can have the same job, then they are capable of doing everything alike. Man and woman have all been created in the image of Christ, so there should not be such a bold line between their gender roles. Oliphant 5

Christ talks equality all throughout his time on earth and I believe he meant what he said. We have proof of this in Galatians 3:28. “In Christ there is no male or female”. This tells me that equality of gender is a true and right thing, mainly because if we are all the same in the eyes of God, then we should be the same in everyone’s eyes. Paul also allowed women to teach in Romans 16:1-6 and Philippians 4:2-3. This shows us we should be able to have the same jobs and social statuses. “Joel emphasized that when God poured out His Spirit, women as well as men would prophesy (Joel 2:28-29).” If men and women prophesy the same, should not almost all they do be value the same? Men and women should be treated, respected, loved, and honored the same, for we are all sons and daughters of God. I know that men and women are created the same, and both are born with human nature. I have faith in this because “slaves can be saved and also receive gifts for ministry equally, so can Gentiles so can women.” If this is true and women, slaves, and men alike can be saved from eternal death by accepting Jesus Christ into our hearts then we will all follow the same path and have many hardships but in the end God loves us all the same. And so our differences are settled.