If the Pope Wants Women’s Equality, He Must Support Reproductive Rights
On Wednesday, Pope Francis spoke about women’s equality in St Peter’s Square, calling the wage gap between men and women a “pure scandal” and calling for “radical equality between men and women” (at least, he did in the Vatican’s English translation in the original Italian, he called for equality between spouses).
“Why is it taken for granted that women must earn less than men? No! They have the same rights.”
Pope Francis the feminist? Well … not so fast.
True equality for women or wives - even economic equality - is dependent on access to birth control and abortion, which is something I suspect Pope Francis won’t come out in favor of anytime soon. So while it’s nice that one of the world’s preeminent religious leaders believes in fair wages for fair work, the sentiment rings hollow for women who know what it really takes to have equality in the workforce and beyond.
More: If the Pope Wants Women’s Equality, He Must Support Reproductive Rights