Sophia Network

1943 Guide to Hiring Women

This made me smile - an article for Transportation Magazine from July 1943, written for male supervisors of women in the work force during World War II. It begins: 'There's no longer any question whether transit companies should hire women for jobs formerly held by men. The draft and manpower shortage has settled that point.' And then it continues with 11 tips on getting more efficiency out of women employees which includes such gems as:

• Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters.
• When you have to use older women, try to get some who have worked outside the home at some time in their lives. Older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy.
• General experience indicates that 'husky' girls - those who are just a little on the heavy side - are more even tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.
• Give the female employee a  definite day-long schedule of duties so that they'll keep busy without bothering the management every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but that they lack initiative in finding work themselves.
• Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day.
• Be tactful when issuing instructions or making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can't shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman - it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.
• Get enough size variety in operator's uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can't be stressed too much in keeping women happy.

It's a genuine article according to snopes, where you can download scans of the original pages. It's fascinating the assumptions it makes about why women work, what kind of work we are suited to and how we best work.

Bits and pieces: young people and mental health, women's question time and a job

Jo Fitzsimmons from FYT is hosting a day conference on Young People and Mental Health on 3 July from 10:30 to 3:30 at Christ Church, Selly Park, Birmingham. She's leading a day on self harm and eating disorders this weekend which has sold out, highlighting the need for youth workers to learn how to respond to wider issues of mental health.

Research indicates that at any one time over 10% of young people will experience significant mental health problems. By the end of their teenage lives it is estimated that around 40% of young people will have had some mental health issue to contend with. This event is an opportunity for youth workers to come together to share experiences, discuss topics and explore this often overlooked aspect of youth work and ministry. Stephen Bradley from the National University of Ireland, Galway will be there to share his insights. Tickets cost £10. More details including how to book can be found on this flyer

If you're in London on March 16th, there's a chance to question all potential Women's Ministers on their manifestos for women and girls before the general election. Confirmed candidates include Theresa May for the Conservatives, Lynne Featherstone for the Liberal Democrats and Caroline Lucas for the Green Party. It's being hosted by Eaves Housing for Women at Central Hall Westminster from 7-8:30pm. Tickets are free but you have to book in advance - details are on the Eaves website.

Finally Boost Felixstowe are recruiting a female student Christian youth worker to work as part of a committed team of staff and volunteers, working with young people in and around the Felixstowe area in a variety of settings from a Girls Group to the Boost Bus. This post includes study towards a BA Degree in Youth, Community Work & Applied Theology at Ridley Hall in Cambridge as part of the Centre for Youth Ministry. More details on this flyer or email Adrian Wolton

February update

How is it February already? This month will see the start of Lent and the joy, pain or indifference of Valentine's Day (depending on your perspective!) Have fun and take a moment to enjoy this month's update:

• The wounded healer, an inspiring article from Annie Weatherley-Barton on showing long-term commitment to marginalised people
• A review of Transforming Together by Sharon Prior
• A reflection and a rewriting of Psalm 23 by Jenny Baker

Don't forget our mentoring training events this month, in Maidstone on 6th February, Nottingham on 13th and Glasgow on 27th.

Article: The wounded healer by Ann M Weatherley-Barton

 Understanding and valuing self does not come in a vacuum but through God’s people expressing his love and commitment to others, especially to our marginalised and disenfranchised young people. Over many years both my husband and myself have discovered that only long-term commitment to young (and the not so young) offers anything that is really deep and abiding in people’s lives. We are totally committed for the long term with young people and anyone else who comes our way. We have found that without that conviction very little changes especially for those whose lives are in crisis.

In life-long process we have found, as Ken Leech put it so succinctly in his book, ‘The Eye of the Storm’, there is a need to ‘go through people’s hell with them’. For us it is at the heart of our mission and calling while also being at the very heart of the gospel. How can we expect anyone to understand what the love of God is and what it means unless we show them? Francis of Assisi reputedly said: “Always preach the Gospel and sometimes use words.” What a way to live your life. I wouldn’t say that has been my life’s song but if I try and sing this tune then I might be who God wants me to be.

I long rid myself of phrases like “discipling,” and even “getting alongside people” which I now find irksome because it smacks of me doing something to someone else that might or might not be what someone needs. All of a sudden I have come the ‘expert’ for someone else’s life and of course I have all the answers to all their problems. Of course I do. Then I become a “textpert,” finding the perfect biblical verse for every situation known to humanity! The desperate person gets lost in my arrogance, my knowledge and my sole intention of “sorting someone out”.

Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing bad about discipling as long as we are open and humble enough to recognise that we need to be discipled ourselves. Discipling needs to undertaken with a servant’s heart where arrogance and know-it-all attitudes have no place. I don’t even think about such words these days. I would rather spend my time listening and learning from others.

Caring for people on a long-term basis is not a walk in the park or an activity to boost our flagging self confidence, just so we can say: “Look what I’m doing!” We need to grasp the truths that the Bible teaches about what it means to be Christ-like and, we must know it deep in our hearts and spirits. It is a life-long learning curve. We have to go inward and outward in our spiritual walk. We must learn how to love ourselves in order to be able to truly love others. If we try and understand the depth of the love that cost Christ to hang on a cross for us and grapple with that sacrifice, then we may have our blueprint of how we need to be with and for others who are in total despair and on the brink of life.

Review: Transforming Together by Ele Parrott (Moody: 2009)

They say ‘never judge a book by its cover’ and this is definitely true for this book. I thought it was going to be the kind of ‘touchy feely’ book that you normally get when women write about mentoring other women, but this is certainly not true.

The author looks at spiritual mentoring from a very refreshing angle and uses examples from her own experience to support her theories; focusing on individuals she has met and how they have been transformed when faced with what the Bible says. It is based on Scripture, although on occasions I feel that she makes some tenuous links between what she wants to say and the verses she uses to back it up.

Chapter 5 is particularly good in my opinion, as it looks at mentoring in the way that Jesus did it and I liked Ele’s definition of mentoring. It is slightly narrow, but very succinct and she goes on to unpack it more.

She says that Jesus came alongside, partnered with the Holy Spirit working in people’s lives and infused truth into the person’s reality. I think her link between a person’s perception of the situation and the reality of it was very helpful and she goes on to talk about how we need to use the Scripture to speak truth into their reality. I think this is so important when mentoring; so often what passes for mentoring is just a nice chat over coffee, and while there is nothing wrong with that I would suggest that there is the potential for so much more. Ele puts forward the view that authentic mentoring is about building a relationship and then challenging with the truth of the Bible.

While the book is not an academic tome on mentoring as it is quite anecdotal in places, it is very easy to read and although I don’t necessarily agree with all her points I think there is enough in here to warrant a read.

Sharon Prior is a trainer, coach and mentor and is a co-founder of the Sophia Network

Reflection: Psalm 23 rewritten

David was a shepherd. Psalm 23 is his realisation that just as he cares for his sheep, so God cares for him, but in a much more perfect way. These weren’t just words on a page to David, but experiences that would have held a deep resonance for him because that's what he had done for his sheep. There’s also a sense of him letting go of his responsibilities and letting God carry them, allowing himself to be loved just as he loves. I wondered ‘Which of the roles that I have in life does God fulfil for me, but much better?’, and rewrote the psalm about being a mother.

Psalm 23 rewritten

The Lord is my mother; I shall not be in want.

She makes me lie down in fresh clean sheets and tucks me in and kisses me goodnight, and while I sleep she sorts everything out, ready for the morning.
She makes me cups of tea and ginger cake when I get home from school, and shepherds pie for supper with plenty of fresh vegetables.

She leads me away from the TV to the kitchen table
where we have space to talk without interruptions.
She listens to even the smallest of my worries and helps me get things in perspective.
She restores my soul.

She guides me through the mysteries of how to be a righteous woman, for her name’s sake.

Even though I walk past the bus stop
where the big boys threaten me
and the bitchy girls laugh at me,
I will fear no evil for you are with me.
Your strength beside me and your hand in mine,
they comfort and sustain me.

You prepare Sunday lunch for me in the presence of my enemies, to remind me that I’ll always have a place to belong.

You have every confidence in me and my future; you are my champion and my biggest fan.

My life overflows with the love you have given me from my very first breath to my first grey hair and beyond.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Jenny Baker is just ending a season as interim director of Greenbelt Festival, and is a co-founder of the Sophia Network

Women to Watch

The Cultural Leadership Programme has launched a search for the cultural and creative sector’s top 50 future female leaders - Women to Watch. The judging panel will be led by Jenni Murray OBE, Radio 4 presenter, who says, 'There are nowhere near enough women in positions of power and influence, whether it be in the cultural and creative industries or other sectors. We need to do everything we can to enable and encourage the next generation.'

The list will be announced on 10 March 2010 to mark International Women's Day and it will celebrate the achievements of some of the most ambitious and talented women in the cultural and creative industries. It follows a report on Women in Leadership in the sector which collected hard data on exactly how many women were working and in what roles. The report found that:

• male leaders outnumbers female leaders by 2.5 to 1
• 39% of the workforce in the creative and cultural sector is female, compared with 46% of the total UK workforce, so there are fewer women to consider for leadership roles
• women and men tend not to work together to lead creative and cultural industries - the pattern is for women to work with women and men to work with men

You can download the report at the bottom of this page, and find an interesting provocation piece that was used to initiate the research here.

I'd love to see both within the Christian sector - some research that collects hard data about where women are working in churches and Christian organisations and explores some different perspectives on the issues. And then a naming and celebration of women in positions of leadership and with potential, not to put them on a pedestal but, to borrow and adapt the words of David Kershaw who heads up the Cultural Leadership Programme, to 'give a new generation of women the confidence to aim higher and to serve as a challenge to Christian organisations and churches that need to improve in this area.' What do you think?

Boys - artistic and emotional?

New research into the merits of single-sex education for boys was presented at a conference for Heads of both private and state boys' schools this week. It's generally accepted that boys do better in mixed schools while girls do better in single sex schools, but this research argues that boys at single sex schools are more likely to 'get involved in cultural and artistic activities that helped develop their emotional expressiveness, rather than feeling they had to conform to the "boy code" of hiding their emotions to be a "real man" ', according to this report.

In mixed settings, the research argues, boys get demoralised when girls do better at reading earlier because their brains develop at a different rate, and quickly learn that it's better to be cool rather than study. In single-sex schools teachers can tailor lessons to boys' learning style, and boys feel less pressure to conform to gender stereotypes that they see in the media. Abigail Norfleet James, the author of the report, has written books on strategies for teaching male and female brains.

It's not surprising that single-sex schools will highlight research that shows that the way they do things is beneficial to their pupils; girls' schools have been doing that for years. Another study by Alan Smithers  argued that there's no benefit to single-sex education for either boys or girls, and that teaching boys in single-sex classes in coed settings failed to improve their performance. I think studies like these show that there are lots more factors influencing educational attainment than simply gender - for example, parental involvement, socio-economic background. And we need to have a good philosophy behind single-sex groups - what are we trying to achieve? How will young people benefit? What will they get here that they can't get in a mixed group?

Yvonne Lyon concert for Cambodia

This time last year, I went to Cambodia with Tearfund. Yvonne Lyon, a singer-songwriter, was also on the trip and it was wonderful to spend time with her. She has written some songs inspired by the experience of being in Cambodia and particularly by the time we spent in Toul Sleng, the genocide prison, which are on her new album Ashes and Gold - well worth a listen.

And those of you in the London area can catch her at a Concert for Cambodia on Friday 12 February:

Yvonne will be performing  songs from her new album Ashes and Gold, including those written  while she was in Cambodia with Tearfund. During  this two-set concert Yvonne will, alongside her beautiful music,  share her stories and photos from Cambodia. 'Just  stunning music' (Bob Harris, BBC Radio 2) Christ  Church New Malden: 93 Coombe  Road. New Malden. KT3  4RE Friday 12 February at  7:30pm Tickets are £10 each, and all  proceeds go to Tearfund Book early  to avoid disappointment. Book online: www.tearfund.org/concert

You can download a flyer for the concert here

Youth, Culture and Mission lectures 2010: Gender

The Youth, Culture and Mission lectures are designed for people who have studied youth ministry and theology and want to continue to think a bit more deeply on the subject. The inaugural lectures last year considered trinitarian youth ministry and this year the subject is very close to the Sophia Network's heart - gender! This promises to be an excellent day with input from Elaine Storkey on theology, Kristin Aune on recent research into gender,  Lois Gallagher on working with girls and James Hawes on working with boys. You can find out more on the YCML website. The lectures are happening twice: 18th March at LICC in London and 25th March at St George's Church in Leeds. Please book early to help our planning. Cost is £30 which includes lunch, with some concession tickets available - you should be able to claim this from your church or employer as part of your continuing professional development!

Mentoring to transform lives: in Luton on 16 January

 Our mentoring training programme for 2010 kicks off in Luton this Saturday. It'll be worth battling through any ice and snow for this excellent day with Sharon Prior and Paul Wilcox. Check out the mentoring training website for other dates and venues throughout the year - we'll be in Maidstone on Saturday 6th Feb, Nottingham on Saturday 13th Feb and Glasgow on Saturday 27th Feb plus more to come. Cost is just £15 for Sophia members and Friends which includes lunch and a pack of materials to support the day - bargain!

Living Dolls: the return of sexism

I'm looking forward to reading Natasha Walter's new book Living Dolls: the return of sexism when it's published next month.

There's an extract from it in today's Times Online, exploring the sexualisation of girls and young women, which ends with a great quote from Rachel Gardner of Romance Academy:

“Feminism is now seen as sexual promiscuity, which is such a narrow view of empowerment. Liberation isn’t just about promiscuity. For some women, liberation may be about having a new sexual partner every week, but for a lot of women it will be about finding someone to be with for your whole life, growing together over the years, and you never hear about that any more. What liberation means to me is that in any sexual relationship you are cherished and you cherish.”

Hopes and dreams for 2010: Sharon Prior

Here are my hopes and dreams for 2010:


that there will be groups of Christian women all over the UK meeting together regularly to celebrate their experiences of leadership;
that both Christian men and women will stand up and be counted when it comes to equality and justice for women in this country and overseas;
that more men are able to get involved in working with children and for that not to be treated with suspicion;
that young boys and girls are shown how to respect each other and work together without them having to fulfil stereotypes;
that we see men and women given opportunities dependent on their gifting and ability and not their gender;
that girls understand that they can be who they are called to be, rather than being constrained by cultural norms.

Sharon Prior teaches youth and children's ministry at Cliff College and is a co-founder of the Sophia Network.

Hopes and dreams for 2010: Ali Campbell

My Hopes for 2010 . . . that I do not need to ask, “Is that church leader pro-women”?  In terms of change for men - let us see “socialising as church” not the preserve of women-only or men-only activities, why can’t  “people” go for a curry night / make crafts for Christmas / meet for coffee and bible study . . . ? 

In the home, there is a balance of domestic responsibility that means jobs around the house or with the children are done in partnership as we submit to one another.  That flexible working for those in full time ministry means that men make the time for their families / children a priority and don’t see flexible working mean that time with children and family becomes flexible (i.e. dispensable) . . .

I hope that young women might grow in confidence in who they are, who they were created to be, that those young women who show maturity and passion and gifting and leadership potential are not overlooked because they are not men. 

I hope that teenage boys learn to respect themselves, not allow their insecurities to lead to a false bravado that puts others down, that they can learn to delight in positive friendships with male and female friends, that they too are encouraged to be who they genuinely are, as God has made them and, his finger prints on their lives are not despoiled by the narrow perspective of who and what a real man is supposed to be. 

That in all things the complementary nature of men and women living, loving and working collaboratively is seen as vital if we are to truly reflect the nature and attributes of God to the world.

Ali is married to Lisa and has two daughters, Hannah and Ellie.  When he isn’t being a husband and father he is the Adviser for work with children and young people in the Diocese of Chichester

Hopes and dreams for 2010: Mandy Marshall

My dream is the church would rise up and take action to end Violence Against Women, the church being a place of refuge and love to those suffering or surviving violence. That the church itself would speak up and break the silence of domestic abuse going on within its communities. That we would respond in love and grace. My hope is that the church would be united in action, no longer being sidelined on the issue but taking action and responsibility together.



My hope is to see a movement of men to speak to other men about relationships and bringing violence against women to an end. That men in the church would not come in and take over but would work in partnership with women in ending violence against women. My dream is that there would be many first men standing in their churches, families and communities , speaking out about domestic abuse and making a stand to end violence against women. 


I long for women in the church to be released to realise their full potential in life. To see a fresh perspective of the love of God that would give them a firm grounding and foundation in life to springboard into action. No longer living under the weight of expectations of society and pressures but so see things from a fresh perspectives that all things are possible through Christ who gives us strength. I long to see women living in violent situations released from this bondage that steals, destroys and kills and brought back into true freedom and love.

Mandy Marshall is Tearfund’s Programme Development Advisor of Gender. She is currently working on engaging Christians to end violence against women. To find out more please email mandy.marshall@tearfund.org

Hopes and dreams for 2010: Martin Saunders

What I'd really like to see is the church challenging the objectification of young women. Not because we want to campaign against the evils of pornography or the exploitation of certain individuals, but because of the wider effects that the proliferation of sexualised and objectifying images has on the average girl. The warped ideas about beauty and self-worth that many girls have is down in no small part to the ideas of womanhood that are implied and projected by advertising, MTV, magazines, Hollywood and more.



How do we challenge those things? By campaigning, organising, writing letters, praying for change - and above all, modelling something different. As youth workers, we need to help young men to understand and critique the messages they're receiving about women, and articulate for themselves a better and more christ-like way. We need to help young women to work through issues around self-image, and build their confidence in not conforming to what the world wants them to be.



It may seem like an insurmountable problem, but it's the sort of issue that I think we can kill by a thousand cuts. In 2010 let's all resolve not to allow the desecration of God's image - in men and women - by allowing objectification to continue unchecked and uncriticised.



Martin Saunders is the Editor of Youthwork Magazine


Hopes and dreams for 2010: Jill Garrett

 In 2010 I would like to see more teenage boys recognise their own worth and potential. I would like to see them feel that their views are valued by and valuable to adults, that their opinions count, that they have the potential to make life changing differences to others and that they are valued and loved because of who they are and not because of what they do or do not do.

Jill Garrett is Assistant Chief Executive, LT Consulting

Hopes and dreams for 2010: Andrew McCracken

My hope is that the UK church will find its voice to speak out on issues of gender and domestic violence; to speak intelligently and sensitively about domestic violence in the UK; and to look beyond its boundaries to the global issues of women and to speak and support those trying to bring equality.

Andrew McCracken is Director for UK churches at Tearfund

Hopes and dreams for 2010: Rosie Ward

Rosie first wrote this dream in 1997 and included it in her book, Growing Women Leaders. She says, 'It still inspires me and is still far from reality – some progress and some steps back, I think.'


I have a dream….



I dream of a church

where women and men work together

in leadership and evangelism;
 


Where women use their gifts,

discover new ones,

and empower other men and women;
 


Where men and women

are seen as fellow-workers together

and fellow-servants of each other.



I dream of a church

which is seen by outsiders

as one where women are affirmed,
encouraged and fulfilled

in their God-given callings;
 


Where men and women working together

reflect the image of God,

and, in Christ,

overcome the ‘battle of the sexes’.
 


I dream of a church

which proclaims to women and men

the good news of true liberation in Christ.

Rev Rosie Ward is a Leadership Development Adviser at CPAS

Hopes and Dreams for 2010 - Dave Wiles starts us off

January - the time to look back on the last year and to look forward to the next. To take us in 2010, we asked people to tell us their hopes and dreams for men and women in the coming year. Over the next week, we'll publish one each day which we hope will inspire you to reflect on what you want to see change and how you can make that happen. Dave Wiles from FYT starts us off:

 It was about 10 years ago that the summer camps (now called Frontier Camps) that I have been helping with for the last 30+ years (under canvas still!) decided that we would take girls as well as boys. We wanted to try to give everyone the best holiday possible! A holiday that would enable young people and adults alike to connect their story to the story of Jesus. Looking back it seems positively Victorian that we had been running the camp for some 40 years - without girls having the opportunity to attend!
 
There were fears amongst some that this was the 'thin end of wedge' and that it would lead to all manner of compromised practices and events! It didn't! It has been great to watch the way that the camp has evolved so much more holistically than it ever did without girls being involved. Increased creativity and a sense of being part of a caring community have been the key characteristic changes for me. Without wanting to stereotype or generalise it seems to me that things just work better when men and women, boys and girls work together.
 


I share this story as it is a salutary lesson for me to look back and think that there were Victorian, dated and oppressive attitudes towards girls and women around at that time that would have prevented a great change in the way we expressed our faith and ministry together. Sad to say, I still come across these kinds of entrenched views, some time they are more covert, but they are still around. I attend a number of managerial forums where women are conspicuous by their absence and one has to ask what are we potentially missing by this omission. My hope for 2010 is that this trend will hasten to an end!

I hope that Christians will model the kind of gender partnerships that I believe are central to effective Kingdom ministry.
 
We need men and women that will learn from each other. I would particularly like to see more emotionally literate male workers and managers. Perhaps we men need to take some timeout to understand what this looks like and how it might impact our behaviours? This is NOT to assume that emotional literacy is a female characteristic - that would be a huge mistake! I know and work with many men who are emotionally literate. However, I also know many who are not.

I would also like to see a fairer representation of women in positions of authority in Christian ministry and youth work; we are missing out until this is changed. 
 
At the end of the day I believe that there is a new call for participation: genuine involvement of people at the grassroots level, where they may begin to shape their own destinies together. I believe that this particularly involves greater participation between young and old, as well as male and female. However, I do acknowledge that many institutions, like the church, will find the call for authentic inclusion extremely challenging, however, doing nothing is NOT an option! 



Dave Wiles has been involved in youth and community work for 34 years and is CEO of Frontier Youth Trust as well as a practicing volunteer youth worker, Street Pastor and Granddad!