The weaker vessel

"Mother and son" by Robert Duncan

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. 

(1 Peter 3:7)

If you want to stir up strife and offend women, Christian and non-Christian alike, share this particular verse. 

Why . . .  because women jump to the conclusion that being "the weaker vessel" means that they are:

have lesser value in society, 

are not as capable as men,

less able to do things,

less important, and 

men see themselves are more superior.

If we just look at the word "weaker" in a physical sense only . . . it is true that women are physically weaker than men. I can't lift really heavy objects whereas my husband can, it is a fact that cannot be disputed and has been proven many times.  Of course, if we are home alone, we can improvise and do some of those heavy jobs ourselves, but they are not good for our bodies in the long term. We simple are not as physically strong.

However, in saying that, women have amazing strength it's just a different sort. . . the fact that we can give birth demonstrates our strength. We have strength that keeps us going during very difficult times moment with our children (remember all those sleepless nights that seem to go one forever). We have strength that makes us very protective our family and many mothers will to do almost anything to protect their children. We often see this during wartime. This is a strength that comes from the mind rather than physical strength that men have.

God created men and women equally, neither were made superior or inferior to the other.

However, God made our bodies different, both physically and mentally to undertake different roles in society and at home.

Women are designed to be bearers of children, nurturers, to create and maintain the home, to teach, to reach out to those in need, to be a helpmate to ones husband. These tasks require less physical strength and much more emotional and psychological strength. Women need to be organisers, communicators, have the ability to empathise with others, to multi-task, have financial skills, be able to shop wisely, to be creative etc.  These are all gentler skills that do not require lots of hard physical labour (even though at times it might feel like it).  Women were never expected to go out and fight wars and to do all the heavy lifting which is why we don't have the same physical strength as our menfolk.  Proverbs 31 is a perfect example of the role of a wife and mother. She is a very busy woman and one that is never idle, but she doesn't need the same physical strength that her husband needs. 

The word "weaker" does cause great offence and it shouldn't. Whilst women are weaker - which is undeniable, it doesn't mean that women are limited in what they can do (as in the Victorian era). Women can still maintain the car, mow the lawn, paint the house, go skiing, run a marathon if they want, play sport, grow a vegetable garden (I do all my own digging), even join the fire brigade.  Women can go out to work if necessary and work in most occupations if they have the ability and skills.

Some women are stronger than others, however we  need to accept that we will never be able be as physically strong as men as this is the way God made us. And we need to allow our menfolk to take care us and do the heavy-lifting just as God intended. 

****