Moore, Courtney, ed. Women & Work: Bearing God’s Image and Joining in His Mission through Our Work. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2023. 208 pp. Paperback, $18.99.
As an advocate for women in the workplace, I initially chose this book to review out of curiosity regarding the perspectives of other Christian women. Courtney Moore, the editor, brings together ten women from various vocational emphases to speak on this topic.
Moore opens the book by sharing her early angst as she wrestles with the implicit message that the best work for women is keeping a home and raising children. This angst and her journey of discovery were the impetus for this work and the non-profit she leads, also called Women and Work. This message from Christendom is one that is familiar to me. I have not agreed with or struggled with it personally, but throughout the years, I have dealt with pushback from many in the church, especially from women, as I’ve chosen a professional path. As a young minister’s wife, I fell within the acceptable boundaries as a marriage and family therapist who worked part-time. However, as I made plans to further my education with a Ph.D. with the goal of teaching, the criticism was intense yet often mixed. I was encouraged to better myself, but “not at the expense of my husband and children.” The foundational idea is that the husband’s work is primary, and the wife should follow and support his career. Such was not an issue for my husband and me since we have an egalitarian perspective in our marriage. It was, however, difficult to weather the criticism as a young wife and mother.
The opening chapter of Work and Women provides a theological grounding. This foundation is laid out in four principles: (1) work is good, (2) work is fallen, (3) work is redeemed, and (4) work is eternal. These principles are based on two texts. The first two concepts are supported by the creation narrative in Genesis 1-3 and the latter two by the Great Commission in Matthew 28. This grounding sets the stage for subsequent chapters that explore various aspects of the dilemma of women and work. This second chapter is about being image-bearers in our work. Branch refers to our work as “the tangible reflection of the creativity of God” (41). The notion of “calling” is addressed as the author touches on the myths of calling and offers help in determining calling.
How our identities are tied to our work is another topic this book explores. Powell addresses the question of whether we are what we do—as professionals or in the home. In a subsequent chapter, Anderson explores embodiment, work, and how our culture encourages a demarcation between body and soul. She invites women to care for our bodies as we participate in a workforce that demands much of us and rewards us for working to a level of exhaustion. A chapter on stewardship encourages the view that all work is God’s work. Collins offers the perspective that calls us not to allow the pendulum to swing in the opposite direction, resulting in valuing our work as professionals above our work at home.
Another topic addressed in this work that builds on these topics is the work/home balance. In addition to finding that balance for ourselves, Reissig encourages that whatever our situation, we offer grace to ourselves and others in our choice of what “motherhood” looks like. This issue of work/home balance is a topic familiar to all mothers—from those who work to put food on the table to those who run some of the largest corporations in our nation. A healthy balance is difficult to achieve. Meyer follows this chapter with an important discussion of those who find that marriage and/or motherhood are not part of their life—whether by choice or not. She also discusses God’s invitation to work in a way that offers grace to ourselves and others.
The book ends with sage advice on two practical matters. Whatley contributes a chapter on healthy male-female relationships in which she encourages caution and wisdom in maintaining healthy boundaries while having close professional relationships with male colleagues. The final chapter encourages spiritual and professional development with an invitation to attend to both arenas of growth.
The topics addressed in Moore’s work give a full and rich discussion for the age-old question, “Is women’s work in the professional realm a worthy kingdom offering?” The answer based on these ten authors is a resounding “Yes!” These issues are familiar to me as a woman who chose a career path at an early stage of life. It is my hope that this offering will quell some of the angst of those women who want to use their gifts for efforts beyond that of hearth and home. I also hope that the need for this conversation will soon ebb.
Jackie L. Halstead
Professor and Associate Director
Marriage and Family Therapy Online Program
ACU Dallas
Dallas, TX, USA
