credit where credit is due

by Debbie Gin

Have you ever wondered why a lot of the work done by women doesn't get much credit? (That is, unless it's women doing "men's" work.)

I grew up in a Korean American household, where my mom did almost everything at home - cooking, cleaning, laundry, vacuuming, trash, yard work, paying the bills, dishwashing, attending to kids' needs, sewing kids' clothes - and worked a full-time job as a graveyard-shift registered nurse. And she was a pastor's wife. She held three full-time jobs but got credit for just one: as a nurse. Thankfully, over the years, my father has come to share some of the household load.

I'm also thankful that my own dear husband has taken on most of the domestic duties in our family, while I handle more of the managerial responsibilities. Yes, our roles are happily reversed! This role reversal in OUR marriage has brought about two subtle shifts in thought: 1) (less so) in the eyes of some "friends," my husband and I have had to prove his worth as a man, and 2) (more so) the "women's work" that my husband does has taken on a whole lot more value or weight.

I recently finished a book called "The Real Wealth of Nations" by Riane Eisler. While I differ with the author in the area of religion and spirituality, I found her ideas on caring and care-giving to be profound. Eisler suggests that societies built on capitalist or communist economies - based on a dominator model - do not allow all members to thrive. She contends that societies built on "care economics" - ones built on a partnership model - will allow all to thrive. In such an economy, the work that is largely done by women (and an increasing number of men) is recognized for the great value it contributes to the well-being of society.

She proposes a different kind of economic map, a more accurate map, one that recognizes what she calls a "full spectrum" of economic activity and relations. In addition to government economy and market economy, she would also recognize natural economy, illegal economy, unpaid community economy, and (at the core of society) household economy. And instead of looking merely at GDP (gross domestic product) or GNP (gross national product), she advocates using QL or QOL (quality of life) - used by the United Nations but rarely by U.S. politicians and policy makers - as the principle measure of our nation's activity and productivity.

I think Eisler's view of a more inclusive economic map should be considered by our government. As an economic novice and a citizen who entrusts economic decision-making to politicians who are often novices themselves, I was glad to hear that, at the suggestion of Michelle Obama, Eisler has been tapped to contribute her voice at the economic advisory board of President-Elect Obama.

I also believe Eisler's economic map should be considered by the Church, especially the Asian American Church. This would require the "sacrifice" of eliminating the common practice of hiring "two-fers" (paying the husband as pastor but getting the wife's work for free). But if we, as followers of Christ, incorporated more of this kind of economics - which, I would argue, follows more closely the model that Jesus left for us - in our philosophy, ministry, and polity, more people both inside and outside the Church would find our message to be authentic and in better alignment with our actions.

Debbie Gin, M.Div. M.Mus., is the Director of Diversity Studies at Azusa Pacific University and an Assistant Professor in Biblical Studies and Ministry at Haggard Graduate School of Theology. She and her husband live in Southern California. To contact Debbie, please send your inquiry to AAWOLblog@gmail.com.

the power of voices

by Debbie Gin

I used to question my integrity a lot. I felt twinges of shame whenever I interacted with people because I thought I wasn't "the real me" in every context. I behaved one way with my peers, another way with my family, and yet another way with my professors. I thought of myself as a fraud, a chameleon, easily changed by the presenting situation. At times, I even wondered whether I was "prostituting" myself out, becoming whatever my context needed me to be.

I also felt pressure to find my own path but felt conflicted on several levels. On the one hand, I resented my parents' strong influence and expectations; on the other hand, I wanted to obey and prove my worth as a good daughter. There were also my peers and their insistence that my desire to please my parents reflected an obvious character flaw that would hamper my success in life.

More central questions belied these competing voices. Why, as a self-professed Christian, could I not simply rest in how God sees me and be free of others' opinions and expectations? Then again, was it so wrong to entertain the opinions of the communities God had placed me in? Why did I feel so obliged to act out my designated roles with such propriety? These doubts about my own integrity and strength constantly nagged me.

Two years ago, the nagging and fears stopped. Completely. How? Several pieces in my life came together at once, in what I now recognize as a "sacred convergence". One of the pieces was AAWOL. Although I initially committed to AAWOL with a desire to help younger Asian American evangelical women develop as leaders, I soon found myself the beneficiary of what I had hoped to offer others. During a time when I witnessed blatant race-based inequities and their effects on a close friend, I found solace and mentorship from other AAWOL women, who helped me to understand and respond to the situation. Through AAWOL, I learned to be more creative and culturally nuanced – and thus more effective – in how I interacted with my coworkers, which in turn empowered me to be a transforming voice in my workplace.

I now see that multi-vocality – having many voices and feeling a freedom that embraces the multiple voices of my community – is not a liability, but an asset afforded by my Asian American heritage! My many roles (wife, daughter, professor, student, church leader, etc.) provide me with opportunities to flow in and out of my various communities (family, work, school, church, etc.) as well as opportunities to influence and be influenced by each of these communities. The best part is that I no longer run from it; I no longer question my integrity because all of it is me. I now live as a whole human being!

Debbie Gin, M.Div. M.Mus., is the Director of Diversity Studies at Azusa Pacific University and an Assistant Professor in Biblical Studies and Ministry at Haggard Graduate School of Theology. She and her husband live in Southern California. To contact Debbie, please send your inquiry to AAWOLblog@gmail.com.