Francis and feminism - otherness and parallels

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present Pope Francis’ view on the situation of women. The paper is based on the literature on the tradition and specificity of Latin American feminism as well as on an analysis of papal speeches and documents. The statements and actions of Francis are placed in the context of the initiatives of previous popes and shown through the prism of his experiences in Latin American culture. The author presents a papal diagnosis of the situation of women, the problems and inequalities they experience and the values they bring into social life. The analysis leads to the conclusion that despite the differences in the papal and feminist perceptions of the situation of women, there is a common conviction about the existing inequalities and their cultural, economic and political sources. However, while inequality is a problem that needs to be resolved, the Pope’s consideration of women’s differences is treated as natural and necessary.