3.3 EXPLORE
In 2013, the term “smokin’ hot wife” was entered into an online Dictionary of Christianese. The entry discussed its seemingly widespread use and debated whether or not it was okay to use in a sermon or public prayer. The author of “Five Ways Pastors Unconsciously Reinforce Abuse, and How to Do Better” considered the impact on the pastor’s wife when the term was used by a pastor, but did not explore the possible impact on other women and men in the congregation.
Gender stereotyping and sexist jokes are often used to build rapport, either in personal conversations or during teaching. I recently attended a youth event where the speaker praised his “hot wife” and “beautiful daughters” and told us about the time he evangelized to a woman he described as a stripper. He made sure to let us know that, “I told myself to look at her face, not her chest.
Further Reading
