The mistreatment of women in theological history is not merely a trivial academic footnote.  It has genuine consequences for real women right now. It has genuine consequences for our daughters, and our sons. When we uncritically read the Bible in a way that demonises, sexualises, infantilises, or diminishes women, we are not doing exegesis, we are doing damage.

A plain reading of the text that doesn’t acknowledge centuriesof prejudice towards women is not truly a plain reading of the text.