Illusions and Allusions

Strategies for Responsible Consumption

Last week, I introduced an exercise to make the ancient stories in scripture more accessible by putting them in a modern context. The reason we do this is to separate our preexisting bias from what the story is actually saying. If you missed it, go back and read it here. If you read it, what scripture did you think the story was trying to clarify?

Just as a reminder - here it is:

AITA for Sending a Company-Wide Email Reminding Everyone of Our Office Culture and Dress Code?

I (45M) work at a company that has been around for decades and prides itself on maintaining a very traditional office culture. We have a clear hierarchy, and it's generally understood that new hires should be seen and not heard. They're expected to learn the ropes quietly and not draw too much attention to themselves.

Recently, we hired a new employee, Susan (28F). From her first day, she seemed to have trouble fitting in with our office norms. She started speaking up in meetings and offering her opinions, which was pretty awkward since that's not really how we do things here. To make matters worse, she started wearing business casual clothes, while our standard office attire has always been strictly business professional.

I felt like Susan's behavior was disruptive and disrespectful to our company culture. I didn't want to single her out, so I decided to write a company-wide email to remind everyone of our expectations. In the email, I politely but firmly stated that new hires should focus on learning and observing rather than speaking up unnecessarily. I also reiterated our dress code and emphasized the importance of maintaining a professional appearance.

My intention was simply to reinforce our company values and help Susan and any other new hires understand what's expected of them. However, some of my colleagues think I went too far and that my email was too harsh, especially since I didn't address Susan directly.

AITA for sending this email and trying to maintain our traditional office culture?

EDIT: To clarify, our employee handbook does state that new hires are expected to observe and learn before contributing heavily to meetings. The dress code is also clearly outlined. Susan received this handbook when she was hired.

And the Winner is…

Paul. This story is about Paul. Specifically, 1 Timothy 2:9-15 (NET Bible):

9 Likewise the women are to dress in suitable apparel, with modesty and self-control. Their adornment must not be with braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothing, 10 but with good deeds, as is proper for women who profess reverence for God. 11 A woman must learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. She must remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first and then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, because she was fully deceived, fell into transgression. 15 But she will be delivered through childbearing if she continues in faith and love and holiness with self-control.

How many times have you read this part of scripture and thought, “Wow, Paul, you’re going pretty hard after women”. And how many times have you read this part of scripture and been told that you’re just reading it wrong? Because, of course, Paul can’t be misogynistic, right?

The reason why I like this analogy so much because it forces us to look at the story from a different perspective. In both cases you could make a good argument that the older, male colleague and Paul are just there to remind people of etiquette. In both cases, they are calling out this behavior in public (Paul uses the same reasoning in more public facing letters like the letter to the Corinthians). In both cases you read it and you may be thinking “that’s a little bit harsh.” The problem is, of course, that the larger debate is about how people should behave in public. In the modern example the etiquette is clearly outdated - regardless of the gender. In the ancient example Paul was just responding to his tradition. This ultimately leaves us with the question: “do we want women to be quiet in public spaces?” The theme is cultural and not theological, i.e. this technique helps us negotiate with the text.

Don’t get me wrong, I hear objections to this way of questioning all the time. But if we can’t negotiate this text then we can also not negotiate this text:

5 Slaves, obey your human masters with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ, 6 not like those who do their work only when someone is watching—as people-pleasers—but as slaves of Christ doing the will of God from the heart. 7 Obey with enthusiasm, as though serving the Lord and notpeople, 8 because you know that each person, whether slave or free, if he does something good, this will be rewarded by the Lord.