Abstract:
Traditionally women are valued for their ability to bear children and often regarded as
mere vessels for reproduction. This patriarchal view of women is notably encountered
in the portrayal of the Virgin Mary, who throughout history has been regarded as a
“vessel” for God’s message and therefore portrayed as a perpetual virgin, shrouded
in servanthood and suffering. The aim of this article is to distinguish Mary from
this tradition and the way the early church perpetuated the patriarchal custom
of equating womanhood with motherhood. Instead, an exploration of Mary as
occupying a leadership role is offered. This exploration will take place by way of a
consideration of early Christian art that depicts Mary as a figurehead of the early
church – which indicates that this depiction predates Mary’s assigned role as pious
mother and the “vessel” of God. Ultimately, this contribution critiques the manner in
which womanhood and motherhood are equated with one another and highlights the
embeddedness of patriarchal influences in Christianity’s traditions.
