“Why did God choose to make us male and female? And what are the consequences of that decision?”
—paraphrased from 1987 Synod of Bishops in Christifideles laici
Our Mission
The Institute for the Study of Man and Woman’s mission is to pursue a robust, coherent account of the nature of man and woman—both in themselves and in relation to one another.
In pursuing this mission, we are following the teaching of Pope St. John Paul II who told us in Christifideles laici that understanding what it means to be a man or a woman requires a “more penetrating and accurate consideration of the anthropological foundation for masculinity and femininity.”
Our research incorporates both theology and philosophy, as well as biology, neuroscience, the social sciences, and family studies. We explore who man and woman are, their identities, their genius, and their mission—and the implications of that for the family, the Church, and society.
Donate HereWhat We Do
The institute’s mission is two-fold: research and education.
ResearchFirst, we engage in interdisciplinary research into the nature of man and woman, their identities, their genius, and their mission in the Church and world. To that end, we also plan to create a cross-curriculum degree program at Franciscan University that includes courses in philosophy, theology, biology, psychology, neuroscience, sociology, and family studies.
EducationWe organize and sponsor events, workshops, and symposia to share the results of our research with the larger community. Topics addressed include the meaning of the human person, family life, and the need to encourage economic, social, and cultural institutions that more fully respect the human person.
The Why
The Institute for the Study of Man and Woman’s mission is to pursue a robust, coherent account of the nature of man and woman—both in themselves and in relation to one another.
In pursuing this mission, we are following the teaching of Pope St. John Paul II who told us in Christifideles laici that understanding what it means to be a man or a woman requires a “more penetrating and accurate consideration of the anthropological foundation for masculinity and femininity.”
Our research incorporates both theology and philosophy, as well as biology, neuroscience, the social sciences, and family studies. We explore who man and woman are, their identities, their genius, and their mission—and the implications of that for the family, the Church, and society.
“To this ‘unity of the two’ [man and woman] God has entrusted not only the work of procreation and family life, but the creation of history itself.”
—Pope St. John Paul II, Letter to Women
Our patron saint is St. Catherine of Siena, a Doctor of the Church, whose great influence was due to her abiding love for souls.
St. Catherine of Siena, pray for us!
Management
Director
Dr. Deborah Savage
Dr. Deborah Savage is a theology professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
Previously, she taught philosophy and theology at the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas. She received her doctorate in religious studies from Marquette University in 2005. Her recent research has been focused on the development of a robust theology of the nature of man and woman, both their identities and their distinct and complementary missions in the world. For more information, visit her bio.
Contact
Dr. Deborah Savage
Faculty Fellow
Director, Man and Woman Institute
Franciscan University of Steubenville