Pastor Ezequiel Molina sparked significant controversy in the Dominican Republic with statements suggesting that women who work outside the home are neglecting their domestic responsibilities. During the 2025 La Batalla de la Fe sermon at the National Evangelical Concentration event at the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium on 1 January 2025, he claimed, “behind every successful woman, there is a neglected home.”
The remark met with immediate backlash from various sectors, particularly women politicians, women’s rights advocates and journalists. Critics argued that Molina’s comments perpetuate harmful stereotypes about women’s roles and ignore broader societal issues such as economic hardship and gender-based violence. A group of female journalists condemned his statements, emphasizing that they overlook the structural challenges many women face, including the high cost of living and the prevalence of machismo in society.
They highlighted that many women are compelled to work to support their families, and suggesting otherwise diminishes their contributions both at work and at home.
Ezequiel spoke against “feminists,” whom he described as Dominican women who don’t have time for their children or spouses. He said feminists in the Dominican Republic defy and ridiculize men.
The president of the Permanent Gender Committee of the Senate of the Dominican Republic, Aracelis Villanueva (San Pedro de Macoris), said that the fact that 53% of households are led by a woman is evidence of the crucial role women play today to balance family, professional and community responsibilities.
Santo Domingo Mayor Carolina Mejia, who aspires to be the ruling party PRM presidential candidate in 2028, said that she is able to be successful with the support of her father, husband and children.
Molina attempted to clarify his remarks, asserting that his intention was not to demean working women but rather to emphasize the importance of other family members pitching in for domestic obligations. However, this clarification did little to quell the criticism, as many felt his original message was damaging and out of touch with contemporary realities faced by women in the Dominican Republic.
Molina stated during the La Batalla de la Fe sermon on 1 January:
“Listen to these two news stories that came out last month—two pieces of news that society is applauding: Women make up 53% of the workforce in the Dominican Republic. Another piece of news: exports of companies led by women have grown by 27%.
“Now, in my experience, with over 70 years of knowledge (because I’m 80 years old), what have I seen? You may have seen something different, but here’s what I’ve seen: I’ve seen that behind every successful woman in business and in companies, behind each successful woman, it’s likely that there is a neglected home. Please, don’t throw stones at me, but that’s the way it is.”
He went on to explain that the original family model has changed to meet social demands. “Parents today don’t have time for their children, for their partners, and sometimes not even for their own health because they are focused on earning money.
“There are now many households, and don’t be surprised by this, that consist of one or two people and two pets (a dog and a cat, no children).
“This is the society we’ve built. What’s the result? Depression, suicide, violence, crime—because people are emotionally desperate and losing control, as they have disrupted the divine pattern.
“And when there are children, they are left to raise themselves or are educated by the neighborhood. The neighborhood raises the children because mom and dad don’t have time.”
He said that the criminals of today are the children that are raised by the barrios without the care of the mother.
The 10th National Population and Housing Census revealed that women head 53.7% of Dominican households.
Read more in Spanish:
Hoy
Hoy
Hoy
Hoy
Hoy
El Caribe
CDN
N Digital
Roberto Cavada
YouTube Carolina Mejia
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
Listin Diario
Listin Diario
7 January 2025