It doesn't look like Christianity-bashing to me.
I think gender equality in early Christianity is always going to be at odds with the sharp inequalities in Roman society. But I think relative gender equality in some branches of medieval Christianity was more than possible.
In the early 6th century, western Christianity was relatively divided, with Celtic Catholic churches, Gothic churches, etc. By the end of the 6th century, the Gothic churches had been mostly destroyed and the Celtic Catholic church and remains of other churches had gone over to the Roman Catholic Church. A point of departure that limits papal hegemony could preserve the division between Roman, Celtic, and Gothic missionary efforts and models of church organization, and it would reduce Roman influence on local church organization.
Now it doesn't necessarily imply relative equality - eastern Christianity was also fairly decentralized - but it does give a chance for it.
I think gender equality in early Christianity is always going to be at odds with the sharp inequalities in Roman society. But I think relative gender equality in some branches of medieval Christianity was more than possible.
In the early 6th century, western Christianity was relatively divided, with Celtic Catholic churches, Gothic churches, etc. By the end of the 6th century, the Gothic churches had been mostly destroyed and the Celtic Catholic church and remains of other churches had gone over to the Roman Catholic Church. A point of departure that limits papal hegemony could preserve the division between Roman, Celtic, and Gothic missionary efforts and models of church organization, and it would reduce Roman influence on local church organization.
Now it doesn't necessarily imply relative equality - eastern Christianity was also fairly decentralized - but it does give a chance for it.