does Christianity support the idea of equality of the sexes?

[Elasticwoman]

Or is Christianity followed only by male chauvinists and doormat non-feminist women?
If Christianity CAN be said to promote equality and respect between the sexes, how do we explain St Paul's writings?

The only woman we studied in our Reformation class was Teresa of Avila from the pov of the counter reformation.
Many of the reformers, especially the radical anabaptists, had prety radical wives as well who gave great theological statements just before they were martyred (Michael Sattler's wife springs to mind) but it just wasnt an era in which women were doing things.
Some of the good Liberation theologians today are women (Elsa Tamez is probably my favourite) but there is a real dearth of good women's writing on subjects other than feminism, children's work and mission - there just doesnt seem to be a female Bohoeffer, or Moltmann, or Volf (some of my current favourites!). Until I get going (hahahaha as if - maybe one day, I'd love to do a theology PhD)