Feminism: Part 2

Following on from my brief study of Feminism — After achieving many reforms to protected women, the movement developed a more radical viewpoint that began attacking the very foundations of who and what women were.  This was clearly evident in a 1966 statement made by the National Organisation of Women (the biggest feminist movement in the USA) saying ” it is to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all privileges and responsibilities thereof in truly equal partnership with men."  They wanted women to have everything that men had.
Writers such as Simone de Beauvoir (author of “The Second Sex”), Betty Friedan (author of “The Feminine Mystique”) and Germaine Greer (author of “The Female Eunuch”) argued that men wanted to maintain the power positions they had in society as it controlled, enslavement and oppressed women.  Women were “trapped” in the private sphere of the home whilst men were in the public sphere and making the important decisions that women had no part in, this included decisions that directly affected women (women's reproduction).   Women were not being able to aspire to be anything more than “homemakers” and “child bearers” and therefore locking them at home in a unrewarding and “stifling” position of “housewife”, outside of the “mainstream” society.  It was also argued that many men considered women to be the “weaker” sex therefore not suited to making the big decisions or work in a man’s world — these women wanted to fight this assumptions.

The current voice of NOW says: "Our purpose is to take action to bring women into full participation in society – sharing equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities with men, while living free from discrimination."  Their fight continues along the same path as it did in 1966.

From a biblical viewpoint, this is all contrary to God’s words, attacking the very core of the role of women, motherhood, childbearing and the family unit and it isn’t difficult to find verses in the scriptures that demonstrate this, here are just a few:
He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord” Psalm113:9
to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands” Titus 2:5
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” Colossians 3:18

The bible clearly tells us that the man is the husband, father, protector and spiritual leader. The woman is the wife, mother, comforter and nurturer.  Anyone who believes this cannot support modern feminism as the movement opposes these views completely. The Bible has also given us a clear set of instructions (as in Proverbs 31) on how women should conduct  their lives — God does not see the role of women and mothers as being trapped, controlled, under-valued or without of voice as argued by the feminist movement (“For her worth is far above rubies” Proverbs 31:10 and "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband" Proverbs 12:4  both demonstrate the importance of a woman role).  God has also set out the rules of how husbands must treat their wives, making submitting anything but controlling “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” Ephesians 5:25.
Feminism is now thoroughly entrenched itself into our society and culture. It has moved away from its original position which focused on giving women the basic rights God intends for every human being to have to something more radical and aggressive. Now focusing on destroying any trace of a distinction in roles between men and women, destroying the family unit and has encourage society to support such things as non-marital sexual relationships and children outside of marriage.

As Christians we need to understand what is going on around us, Satan is continuously undermining women, making them doubt and become discontent in their most precious occupation, all done without us even knowing. And beware of Christian feminists of believe in equality of women in the church as in this article I found today in The Age (see article).

Has it all been bad, no, not at the start — but it hasn’t achieved what it set out to do and that is the protection of the most vulnerable — and that can be seen in many areas around the world where women are still terribly treated, bought and sold into slavery, killed in honour killings by their families, still dying in childbirth and so forth.  The white middle class fight for women has had little or no impact on those that most need it.
He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children.  Praise ye the Lord.
Psalm 113:9

* * *
"To be a mother is the grandest vocation in the world.
No one being has a position of such power and influence.
She holds in her hands the destiny of nations;
for to her is necessarily committed
the making of the nation's citizens."

(Hannah Whitall Smith 1832–1911)
PS This particular Christian lady was one of the first suffragettes, I wonder what she would think today of what has happened to the original cause she was fighting for.

Comments

  1. I enjoyed reading this, Jo. I think you are 100% right - this started out as being a way to help women stop being hurt, but then it got out of control until now there is no stopping it (apart from God's intervention). Now feminism is so entrenched that many Christian families are struggling to take up their Biblical roles and this is yet another way the prince of this world (satan) attacks the family unit. I think that half the time women (especially young women who have been raised in a "liberated" world) don't even realise they are outside their God-given role, unless it is brought to their attention, one way or another. It's no longer a choice, but rather a 'natural' way of life -if I'm making any sense. Of course that doesn't make it right, and we need to be aware so we can fight it, but it sure does make it difficult - women are having to learn what used to be natural for them - ie to be homekeepers, to take a submissive role and allow their husbands to take the lead. It is a truly sad state of affairs, and I think your article is fantastic. To be a mother/wife is the most WONDERFUL occupation for a woman, and I would venture a guess that before feminism suggested otherwise, most women were probably quite happy in their role... I think in some respects the feminist movement crept in and slowly destroyed the Biblical model, rather than suddenly taking over, especially in some families.

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  2. I love it! This series has been so well-written and truly a joy to read. I really agree with you--both parts--about feminism. Yes, it started out validating women and protecting their rights as human beings. However, like you said, it has just gone awry. Why can we not validate women in the roles God designed us for? I hate to admit it, but in my 20s, I was far more of the feminist mindset. Now, in my 40s, I am thrilled to work towards being the keeper in the home, the crown of my husband. There is a peace and confidence which comes from embracing the role for which God designed us. There is a constant battlefield spirit when we push and become aggressive and want to gain whatever it is we think men have that we want. Frankly, I don't want to take on the burdens which responsible, godly men have. In the past, I have had to work long hours and be both the breadwinner and the homemaker. I had to support myself, but I wanted to keep home, too. It was very hard and very stressful. It is a blessing to be now with my husband and under his protection. It just pains me that so many people ~ men and women ~ still, even today, think that a woman is brainless and boring and pathetic if she embraces God's vision for her life. The truth is, the most intelligent, interesting women I know are those who put God first, then husbands and family, then themselves. Finally, yes, I think feminism has infiltrated the church, as well, and it has done damage. How can we commit our lives to Christ and follow Him if we pick and choose what we want from the Bible? I used to wrestle with this a lot, but I have made peace with different roles to which we have been assigned and the gifts which we have been given. Thanks again for a brilliant series!

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  3. What about the important & valid things women have achieved that wouldn't be possible if they had stayed at home just being mothers. Teach your daughters that they can achieve anything they want to, self esteem will allow them not to be treated less than they deserve.

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  4. Yes...& no. I think we need our feminists ~ & they need to be balanced by our Christians. One reason I think that is they will fight tooth & nail to prevent things like female circumcision being legalised in this country ~ & yes, it is being mooted just now. Missed the details as I rarely watch t.v but this is outrageous. One time I care nothing for cultural or religious reasons. It should be illegal here & those who perpetuate this monstrosity should be prosecuted!! Oops. Soapboxing on someone els's blog. ☺

    Secondly, I think we must remember God doesn't call all His daughters to be wives & mothers. By far the greatest number of missionaries are single females ~ an interesting fact that came to light when my Liddy started making enquiries. Most don't remain single for long. The men snap them up but of course some do. This is true in the wider community as well. Singles have far greater freedom to serve God unencumbered by thoughts of husband, hearth & chhildren & much of what feminism fough for protect these daughters in the world.

    Just a stray thought or two. It is a complicated issue & while I object to the rampant man hating history shows that for most of history women have worked ~ either alongside their husbands in the farm or family business or during the industrial revolution in the mills. Only the upper middle class & very rich were exempt. Few women have ever just been homemakers. Stopping now. I think you are brave opening this can of worms.

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  5. It is a pity "The Age" article author has not read the Bible, and the poor misguided female priests are also unsound in their doctrine. Fascinating how the argument for women priests are a power based thing, rather than a biblical based thing, where the priesthood as it was, was abolished, and we are all now Kings and Priests. Ministry (in all its form, where 98% is not in the pulpit) has a place for both men and women, according to their gifts, and we need to be sure that the gift is God given, not our own pride and ego dream, both men and women. Thanks dear Sister for a thought provoking discussion, and some Biblical perspective in a world where the Bible (God's Word) is forgotten, trashed, used as a weapon (taking the bits that suit as our arguments), or generally misquoted. I think the key for all of this is the Ephesian's verses that tell the man to treat the woman as Christ loves the church. If we men lived this, along with love your neighbour, and Love the Lord your God with all your heart, the 'debate' as such would no longer be required. LL S

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  6. Ganeida - I don't think a woman going off to undertake missionary work is very feminist at all and we probably need many more of them. Either single (which isn't always very safe) or as a couple.

    I agree with the need to fight female circumcision (plus the other things such as honour killings that go on in other countries) - but one doesn't need to be a follower of feminism to do that. It is a horrible act on young girls and should be stopped. Men and women should be saying no. Governments should be saying no.

    We don't all need to be at home (eg older women) to still undertaken Gods words - helping in the wider community, volunteer work.

    You would only want to be upper class if you went back in time. Life was pretty horrible for the working class. And don't mention the workhouse. This is where many early feminist were really doing a good job - but by time it hit the 1960's the fight changed.

    I don't mind the "soap box"

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  7. I honestly think there should be less single missionaries and more married ones... As a married couple, you have a three-fold cord that is not easily broken, no matter the hardship that is faced ("Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken" -Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)... Also as a married couple, there is someone to minister to everyone - wife to minister to the ladies on a personal level, husband to minister to men on a personal level... and if the couple has children, they can more easily minister to other parents in their mission-field! As a couple/family, you will also gain much more respect in many cultures that place more value on family than we do in western society.
    Just my two cents on missionaries! :P

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  8. Whoever Stephen is, I loved his comment. Amen!

    Ganeida, as I read your comment, I thought of Glenys Aylward, an English woman missionary in China. She was single and made such an amazing impact in that country. God used her in the abolishing of that whole foot binding torture. If someone is called to be single, God makes up for all the lack... He is sufficient!

    If you get a chance Jo, get a hold of Glenys Aylward's biography... it was so powerful. She is no longer alive, but she touched so many lives, adopted many orphaned chinese babies, and took so much ground for the Kingdom of God.

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  9. What an excellent, thought-provoking series Jo!

    I thoroughly enjoyed all that you brought out as well as all the other comments ...

    Blessings for standing firm for Scriptural principles!!

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  10. Hi Jo,
    I enjoy the role that God gave me ~ that of a wife, mother and home~maker, fit for the Master's use.

    It saddens me that Satan has undermined the Godly role of mothers in this current world.

    Oh, that the world would see the lies that Satan sprukes!!!

    Have a wonderful weekend,
    Love and blessings, Jillian ♥

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