I was raised as a Feminist. I’m not sure if I would have articulated it that way all those years ago, but looking back, I most certainly was. Hindsight certainly gives you clarity. I remember asking my mother why I wasn’t taught to include her maiden name in my written name when I was about 8 or 10 years old. My mother just shrugged her shoulders, and agreed that it wasn’t fair but that’s just how it was done. Well that didn’t sit well with me. And since I didn’t have anyone giving me a better answer, my name changed overnight. I started proudly signing my name as Michelle Acevedo Soto. Yay for equality and feminism!
Equality?
That’s a very small thing, but it’s significant given the cultural context at that time (and has only gotten more intense over time). Feminism is all about equality. So whatever a man can do, a woman can as well.
“Men are no better than women” is the mantra of feminists. Translation: women and men are interchangeable and are capable of doing exactly the same things. So if my father got a say as to what my last name was, so did my mother! If a man can be in the military, so can a woman. And for that matter, if men can be promiscuous with no ramifications, why can’t a woman? If a man can do it, so can a woman. Feminist logic.
As Believers in Christ, we already know that men and women are of equal value in the eyes of God (Galatians 3:28). We are both made in the image of God. However, we are not the same nor were we designed to be.
Consequences of feminism
SCOTUS just upheld the Tennessee law that minors are not allowed to undergo gender transition surgeries, aka gender mutilation procedures. It’s abhorrent that we have allowed this to happen in our country. But I think a big reason why this has festered is because of feminism.
We’re all the same, right? A man can do the same things as a woman, and vice versa. Following that logic, if a man wants to transition to be a woman, then why not? They’re essentially the same anyway, correct?
Abortion has similar logic. If a man doesn’t have consequences of having unlimited sex with whoever he wants, a woman should too. With the advent of the pill and easy access to abortion, feminism gained another “win.”
Fair
It all sounds so good, and so fair. But when we take into consideration the Word of God, the fairness that we may desire was never part of God’s plan. The LORD doesn’t even advocate for fairness within the sexes, let alone between them.
I remember having an epiphany several years ago about the story Jesus tells about the 3 men and the various talents (i.e. money) they were given (Matthew 25:14 – 30). He didn’t give them exactly the same amount. Jesus gave them “each according to their ability” (Matthew 25:15). In another similar story, Jesus tells of a master giving 10 of his servants 10 minas (i.e. again, money) (Luke 19:11 – 27). They first servant made 10 minas, while the second made 5. After he came back from his trip, the master gave the first servant charge of 10 cities while the second he gave charge 5. In the first story, initially there was not equitable distribution of money. And the in the second story, there was not equitable distribution of what was earned. In either case, NOT FAIR!
Not the same
The point is that we are not the same. And that’s OK. We are responsible to do the best we can with what we have. Is that fair? Not really. But if the LORD wanted us all to be the same with exactly the same abilities, talents, and results, we wouldn’t have the depth and breadth of humanity that we have. We will never all be the same, but we can all glorify God in our own way.
Venn Diagram
If there was a Venn Diagram showing the overlap between Biblical Womanhood and Feminism, I believe there would be little to no overlap. Considering feminists can’t even define what a woman is anymore, I’d say there’s no overlap.
Feminism wants to blur the lines of the sexes. Biblical Womanhood draws them clearly. Feminism declares that confusion, destruction, and perversion is good. Biblical Womanhood declares that clarity, fruitfulness, and beauty is good. They are not the same.
Extremists
I’m almost done reading Domestic Extremist. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m enjoying the read. I’ll give a more thorough review of the book soon, but I wanted to mention the book briefly here since it’s so applicable. The author, Peachy Keen, articulates well what is wrong with feminism and why we should be not just domestic, but domestic extremists.
We may not all be mothers. We not all be wives either. But however we live our lives, if we are Believers in Christ, it will more often than not, look “extreme”by those of this world. We weren’t designed to be smaller men, or men with breasts. We were designed to honor the LORD wherever we are and in whatever circumstances, as women.
Another great book that distinguishes women from men is 7 Women by Eric Metaxas. Such a wonderful book, explicitly honoring great women not because they had similar achievements as men. Rather, they had womanly achievements that were amazing and beautiful because they were female.
Godly Women
Proverbs 31 is a beautiful example of a godly woman. She’s no slouch and she’s no diva. And she is certainly no man. I pray we, as women, can embrace Biblical Womanhood and reject feminism. We need to be pro women, pro men, pro family, and pro TRUTH kind of mamas. And if we are perceived as being extremists, well, that’s OK. Let us be extremists for the glory of God.
Amen?
