This was the title of a little article in the "Times" here last week. It caught my eye and I did something I rarely do: read the entire article (not just the headline). It wasn't long. It wasn't deep or even very well-written. But the writer, a local humor-writer "Mrs. FunnyBones"...yes, that's her pen-name, caught me off guard.
In my naivete, I supposed this to be a piece on the equality of women while rejecting the lies of feminism: that women can and should do anything a man can and should do, that there is no difference in design or role or desire between the genders, that a woman has a right "over her own body" (and therefore to end any other life within her body) and is defined by her "sexual liberation". A good many books have been written on these sad assumptions and agendas of feminism. I have been shaped by them and their call back to Biblical womanhood and away from the culture's guise of "women's rights". I don't know why I thought Mrs. FunnyBones would fall in line with these books. Like I said, I was naive.
The article basically tells of the writer declaring to her (pink-haired, single, feminist) friend, "I am no longer a feminist". Shock and awe ensues. The accusations and "How could you?"s fly. And Mrs. FB quickly gives some statistics about women's IQ out-ranking men and studies showing women's brain-processing speeds higher than men. This, and her own experience as a woman of course, has given her reason to believe not only are women equals with men, but superior to men. The pink-haired friend calms down. They laugh knowingly...to themselves.
And I put down the paper, looking at my three girls at the breakfast table. I'm disappointed.
Because I'm not a feminist. But unlike this writer, and I suppose the vast majority of women, I have different reasons. I believe in the equality of men and women. All people are made in the image of God, male and female, old and young and unborn, healthy and sick. Women are worth just as much to God and should be treated with the same respect (paid the same for the same job, for example) as men. Yet, women are not superior. Since when did IQ tests prove that anyways? Is this what personhood is based on?
It's going to be an exhausting battle if that is what women are fighting for, to prove they are as-smart-as, as-strong-as, as-emotionally-unattached-as, as-liberated-as, etc any man. I am not a feminist because I am not fighting to show my value in IQ, multi-tasking, job performance or argument. I see what God has designed and what He has declared about His creation. And I will declare that, fight for it, to myself and those around me. This is not the feminist agenda. It is the gospel. It is good news to the oppressed and liberating to those held captive by cultural bias but also captive to their own identity-proving treadmill.
I could write extensively about this...many more paragraphs about my non-feminism. But it's late. And I have to get up early to proclaim the beauty of the gospel to three little girls. I get to show them their beauty and worth in God's eyes and mine. I point them away from earning favor or value and towards resting in what Christ has done for them, calling them His own. I have the privilege of unmasking the lies of this world that say "If you really want to be somebody you have to be _____". And I get to be their mom. Not a superior-than-their-dad sort of mom. Not super-mom or anti-feminist mom or purpose-less mom. I get to love and hold and fail and repent and sing and care for them. And I hope one day they say, "That is one reason I am not a feminist."
In my naivete, I supposed this to be a piece on the equality of women while rejecting the lies of feminism: that women can and should do anything a man can and should do, that there is no difference in design or role or desire between the genders, that a woman has a right "over her own body" (and therefore to end any other life within her body) and is defined by her "sexual liberation". A good many books have been written on these sad assumptions and agendas of feminism. I have been shaped by them and their call back to Biblical womanhood and away from the culture's guise of "women's rights". I don't know why I thought Mrs. FunnyBones would fall in line with these books. Like I said, I was naive.
The article basically tells of the writer declaring to her (pink-haired, single, feminist) friend, "I am no longer a feminist". Shock and awe ensues. The accusations and "How could you?"s fly. And Mrs. FB quickly gives some statistics about women's IQ out-ranking men and studies showing women's brain-processing speeds higher than men. This, and her own experience as a woman of course, has given her reason to believe not only are women equals with men, but superior to men. The pink-haired friend calms down. They laugh knowingly...to themselves.
And I put down the paper, looking at my three girls at the breakfast table. I'm disappointed.
Because I'm not a feminist. But unlike this writer, and I suppose the vast majority of women, I have different reasons. I believe in the equality of men and women. All people are made in the image of God, male and female, old and young and unborn, healthy and sick. Women are worth just as much to God and should be treated with the same respect (paid the same for the same job, for example) as men. Yet, women are not superior. Since when did IQ tests prove that anyways? Is this what personhood is based on?
It's going to be an exhausting battle if that is what women are fighting for, to prove they are as-smart-as, as-strong-as, as-emotionally-unattached-as, as-liberated-as, etc any man. I am not a feminist because I am not fighting to show my value in IQ, multi-tasking, job performance or argument. I see what God has designed and what He has declared about His creation. And I will declare that, fight for it, to myself and those around me. This is not the feminist agenda. It is the gospel. It is good news to the oppressed and liberating to those held captive by cultural bias but also captive to their own identity-proving treadmill.
I could write extensively about this...many more paragraphs about my non-feminism. But it's late. And I have to get up early to proclaim the beauty of the gospel to three little girls. I get to show them their beauty and worth in God's eyes and mine. I point them away from earning favor or value and towards resting in what Christ has done for them, calling them His own. I have the privilege of unmasking the lies of this world that say "If you really want to be somebody you have to be _____". And I get to be their mom. Not a superior-than-their-dad sort of mom. Not super-mom or anti-feminist mom or purpose-less mom. I get to love and hold and fail and repent and sing and care for them. And I hope one day they say, "That is one reason I am not a feminist."
