Over the years since feminism came into the social sphere, the mentality surrounding women has changed in many ways. Have women become more respected, or has it remained the same? Is feminism truly feminine, or is it actually anti-woman?
We should examine what God’s will is for women in the Scriptures, especially what the New Testament says about our roles. Feminism, in fighting for equal rights for women, seems to have forgotten that women have a totally different role from men, and that women’s liberation from their God-given role of being mother and helpmeet to society, has imprisoned them. The structure of families has been broken, because women have taken on the ambitions of men, leaving the children without a mother at home, and competing with men for their jobs.
I read in an article (www.historyplace.com/pointsofview/alvare.htm) that there were three dangerous ideas behind feminism: individualism, relativistic morals, and a godless humanism.
Many destructive fruits have resulted from feminism: abortion, artificial contraception, fornication, teenage pregnancies, easily obtained divorce, and immodest dress that proclaims that we women are to show off our “assets”, as if we are mere products! This immodesty is really a form of prostitution!
In the end, has feminism really made women better off? Let us discover who we really were meant to be, and, as the women of the Church, be the example for the world. The world counts on us to know the truth. May God bless all our women, and may their God-given beauty come out and shine!
Dolores S Steenhuis, Cape Town
“Many destructive fruits have resulted from feminism: abortion, artificial contraception, fornication, teenage pregnancies, easily obtained divorce, and immodest dress that proclaims that we women are to show off our “assets”, as if we are mere products! This immodesty is really a form of prostitution!”
Dolores, I am interested to know if you can prove what you write. The ills that you list appear to me to come from a society that has no respect for individuals or their dignity. Many, many people, women and men, are treated as mere products; from children to labourers, athletes to secretaries, domestic workers to school teachers. We live in a very self-centred society, but its ills certainly cannot be laid at the door of feminism. If anything, feminism is a path to dignity for many women, which I as a man can only encourage.
Doloros
What do you mean by “feminism”? I presume you mean secular feminism. Do you know personally any Christian – even Cathalic feminists? Are they male or female? Have you ever read an article in our Catholic Trefoil magazine written by people you would castigate for being ‘feminist’.
Whose mentality has changed, or not changed? What gender are they?
Do you categorise the suffragettes who won for western women the right to vote in a democratic election – thus making it truly democratic – as feminists? Or how do you label them? Do you not believe women should vote?
Is God’s will different for men and women? Or does God have a separate set of commandments for each gender? The scriptures I presume you are referring to is the New Testament, right? Or at least all scripture in the light of the life, passion and resurrection of Christ?
In allotting roles to women, do you think that would be based solely on their capacity to be impregnated, give birth, have the necessary to feed a new child for say up to three years, or would any charism of the Spirit only be effective in baptised Christians – or perhaps only baptised Catholics?
Why don’t men with their inclination to violence and war not be examined for the break down of family structures in society?
What about most women who are left to single parenting because men believe the world owes them pleasure and irresponsibility? I would lay my head on a block that far more children are fatherless or making do with a surrogate father than there are women preferring to compete for men’s jobs.
You cannot possibly be serious about the dangerous ideas that drive feminism. The article is obviously scape-goating so people like you won’t look hard at the dangerous ideas that have been put into action to further the power, control and materialistic needs of the leaders in governance of nations – indeed tribes also – and the corporate world.
With the exception of abortion, all the destructive fruits you so glibly place at the door of feminism, involve the male species. It is letters like this coming from a mind clouded by an inability to really look at the big picture that causes me to wonder if we are on the same planet, let alone sisters in Christ – the first truly courageous feminist!
I apologise if my ‘cloudy’ letter provoked such anger. Both you, Gray and Rosemary, make good points. Firstly, Gray, you mention that I must prove what I write, and if I have made a mistake in submitting my subjective perception, then I am sorry. Rosemary, you asked that, if in allotting roles to women, would they be based solely on childbearing and raising. No, I can agree with you on this, that it would not be, as there are a number of women who are not mothers, myself included. What I mean by women’s roles is the charism of motherhood, whether physical or spiritual. The essence of this is the nurturing of relationships, to be the heart of society, whereas man is the head. And, yes, men have a lot to ask forgiveness to women for, and they do not always use their head well (i.e. they make bad decisions at times). They are not innocent from blame, and the breakdown of society includes their abuse of the man’s role as well. I think that only prayer and co-operation can cure the ills that face us nowadays.
Why I am so strong on the point of feminism, is due to my personal discovery of womanhood. When I was younger I was aware of the opportunities women had, and took them for granted, but at times when I read about the abuse of women and children I hated being a woman, so weak and vulnerable. When I discovered what Godly womanhood was all about (in reading what Scripture and Tradition says), it made feminism (yes, I do mean secular feminism) stand out so differently than before. And in discovering my womanhood, for the first time I loved being a woman! For this reason I am convicted of the traditional role of women, but I do not want to criticise those women who do not agree, or those who work in traditionally masculine roles. I am aware, too, of those who are single moms. May God help me to not judge others! And if I have, then please forgive me. Even if I cannot change my beliefs, I do want to change my understanding and openness to others who disagree with me. God bless you for helping me to grow.
I have not responded before because 1. I find it difficult to understand just where you are on this whole issue which you raised; and 2. I have been away the weekend spending some really quality time in prayer and struggle ‘to be present to God-in-the-moment’.
The final sentences in your response to both Gary and I brings me back to my computer. You say you want to change your understanding and grow. Wonderful! We all need to adopt this attitude to others but it is always easier said than done.
Probably the closest you come to where my life experience has brought me is the phrase “the charism of motherhood”. I suggest that we adopt this phrase as a starting point in understanding, but also definitely leave out the words ‘role’ or ‘roles’. Would you agree that the situation does occur where a man, a father, needs to plug into this charism of motherhood when he is widowed and left to care for a child or children? It may not be the norm but it does happen. I could paint other scenarios but let’s keep it simple for the moment. We cannot therefore allot the charism of motherhood to being confined to women.
You also allude to ‘prayer and co-operation’ as being the only way to solve the ills in our society. The Church calls it ‘collaboration’ and if I am not mistaken JPII used it in his Theology of the Body. It was a word that also came up during talks of Council Fathers at Vatican II. My belief is that collaboration can only be effective between equals – and I am thinking not only of collaboration between men and women in their secular relationships with one another.
I have no clue as to what you mean by “Godly womanhood”. God created male and female in the image of God. That is enough for me as a foundation for cherishing my womanhood.
Ponder also on this insofar as secular feminism is concerned. The industrial revolution was the first major catalyst in the breakdown of family life. (Ask yourself who and what was behind this revolution). It took men away from their families in order that they become more effective providers for their families. (Look again at the damage in our own country done by laws for migrant labourers).
World War II took women from their homes either because of necessity to provide for themselves and/or their families in the absence of husbands and fathers, or because of patriotism to keep the wheels of industry, arms manufacturing etc well oiled. Women learnt that they could manage without men.
I hope you are beginning to glimpse how senseless it is to try and put the blame for society’s ills at the door of feminism.
If you really want to learn about Christian feminism start with the thirty or so books written by Catholic theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether.
Then you can perhaps start challenging me!