Chapter 2: Men aren’t the Problem
March 11th, 2009 Kristen
I thought this chapter was great information on the roots of feminism and how feminism came to identify MEN as the chief problem of women. As the author says, there is a difference between restoring God-given rights to women and setting women above both men and God. Wow… is that a though worth discussing… So good!
It is always interesting to look into the backgrounds of people that shaped how our society thinks. The feminist movement was begun by a woman Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who was unhappy in marriage - felt imprisoned by parenthood and housework - and was an atheist. She held that the teachings of the Scriptures condemned women for their sins and imprisoned them in marriage in silence and subjection. SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY is always under attack. We can see, even in the roots of feminism, scripture was under attack.
But, her experience didn’t add up to the reality of the status of wives when properly taught by scripture. The Protestant Reformation and Martin Luther was instrumental in teaching “companion-ate marriage”. The Puritans as well, contrary to the popular opinion, saw regular sexual intercourse as necessary for a lasting marriage.
Feminism eventually was tied to Socialism - through the influence of Satre and Beauvoir. (so interesting! gotta read it!)…The author states they championed existentialism “truth that is true for me”. Don’t we hear that thinking all the time? But, the great irony of that statement is, the truth that is truth for me…also, means I want it to be the truth for you, right?
The woman that was responsible for the second wave of feminism, Betty Friedan, wrote The Feminine Mystique. She co-founded the National Organization for Women (NOW) and was also a co-founder of NARAL, the pro-abortion political action group. The most interesting thing to me, when learning about these women, their lives, their influence…is to see for both groups feminism and abortion rights are tightly tied together. They are ONE in every sense of the word. FEMINISM and ABORTION RIGHTS go hand in hand. Because, feminism is no longer about freedom for women, a love for women’s gifts & contributions to society. It is about hatred of authority, it is about control. Again big thoughts I know but I think as you read it you will see the humble presentation and how biblical teaching is to honor women and for a husband and wife to be united together not attacking or degrading each other. The book presents a healthy view of what can be.
Sin is the true cause of separation, not just from God, but also from each other. Being male or female is not the problem. The author brings us to Gen 3:1-6, where Eve went against the authority in her life (God’s law) and grasped for something not given to her. Her man stood right with her in her sin. Her problem was not Adam, it was and still is SIN. Sin is the reason men oppressed women and sin is the reason women have usurped men. Feminism arose because women were being sinned against. But, feminism also arose because women were sinning in response.
My husband has a line that fits in so many circumstances and certainly does here…”recycling the pain”. When we do not react biblically (James 3:13-18), but instead sin in response. We recycle the pain…instead of dealing with it, we pass it on or give it back. Or the saying “two wrongs don’t make a right”. Sinning against someone who sinned against you doesn’t solve anything, it only brings hatred, envy, strife, selfishness and disorder. The Bible’s teaching is always the right way, “a soft answer turned away wrath”, or “a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace”.
This was a hard chapter to comment on, because so much of it was history. I just encourage you to read it. Understand that good fruit cannot come from a rotten tree roots. When we allow thought processes into our lives that are not biblical-based, but really are anti-scripture and anti-authority, no good can come from it. Let me know what you think…God bless!
Tags: abortion, beauvoir, betty friedan, elizabeth cady stanton, existentialism, feminism, naral, national organization for women, satre, socialism, the feminine mystique, women's rights