(Jesus + Girl) = Power
With Women's History Month and Mother's Day just behind us, I thought it appropriate timing to write a blog about some thoughts I have had recently on the topic of feminism. Some you may agree with, others you may not, and that is perfectly okay. It's important to note that I am a mother of boys, so many of these thoughts come from the perspective of raising young men. Also important to note, I am a Christian with the belief that the bible is the inerrant word of God. I believe that every word, even the hard to understand ones, are all true and without blemish. If you share either of these traits with me, great! If you don't, also great! I am glad you are willing to spend time here. All that being said, here goes nothing...
The feminist movement has been around for years now and many generations of women have seen some iteration of it. As a female who naturally possesses a strong, independent streak there are many things about the history of the movement that I find incredible. The suffragettes winning votes for women, Rosie the Riveter and women in the workplace, the ongoing fight against sexual harassment/violence towards women, the defense of basic human rights for women in other countries who continue to be treated as second class citizens, etc. These are all brilliant outcomes of the centuries of hard work that have been done by many a brave woman in our past. And yet I struggle with what is being fed to women, young and old, today around the idea of female "empowerment." I believe today's leaders of the feminist movement are resorting to the exact same problematic behaviors as their male counterparts that they are desperately trying to disassociate with. We all know the word "misogynist" as a frequently used buzz word for feminists, but have you ever heard it's counterpart "misandrist" used in a sentence? Me neither. A strong prejudice against men or anything having to do with men has become commonplace and I find that to be just as ignorant and shortsighted as the "Men's Club" ideal that feminism stands to abolish. Are there real issues that continue to be a thorn in women's sides? Of course. We're still fighting things like gender pay gap, sexual harassment and violence, sex trafficking and human rights issues for girls who are denied education and sometimes basic safety in foreign countries. No one is denying these facts and productive work must absolutely continue to be done to combat these injustices.
Notice I said productive. Here's where things get a little hairy. Personally, I do not find any of the following popular tactics of modern feminism to be fruitful in confronting the areas of concern mentioned above. Women who claim to be God's gift to the universe simply because they are women. Women who claim they are superior to men and can do all things better, smarter and faster simply because they are women. Women who make sweeping generalizations about men and claim that they know the mind of a man better than a man himself simply because they are women. Women who think they have free reign to utter phrases (and regularly wear them on their bodies) such as "Girl Power," "Women rule the world.," "Girls can change the world.," and "Girls do it better." simply because they are women. Why? Because none of these phrases are actually true and none of these strategies are actually effective in eliciting one ounce of genuine change. Screen printing tee shirts with slogans designed to build one set of people up while ultimately tearing down another is one step above a "nana-nana-boo-boo" school yard approach to problem solving. Nothing constructive is happening in any of the above scenarios and I believe Rosie the Riveter would be appalled.
Can we talk about a feminist's love of generalized man-bashing for a sec? In the world of today's movies, TV shows, books, etc., the bashing has never been more prevalent. It's a shame too because there really are so many amazing women who have done incredible things throughout history. Men, women, boys and girls alike should absolutely hear their stories and be encouraged by them. But, when people make the movies and write the books about these female role models, why is the trend to always place such an emphasis on the perceived failures of the surrounding men? Why in the world can we not make a movie about really great, accomplished women without pointing out and exploiting the flaws in all the males around her? Isn't that just doing the exact same thing that had potentially been done to her? Two wrongs still don't make a right, they only make a hypocrite, and frankly it's a bit pathetic. Truth is, strong and confident women who have achieved great things have most likely overcome adversity from every angle in their lives, but good grief, the same is true for men! But, Hollywood needs to sell movies and man-shaming is sexy right now, so...
Don't even get me started on the female ensemble comedy genre. Exactly how many plugs for MeToo, TimesUp, rape culture, pro-choice, female superiority, male inferiority, toxic masculinity, patriarchy, misogyny, sexism and Oprah can you fit into two hours? A nauseatingly large amount. It's all about speaking truth and being fair these days, right? Then stop just making movies about perfect women and idiot guys because there's not an ounce of truth or fairness to any of that hypocritical garbage. Strong, brave and capable men have always been and will always be paramount to the success of our society and to be perfectly frank, it takes a strong, brave and capable woman to proudly admit it. A woman who knows it's not about who did what better than whom, but about being confident enough in her own accomplishments not to get sucked into the feminist movement's favorite man-bashing pastime.
No one likes an obnoxious loud-mouth. I mean, I am right... right?? Then someone please tell me why women are going out of their way to listen to these types of female personalities right now? Women who use more profanity in one sentence than a sane person uses in a year. Women who use disgusting slang terms for female genitalia and scream it into microphones at women's rallies. Women who claim to be proponents of women's "healthcare" when all they really care about is abortion. Can we just stop kidding ourselves here? No one is marching for fair and balanced eye exams. Or unbiased flu shots. It's always been and will always be about removing the inevitable consequences of casual sex. Feminists say sex is power, use it freely. Problem is, sex makes babies and babies have a way of stealing a woman's mojo for a time, don't they? Solution: abortion over motherhood. Problem solved. Women are freed up to continue living their sexually revolutionized lives all in the name of Girl Power. It's baffling to me because the very women in the "Girl Power" camp are the same ones who, in reality, take all the power away from girls by encouraging them to run away from their hardships instead of press into them where real growth happens. Then the lie is further perpetuated that somehow we gain strength by skirting our responsibilities. Oh how the devil is reveling in this twisted victory.
The loud-mouths also say a woman should dress as scantily as she chooses without a second's thought to virtue and decency. Modesty is for prudes. Expose that flesh and don't apologize for it in the least! I read an article recently about a mom of boys who was basically hung out to dry because she had the audacity to plead with the young girls in her son's class to cover their butts when they wore skin tight leggings. I mean, she was lambasted. And from what I could gather, she had made her case in a most respectful way. But nope. Those woke females didn't hear a word so they countered with the prevailing law of the day which sounds a lot like, "YOU are infringing on MY rights to put MY body parts out there in any way I choose, so be damned with your concerns for your sons and other men who are forced to view my body for however long we are occupying the same space." Perceived power. Perceived confidence. In reality, utter disgrace. When did these girls become so obstinate that a mother's heartfelt request of them to simply wear a shirt that's a few inches longer was taken as an all out act of war? The loud-mouths have now infiltrated the consciousnesses of young women so much so that common courtesy seems a thing of the past. Well, courtesy to those who still hold those antiquated beliefs that young women should show a little decorum in their clothing choices anyway. Madness.
And good grief... the boobs. If a girl wants those things hanging out where we literally see everything but a nipple, by golly you better not violate her rights to do so. Loud-mouths have told her that her breasts signify power. Oh yeah, and if a man looks at them, he is the sick one, not them. I'm just here to tell you, sister, that if this happily married, heterosexual woman can't stop staring at your chest, then there's not a man alive who can either. But, that's really the point though isn't it? For people to stare so that the loud-mouths can call them out and re-direct everyone's attention to anything other than the fact that the clothing choice is cheap and tasteless. That definitely can't be it. It's always the men who are perverted and without self-control. You brood of hypocrites! No one wears next to nothing and wants to be left alone. No one exposes their body parts... on purpose... and wants no one to take notice. Who the heck do you think you are kidding? It's a sad day for me when scantily clad women with their fists and middle fingers in the air have become the go-to role models for young women and have made propriety a dirty word. And once again, Satan celebrates.
Honestly though, as irritating as all of this has become, none of it comes as a real surprise. All of this was foretold in the garden at the very beginning after Adam and Eve sinned for the first time.
What is essentially being said here is that as a direct result of sin having entered the world, women will now and forever struggle with the desire to exalt themselves as the head of their families, rendering the male role as null and void. But, you also see that God won't allow it. So the power struggle rages on. Criticism of men in general is the norm instead of appreciation. Tearing down instead of strengthening. Contempt instead of respect. And it all began because Eve decided that she knew better than God. Like it or not, that is the truth.
Now that we know what female empowerment is unquestionably NOT, let's talk about what it is. Biblical women-hood, where real strength, bravery and power exist in abundance, is a direct result of a Holy Spirit-filled life. Period. Through the world's lens, a woman is often thought strong who proudly states her intentions to withhold her affections from her husband and gives a cold shoulder instead. In reality, watching the way a Holy Spirit-filled woman loves her husband unconditionally, even on the hardest days, is to watch true strength in action. Through the world's lens, a woman is often thought brave who proudly berates, scolds, criticizes and reprimands her husband for his perceived failures. In reality, watching the way a Holy Spirit-filled women uplifts her husband, supports him, cares for him and respects him at all times, even on the hardest days, is to watch true bravery in action. And through the world's lens, a woman is often thought powerful who undermines her husband at every turn, constantly vying for the role of head of household. In reality, watching the way a Holy Spirit-filled woman selflessly provides what only she can provide for her family as a female creation of God is to watch true God-given power in action. The same power that it took to raise a dead man back to life to be seated at the right hand of God in heaven. By the way, it makes no difference if a woman is a full-time Fortune 500 CEO or a full-time homemaker. These same principles that define the life of a Holy Spirit-filled woman are present no matter what sort of arrangement exists inside a home. So please, don't even for a minute, mistake what the world defines as female empowerment for the actual thing which will only ever be attained through the filling of the Holy Spirit in her life.
Ladies... just WAIT until the first time you inextricably believe that you are who God says you are. Wait until you experience the pure joy that comes the moment you first realize you are the daughter of a King! How quickly all that worldly junk, name calling, power grabbing, posturing and loud-mouth listening will fade to nothingness when your only identity is God's identity. You can not even fathom freedom until that moment. You can not fathom strength, bravery, power, goodness, love, mercy and wholeness until that moment. How I beg you to stop grasping for the world's definition of the good life and take hold of Jesus and allow Him to give you the overflowing life. The world, despite it's best efforts to persuade you otherwise, does not have the secrets to enlightenment and female empowerment. SO far from it. The bible promises that the beginning of true wisdom is the fear of the Lord and He will give wisdom in abundance to all who earnestly call on His name and ask for it. And THAT, sisters, you can take to the bank every single time.
What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 1:9
The feminist movement has been around for years now and many generations of women have seen some iteration of it. As a female who naturally possesses a strong, independent streak there are many things about the history of the movement that I find incredible. The suffragettes winning votes for women, Rosie the Riveter and women in the workplace, the ongoing fight against sexual harassment/violence towards women, the defense of basic human rights for women in other countries who continue to be treated as second class citizens, etc. These are all brilliant outcomes of the centuries of hard work that have been done by many a brave woman in our past. And yet I struggle with what is being fed to women, young and old, today around the idea of female "empowerment." I believe today's leaders of the feminist movement are resorting to the exact same problematic behaviors as their male counterparts that they are desperately trying to disassociate with. We all know the word "misogynist" as a frequently used buzz word for feminists, but have you ever heard it's counterpart "misandrist" used in a sentence? Me neither. A strong prejudice against men or anything having to do with men has become commonplace and I find that to be just as ignorant and shortsighted as the "Men's Club" ideal that feminism stands to abolish. Are there real issues that continue to be a thorn in women's sides? Of course. We're still fighting things like gender pay gap, sexual harassment and violence, sex trafficking and human rights issues for girls who are denied education and sometimes basic safety in foreign countries. No one is denying these facts and productive work must absolutely continue to be done to combat these injustices.
Notice I said productive. Here's where things get a little hairy. Personally, I do not find any of the following popular tactics of modern feminism to be fruitful in confronting the areas of concern mentioned above. Women who claim to be God's gift to the universe simply because they are women. Women who claim they are superior to men and can do all things better, smarter and faster simply because they are women. Women who make sweeping generalizations about men and claim that they know the mind of a man better than a man himself simply because they are women. Women who think they have free reign to utter phrases (and regularly wear them on their bodies) such as "Girl Power," "Women rule the world.," "Girls can change the world.," and "Girls do it better." simply because they are women. Why? Because none of these phrases are actually true and none of these strategies are actually effective in eliciting one ounce of genuine change. Screen printing tee shirts with slogans designed to build one set of people up while ultimately tearing down another is one step above a "nana-nana-boo-boo" school yard approach to problem solving. Nothing constructive is happening in any of the above scenarios and I believe Rosie the Riveter would be appalled.
Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:3-5
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4
Don't even get me started on the female ensemble comedy genre. Exactly how many plugs for MeToo, TimesUp, rape culture, pro-choice, female superiority, male inferiority, toxic masculinity, patriarchy, misogyny, sexism and Oprah can you fit into two hours? A nauseatingly large amount. It's all about speaking truth and being fair these days, right? Then stop just making movies about perfect women and idiot guys because there's not an ounce of truth or fairness to any of that hypocritical garbage. Strong, brave and capable men have always been and will always be paramount to the success of our society and to be perfectly frank, it takes a strong, brave and capable woman to proudly admit it. A woman who knows it's not about who did what better than whom, but about being confident enough in her own accomplishments not to get sucked into the feminist movement's favorite man-bashing pastime.
He who restrains his words has knowledge,
And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
Proverbs 17:27-28
No one likes an obnoxious loud-mouth. I mean, I am right... right?? Then someone please tell me why women are going out of their way to listen to these types of female personalities right now? Women who use more profanity in one sentence than a sane person uses in a year. Women who use disgusting slang terms for female genitalia and scream it into microphones at women's rallies. Women who claim to be proponents of women's "healthcare" when all they really care about is abortion. Can we just stop kidding ourselves here? No one is marching for fair and balanced eye exams. Or unbiased flu shots. It's always been and will always be about removing the inevitable consequences of casual sex. Feminists say sex is power, use it freely. Problem is, sex makes babies and babies have a way of stealing a woman's mojo for a time, don't they? Solution: abortion over motherhood. Problem solved. Women are freed up to continue living their sexually revolutionized lives all in the name of Girl Power. It's baffling to me because the very women in the "Girl Power" camp are the same ones who, in reality, take all the power away from girls by encouraging them to run away from their hardships instead of press into them where real growth happens. Then the lie is further perpetuated that somehow we gain strength by skirting our responsibilities. Oh how the devil is reveling in this twisted victory.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
Proverbs 31:25
The loud-mouths also say a woman should dress as scantily as she chooses without a second's thought to virtue and decency. Modesty is for prudes. Expose that flesh and don't apologize for it in the least! I read an article recently about a mom of boys who was basically hung out to dry because she had the audacity to plead with the young girls in her son's class to cover their butts when they wore skin tight leggings. I mean, she was lambasted. And from what I could gather, she had made her case in a most respectful way. But nope. Those woke females didn't hear a word so they countered with the prevailing law of the day which sounds a lot like, "YOU are infringing on MY rights to put MY body parts out there in any way I choose, so be damned with your concerns for your sons and other men who are forced to view my body for however long we are occupying the same space." Perceived power. Perceived confidence. In reality, utter disgrace. When did these girls become so obstinate that a mother's heartfelt request of them to simply wear a shirt that's a few inches longer was taken as an all out act of war? The loud-mouths have now infiltrated the consciousnesses of young women so much so that common courtesy seems a thing of the past. Well, courtesy to those who still hold those antiquated beliefs that young women should show a little decorum in their clothing choices anyway. Madness.
And good grief... the boobs. If a girl wants those things hanging out where we literally see everything but a nipple, by golly you better not violate her rights to do so. Loud-mouths have told her that her breasts signify power. Oh yeah, and if a man looks at them, he is the sick one, not them. I'm just here to tell you, sister, that if this happily married, heterosexual woman can't stop staring at your chest, then there's not a man alive who can either. But, that's really the point though isn't it? For people to stare so that the loud-mouths can call them out and re-direct everyone's attention to anything other than the fact that the clothing choice is cheap and tasteless. That definitely can't be it. It's always the men who are perverted and without self-control. You brood of hypocrites! No one wears next to nothing and wants to be left alone. No one exposes their body parts... on purpose... and wants no one to take notice. Who the heck do you think you are kidding? It's a sad day for me when scantily clad women with their fists and middle fingers in the air have become the go-to role models for young women and have made propriety a dirty word. And once again, Satan celebrates.
Honestly though, as irritating as all of this has become, none of it comes as a real surprise. All of this was foretold in the garden at the very beginning after Adam and Eve sinned for the first time.
To the woman He said,
“I will greatly multiply
Your pain in childbirth,
In pain you will bring forth children;
Yet your desire will be for your husband,
And he will rule over you.”
Genesis 3:16
What is essentially being said here is that as a direct result of sin having entered the world, women will now and forever struggle with the desire to exalt themselves as the head of their families, rendering the male role as null and void. But, you also see that God won't allow it. So the power struggle rages on. Criticism of men in general is the norm instead of appreciation. Tearing down instead of strengthening. Contempt instead of respect. And it all began because Eve decided that she knew better than God. Like it or not, that is the truth.
Now that we know what female empowerment is unquestionably NOT, let's talk about what it is. Biblical women-hood, where real strength, bravery and power exist in abundance, is a direct result of a Holy Spirit-filled life. Period. Through the world's lens, a woman is often thought strong who proudly states her intentions to withhold her affections from her husband and gives a cold shoulder instead. In reality, watching the way a Holy Spirit-filled woman loves her husband unconditionally, even on the hardest days, is to watch true strength in action. Through the world's lens, a woman is often thought brave who proudly berates, scolds, criticizes and reprimands her husband for his perceived failures. In reality, watching the way a Holy Spirit-filled women uplifts her husband, supports him, cares for him and respects him at all times, even on the hardest days, is to watch true bravery in action. And through the world's lens, a woman is often thought powerful who undermines her husband at every turn, constantly vying for the role of head of household. In reality, watching the way a Holy Spirit-filled woman selflessly provides what only she can provide for her family as a female creation of God is to watch true God-given power in action. The same power that it took to raise a dead man back to life to be seated at the right hand of God in heaven. By the way, it makes no difference if a woman is a full-time Fortune 500 CEO or a full-time homemaker. These same principles that define the life of a Holy Spirit-filled woman are present no matter what sort of arrangement exists inside a home. So please, don't even for a minute, mistake what the world defines as female empowerment for the actual thing which will only ever be attained through the filling of the Holy Spirit in her life.
For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
Mark 8:36
Feminists are aiming to gain the world, but at what cost? The noble fight for women's votes, equal representation in the work place, basic human rights, etc. seems to have been overshadowed by the undignified fight to kill the unborn, act as promiscuous as possible and basically do away with "gender" all together. And for what? To have more unhindered sex with as many partners as possible all the while continuing to call out men for having a biological reaction to it? Confused much? The former was/is valiant and crucial. The latter is loathsome and disgusting. As far as gender goes, I like being a woman. I love being a wife and a mother. I am comfortable in my own skin and don't feel threatened by anyone else's accomplishments. I enjoy being a cheerleader for my husband all the while taking healthy pride in my own work life (volunteer and paid). I fully comprehend that there will always be ignorant people of both sexes on both sides of the aisle, but thank the Lord that my identity is in something WAY bigger than anyone's earthly opinion.
Ladies... just WAIT until the first time you inextricably believe that you are who God says you are. Wait until you experience the pure joy that comes the moment you first realize you are the daughter of a King! How quickly all that worldly junk, name calling, power grabbing, posturing and loud-mouth listening will fade to nothingness when your only identity is God's identity. You can not even fathom freedom until that moment. You can not fathom strength, bravery, power, goodness, love, mercy and wholeness until that moment. How I beg you to stop grasping for the world's definition of the good life and take hold of Jesus and allow Him to give you the overflowing life. The world, despite it's best efforts to persuade you otherwise, does not have the secrets to enlightenment and female empowerment. SO far from it. The bible promises that the beginning of true wisdom is the fear of the Lord and He will give wisdom in abundance to all who earnestly call on His name and ask for it. And THAT, sisters, you can take to the bank every single time.
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