10/9/2016 2 Comments Separate but Equal?In my advanced composition class, I selected a writing prompt that asked me to define “Christian Feminism.” I was hesitant at first, because this type of topic can often become rant-like and I also don’t have a clear picture of Christian feminism; it’s somewhat foreign territory to me. And then I read the second line of the prompt: “Your thoughts could be read at a women’s devotional or conference,” revealing to me the problem that I've encountered too many times in my life. So, of course I couldn’t pass it up, and I wrote about what I’d like the picture to look like for all of us in the church:
On a cold weekend in January, I sat in an outdated college classroom filled with adolescent girls, with my 12-year-old sister by my side. I was 15 at the time and so excited about the women’s youth conference class, as there are few chances to attend a lecture given by a woman in my religious culture. What was said in that classroom, however, inside the wood-paneled walls, awakened me to a host of problems in the church that has pierced my consciousness ever since. I was expecting a class about my faith and struggles, but was handed a message of discrimination and depreciation. I was told that serving God consisted of honoring and submitting to a husband, of taking care of a home and children ― assuming, of course, that I have a husband and children to truly “find fulfillment in life.” I grew up in a wonderful home with doting parents who wanted my sister and I to know that we could do and be anything in life. And I believed them. I believed I was enough. But sitting in that metal classroom chair, surrounded by young, impressionable female souls, I was so confused as to why the church didn’t agree. Five years later, I consider myself a Christian still, despite many questions I still have about faith. And I consider myself a feminist, despite the string of offensive words that often come with the label. I hope to someday put the two words together, but so far I can only claim that I am a Christian and a feminist. That “and,” typically a simple and innocent word, stands firmly in between my moral and my spiritual values, between what I intuitively feel and what my faith says I should cling to. In the Christian faith, there are deeply rooted traditions telling us what we should believe about women, what women can be and say and do. These traditions remain, keeping men and women separate but “equal”; all the while the roles of women everywhere outside the church continue to be shaped by society and culture. Christian feminism is the belief that women should be seen as intellectual, social and spiritual equals to their Christian brothers. Christian feminism in its ideal state should be about closing the gap between genders in our lives, leadership and practices. It should push us to be open to new ways of thinking about men and women and the church. And when we say, “love your neighbor as yourself,” it should open the door for our female neighbors too. There is no denying that we live in a world bent unfairly for women. We live in a world where 511 million women are illiterate; where 35% of women have been subjected to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, or a combination thereof; where 1.65 billion women live on less than $2 a day, a disproportionate two-thirds of the 2.5 billion people classified as poor; and where at least 100 million girls are missing from the population because of gendercide and the preference for male children. Christians know this is wrong. Some Christians even devote their lives to solving these problems, and rightfully so. Our faith should drive us to seek equality for all humans regardless of race, ethnicity, social status or gender. But why do we often turn the other way and ignore the discriminatory traditions and beliefs that reside inside our own churches? I’ve seen women told that their place in the church is preparing potlucks and teaching children’s classes. I’ve seen women excluded from worship because of how they were dressed, because it’s their fault if someone lusts after them. I’ve seen women taught modesty in such a way that conditioned them to hate their own God-given bodies. I’ve been one of these women. Similarly, I’ve seen men forced to take on roles in the church that they aren’t comfortable with simply because of their gender. I’ve seen men discredited and told that they are programmed to sin when they look at a woman. I’ve seen men convinced that their eyes consume instead of see. We are constantly dehumanizing one another, our brothers and sisters in the church. With this mindset we are flattening the beautiful complexity of our souls. This is why Christian feminism is important. Christian feminism is for all the strong women who have been scolded and made to apologize for not being meek or gentle enough. It is for the men who have been taught that they are only sexual beings and the women who have been taught that they are only sexual objects. It is for the people who don’t get married and don’t have children, and for the people who do. It is for the people who don’t fulfill the “roles” that church traditions ― not scripture ― dictate. I fully believe Christian feminism is possible, because I believe the character of Jesus was a feminist. I hope words like these aren’t only read at a women’s devotional. I pray they aren’t just spoken inside the wood-paneled walls of a girls’ class at a youth conference. I hope we can all recognize that feminism ― especially Christian feminism ― is not a female issue; it’s a human issue. It’s a soul issue. Maybe it is fundamental to see that God is female too, despite all the “Father,” “He,” and “Him.” And maybe our souls are equal in worth after all. Of course we are exquisitely different and unique, but ultimately Jesus wanted the same thing for all of us: salvation. “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus” -Gal. 3:28. It’s time to recognize that. I want to call myself a Christian feminist, no “and” necessary. Written by Sarah
2 Comments
Jonathon
10/16/2016 09:15:58 pm
Sarah, your essay is incredible. I love your sentiments and the power with which you expressed them. Thank you for bringing a new source of light to this still-unresolved issue. The world needs to hear a voice like yours. :)
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Beautifully written. Thank you for sharing this. I'm sorry it took me so long to find it and encourage you to keep wrestling through this seeming dichotomy. I can't cleanly and neatly retrace my steps of reaching this place, but I am firmly a Christian feminist and believe that God -- each manifestation of God -- is too.
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