Women of the Christian Patriarchy
Here’s a fascinating (in a disturbing way) article about the push by Christian men to turn back the clock on women’s liberation and the women who are helping them do it.
As an alternative, the movement offers a "separate but equal" division of duties and authority. Men, the embodiment of Christ, are the breadwinners and spiritual leaders in worship, decision making, finances, and sex. Women, representing the church, are encouragers, "completers," and helpmeets, bound to transform the culture by example and to sacrifice in God’s honor.
This movement’s goal is to banish women from public life:
Reaching this austere conviction via shared women’s study is a process that oddly parallels the protofeminist consciousness-raising groups of the ’60s and ’70s, in which women recognized their common complaints as part of a larger pattern of oppression. Gloria Steinem called those groups "the primary way women discover that we are not crazy, the system is." But the Titus 2 message is precisely the opposite:
The Lord’s system is righteous, ungrateful feelings are sins to be surmounted, and feminist rebellion is a cultural scourge to be eradicated. The radical leap taken by Titus 2 women is unconditional surrender—an army of Phyllis Schlaflys, fighting for their own subordination based on the promise that the meek shall inherit the Earth. "It is a revolution that will take place on our knees," writes author and Peace’s contemporary Nancy Leigh DeMoss.
It would be one thing if these women were content to live as slaves themselves, but they’re not. They want the rest of us enslaved right along with them. And that makes it a problem.
I used to be a minister’s wife, so I really identify with this. I was actually scared to get an advanced degree because they thought I should be staying at home helping my husband in the first place. I did tone down my career goals (until I got out of it, that is). Luckily, I was still young enough to pursue my dreams when I left it all behind. Even if it’s not overt, it is the church that makes women feel guilty about leaving their children in daycare–the psychological studies don’t back it up, and actually suggest benefits to kids as long as the daycare isn’t shabby.
“Fighting for their own subordination”? What’s so tough about rolling over and playing dead?
For an even more disturbing look into this phenomenon, check out the True Women website:
http://www.truewoman.com/
There’s also a video that I subjected myself to called “The First Trumpet Blast Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women”. It’s painful to watch; an all woman cast explaining how women are supposed to be separate but equal to men, and their value is tied up in an identity related to men.
A moderately less painful synopsis is here: http://atheistmidwife.wordpress.com/2009/03/02/monstrous-women-synopsis/
It’s rough to watch women give away their rights. I lose the ability to feel compassion though when they want to take away MY rights.
Wow, that’s really sick. I am all for matriarchy, so I think this patriarchal garbage is just plain sick, pure and simple. I wish we could abolish all of these religions from the face of the earth, although I do like the idea of Wicca and other pagan religions.
You may enjoy Gwynne Dyer’s documentary about patriarchy. It’s available on YouTube in 5 parts which I’ve assembled on my blog:
http://humanistdad.blogspot.com/2008/03/required-viewing-for-all-women.html
He looks at the need for patriarchy from a militarized point of view.
@Laura – When I was a kid I hated pastors and their wives. Well, I still hate pastors, but I’ve developed more sympathy for the wives. The pressure to be the perfect woman/wife must have been intense.
@mikespeir - It’s tough because these groups teach that being human is a sin for women. We’re not just talking about the big things (college education, a career, pets instead of kids), but the little things like being grumpy in the morning.
@Michelle – I’d forgotten all about that film. Check out this page about Carol Everett, the woman who shows up right after Phylis in the opening.
@Wendy – The patriarchy might suck, but how would establishing a matriarchy help? How would we avoid the same problems we have now under the fathers?
@HumanistDad – Don’t have time to watch all the clips, but that first one was interesting. Thanks for sharing them.
I agree, Karen. The kind of submission they’re talking about, leaving aside how distasteful it is, is frankly impossible. And when these women fail (as they surely will), they’ll stagger under an even greater load of guilt, which will be manipulated so as to sink them even further into bondage.
Wow, that page on Carol Everett was quite educational. Thanks for the link!