I feel like I should be a feminist
"Feminism is aimed at defining and establishing equal political, economic, cultural, social rights for women; in education and employment. A feminist advocates or supports the rights and equality of women." - Wikipedia.
I believe that girls should have equal rights as boys do to go to school and women should have equal rights as men do to be gainfully employed and paid their wages. In this sense, I am a feminist. I believe in the empowerment of women; to be able to fund and provide for themselves without having to completely depend on a man. So women should go to school and work and have resources made available to them, in this patriarchal world that has, for centuries, considered women as second class citizens.
Now, the Bible says that, like Christ is the head of the church, the husband/man is the head of the wife/woman. What happens here is that a hierarchy/authority system is inputed, where Paul tells women to submit to their husbands, since he is in a position of authority over them. We see this hierarchy also laid out in this verse.
Okay so, this has been unpalatable to me for a while now. And it seems in direct contradiction to my belief that women are equal to men and should be given equal opportunities. But what the Bible says is that women are placed under the man and that the man becomes their head -- caregiver, provider, protector -- like Christ is all these and more to the church. I have a friend who says that his women is supposed to be wrapped under his arm, by his chest, where he can protect and care for her. Sweet, isn't it? So, we use the model of Christ and the church and apply it to man and woman.
Aspects of scripture (and perhaps scripture in entirety) come across to me as patriarchal in nature. Paul tells women not to speak in gatherings; in Jewish tradition women do not eat with men etc. So I feel, at times, that the Bible doesn't support concepts of feminism. At a point, when I would read the letters Paul wrote in the Bible, I felt he was a bit maybe slightly low-key chauvinistic? I'm sure he was a great guy, I'm just saying.
So, here is why I feel like I should be a feminist."Feminism" (that is, the definition above) is not wrong until it begins to toy with the rules and order God has set in place. The order is that Christ is the head of the church and, following that model, man is the head of the woman.
Now, 'head' does not mean 'ruler'. If we follow the Christ/church model, it means that man is called to love, care for, give himself for, pursue, provide for and protect the woman. I talked about this in a previous post. Its easy and tempting, as a woman, to see the dynamics as only favouring men; it is easy to view it only from one end, but men are called to give their lives up for women as Christ gave his up for his church. If you really think about it, that's a huge responsibility.
Of course, some men don't understand this and can be very oppressing of men in their mentality, enjoying every bit of their masculine privilege. She is my wife, it is her duty to cook and clean for me. Why did I marry her? What is she here for? See, that right there is what pisses people off.
Feminists loud their voices when faced with such myopic mentalities (and, of course, most men quote the scriptures mentioned above in defense of their stance). Most feminists resist men like these who do not see their fault (that a woman is not in your life simply to be your cook, maid and birth your children). There is more to a woman and she is there as a companion who is equal to you intellectually, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and if she sees you displaying the characteristics of Christ -- who was selfless and loving -- submitting to you as her head will come naturally.
I believe that girls should have equal rights as boys do to go to school and women should have equal rights as men do to be gainfully employed and paid their wages. In this sense, I am a feminist. I believe in the empowerment of women; to be able to fund and provide for themselves without having to completely depend on a man. So women should go to school and work and have resources made available to them, in this patriarchal world that has, for centuries, considered women as second class citizens.
Now, the Bible says that, like Christ is the head of the church, the husband/man is the head of the wife/woman. What happens here is that a hierarchy/authority system is inputed, where Paul tells women to submit to their husbands, since he is in a position of authority over them. We see this hierarchy also laid out in this verse.
Okay so, this has been unpalatable to me for a while now. And it seems in direct contradiction to my belief that women are equal to men and should be given equal opportunities. But what the Bible says is that women are placed under the man and that the man becomes their head -- caregiver, provider, protector -- like Christ is all these and more to the church. I have a friend who says that his women is supposed to be wrapped under his arm, by his chest, where he can protect and care for her. Sweet, isn't it? So, we use the model of Christ and the church and apply it to man and woman.
Aspects of scripture (and perhaps scripture in entirety) come across to me as patriarchal in nature. Paul tells women not to speak in gatherings; in Jewish tradition women do not eat with men etc. So I feel, at times, that the Bible doesn't support concepts of feminism. At a point, when I would read the letters Paul wrote in the Bible, I felt he was a bit maybe slightly low-key chauvinistic? I'm sure he was a great guy, I'm just saying.
So, here is why I feel like I should be a feminist."Feminism" (that is, the definition above) is not wrong until it begins to toy with the rules and order God has set in place. The order is that Christ is the head of the church and, following that model, man is the head of the woman.
Now, 'head' does not mean 'ruler'. If we follow the Christ/church model, it means that man is called to love, care for, give himself for, pursue, provide for and protect the woman. I talked about this in a previous post. Its easy and tempting, as a woman, to see the dynamics as only favouring men; it is easy to view it only from one end, but men are called to give their lives up for women as Christ gave his up for his church. If you really think about it, that's a huge responsibility.
Of course, some men don't understand this and can be very oppressing of men in their mentality, enjoying every bit of their masculine privilege. She is my wife, it is her duty to cook and clean for me. Why did I marry her? What is she here for? See, that right there is what pisses people off.
Feminists loud their voices when faced with such myopic mentalities (and, of course, most men quote the scriptures mentioned above in defense of their stance). Most feminists resist men like these who do not see their fault (that a woman is not in your life simply to be your cook, maid and birth your children). There is more to a woman and she is there as a companion who is equal to you intellectually, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and if she sees you displaying the characteristics of Christ -- who was selfless and loving -- submitting to you as her head will come naturally.
Interesting... But conclusively women re subjected to men not for slavery or second class but as the old good book says. Nice work IB
ReplyDeleteCan we look at the quoted scripture and consider its context? Paul referring to 'the man' and 'the woman' seems to suggest a marriage relationship; it may be that the order in marriage has the man as the head. But in other aspects of life, this may not apply, as the bible shows us that there were women leaders in the church (phoebe from Paul's letters comes to mind).
ReplyDeleteBut in agreement with your piece, reading through the new testament I find that Paul seemed (was) very patriarchal.
Cheers
Hello Ebuwa,
DeleteYes, I understand your point. There was Deborah too and Ann in the Bible who were spiritual leaders. You make an interesting point; perhaps it is only in the institution of marriage that man is head...
Ibiene