Thoughts on Feminism & Womanism

I strongly believe that, if a man is not taking to heart a woman's opinions or if he is treating her as though she is of lower status than himself, he is a bad man. NOT that men in general are bad for what this one man has wrong.

I am sure that, even in the Bible, the book of truth, I have seen it stated that a man is to treat his bride as Jesus treated the church, and that Jesus treated the church as his bride. This was with the ultimate consideration, gentleness, respect, and love.

Does it also say in the Bible that a woman is to submit to her husband? Yes. It absolutely does. Does this mean that she is not allowed to think for herself? Hold a high position at her job? Voice her own opinions? Have all the same privileges as man? I do not believe so. I believe that submitting to a man is viewed in a much, much more negative connotation than it was originally intended when it was written thousands of years ago. It does not help that trashy, mainstream literature (cough, 50 Shades, cough) has painted "dominance and submission" as a sexual picture. But sex sells. People buy into that. So, through that, the Biblical perspective is lost....that being that submission is good. And it isn't sexual at all. 

Submission is basically trust. Submission is putting the faith in your husband or significant other to make sound, thorough, Jesus and prayer-based decisions that will benefit the both of you. Submission does not mean that the woman does not get a say, or that she has to "go to the kitchen" or "the bedroom" or "go clean something" and keep her mouth shut. And any man who toys with these sexist remarks is only harming himself.

Submission is about sitting down with each other and discussing big issues, then the woman placing her trust in the man's hands so that he may make a final decision that he believes will guard, protect, and uplift her. It's your classic case of chivalry.

And girls? You don't have to be your own hero. You don't have to conform to the social norms of the modern world. You don't have to go out searching for someone that will fill a void. You don't have to open doors or touch wallets or pull out chairs. "Prince Charming" exists. You just have to be willing to wait. My mother and her mother before her have always said, "never let a man know how much you are capable of," and I believe in that. Have the ability to fend for yourself, but do not think you have to.

My point is...."feminism" in its rawest, most radical form has done more harm than good. It has incorrectly stereotyped men as being evil and, in turn, women who live by feminist values have been incorrectly stereotyped as ladies who don't shave their armpits or "man-haters" or, worse yet, "dikes".

See, I believe in "girl power". I believe in what Mom and Grandma Anita have taught me. Be strong, take heart, go out and achieve great things....but don't let this destroy the things you believe in. The way that Jesus demands that a good relationship be. The tradition of a man working for the sake of his home and the protection of his wife. The tradition of a woman working hard from sun-up to sun-down to uplift her family and her husband. The Proverbs 31 Woman.