I mentioned the Women Unbound reading challenge a couple of posts back. The organizers have invited us to read a pre-determined number of ’women’s studies’ books between 11/1/09 and 11/30/10 and, in the midst, think well about issues of gender, issues of feminism, and for me…issues of faith. They pose the following questions as helpful conversation-starters, thought-provokers, insights into our ways of knowing, seeing, and being. Here are my responses. Would welcome yours, as well!
1. What does feminism mean to you?
Feminism is a hugely significant category for me. It informs my way of looking at the world, my relationships, my parenting, my view and reading of Scripture, my theology, my past, present, and future. Once I’d had a taste of feminism, an understanding of its history and impact and import, I could not ignore it – nor did I want to. It has become my overarching lens. I am grateful.
2. Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why or why not?
Absolutely. You can read more about this in the post I wrote a few days ago: How I became a (Christian) feminist. Why? It matters. It’s important. It changes everything. And in this case, change is definitely good!
3. What do you consider the biggest obstacle women face in the world today? Has that obstacle changed over time, or does it basically remain the same?
Women continue to face the sometimes blatant, but more often insipid realities of objectification, harm and bias that reside within the abiding construct of patriarchy. Because things continue to improve we sometimes miss the subtleties that work against us. Further, we often don’t do the personal work as women (or men) to be acutely aware of the tireless and painful strides made by the women who came before us or the ongoing realities that women face in our own neighborhoods and around the world. The biggest obstacle? For the most part, the reality of women’s continued (mis)treatment (e.g., sexual trafficking, genital mutilation, lack of rights) on a global scale is unspoken, unseen, un-touched. Unbelievable.
FEMINISMS IMPACT ON MY FAITH:
You knew I had more, right? Because I’ve vowed to write in my deep-down voice these next 30 days (after which I guess I can go back to my shallow, self-serving one. Whew!)
I want to say one last thing about my experience of feminism’s impact on my faith. Admittedly, most of this is covered in the above-mentioned post but I also need to say that venturing into feminism’s realms, though incredibly redemptive, has also made it incredibly difficult to step back into my own religious traditions, at least as I had previously known and experienced them. A feminist interpretation of Scripture is rare and critical. That “reading” if applied, changes church hierarchy, polity, and doctrine. In its absence I struggle to re-engage, to find my footing, to hear my own voice.
Still, I feel its call. I feel my own heart being tugged toward those womb-like waters – no longer as a child, but as a strong, assertive, opinionated, educated feminist who has much to say, much to offer, much to invite.
When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. (1 Corinthians 13:11-12)
I’d love to hear your thoughts on feminism. Comment below! And I’d love to encourage you to join the Women Unbound reading challenge.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great post. SO thoughtful,clear, honest and open. I consider myself a feminist as well. I sometime struggle with the word because it seems as if its a dirty word in certain quarters. I name it and proclaim it proudly not just for myself but for my daughters.
I hear” your voice” and it is singing!
Desiree: Thank you SO much. Yes…for our daughters. And for each other. Always.
I consider myself a feminist, but it was a long time before I felt comfortable with that label. Mostly because it brought visions of bra-burnings and a level of aggressiveness that I didn’t necessarily want to be associated with. And to me, the whole idea of feminism is that we get to choose how we live, what we do, we get to be comfortable in our own skin and be the best of who we are.
So yes, I consider myself a feminist and do think that the working world reflects the issues that still exist and brings them to light. They don’t create them but reflect them. It’s an area where they’re easier to see and is more comfortable, for most, to talk about.
How this has affected my faith? Well, I could write a book about that.
All the best!
deb
Deb Owen´s last blog ..anything is possible, everything is not
Thanks, Deb. And how about I write the book about that…and interview you?
I’m already writing the book — and would like to interview YOU — or at least “sit down” and talk sometime. Here’s my start-of-challenge meme if you want to know a bit about me:
http://bonniesbooks.blogspot.com/2009/11/women-unbound-meme-to-start-challenge.html
Bonnie Jacobs´s last blog ..Question of the Week ~ civic virtue