Women Liberating Themselves from Liberation

[Willamena]

Chicago, USA, October, 2008 at the True Woman Conference ’08, 6,000 women gathered to protest the kind of liberation forced on them by Western society.

Women's 'Liberation' Through Submission: An Evangelical Anti-Feminism Is Born | Reproductive Justice and Gender | AlterNet

The terms of the manifesto (downloadable here) serve as a good shorthand description of the aims and principles of the submission and patriarchy movement. Signers affirm their belief that women and men were designed to reflect God in “complementary and distinct ways”; that today’s culture has gone astray distinctly because of its egalitarian approach to gender (and that it’s “experiencing the consequences of abandoning God’s design for men and women”); and that while men and women are equally valuable in the eyes of God, here on earth they are relegated to separate spheres at home and in the church.
The “countercultural” attitudes that signers support include the idea that women are called to affirm and encourage godly masculinity, and honor the God-ordained male headship of their husbands and pastors; that wifely submission to male leadership in the home and church reflects Christ’s submission to God, His Father; that “selfish insistence on personal rights is contrary to the spirit of Christ”; and, in a pronatalist turn of phrase that recalls the rhetoric of the Quiverfull conviction, their willingness to “receive children as a blessing from the Lord.”
Finally, in a reference to the importance of woman-to-woman mentoring within the conservative church, they affirmed that “mature Christian women” are obliged to disciple the next generation of Christian wives, training them in matters of submission and headship, in order to provide a legacy of “fruitful femininity.”

Thoughts?

[Phasmid]

The 1940's called, they want their gender policy back.

[Odion]

Originally Posted by Willamena

<<snip>>Thoughts?

Liberation through submission?
Uh.

Allowing oneself not to have the rights that feminism has fought for... wow.
... what a shame.

Pretty soon they may even begin being silent in church, continually wearing headcoverings, and obeying their husbands no matter what...

I think this spells out a growing fear of secular culture, more than anything - with the rise in secularism, some people are beginning to feel threatened by it and thus are beginning to delve more into literalism as well as fundamentalism. I think this will begin to become a more growing problem as time goes on, and we are going to have a situation where this is becoming more commonplace.

My $0.02 anyway, but I hope I'm mistaken!

[Heneni]

I agree that women are not to be pastors. (teachers are a different thing) And im happy to submit to a pastor( a god fearing one). And im happy also to let a man get on with being the leader in the household and my leader. In other settings (outside of marriage) the bible does not teach such submission and i dont consider every man 'out there' to be my 'spiritual leader' or that he has the right to keep me under subjection.

Heneni

[gnomon]

My first thought is to quip, "Are any of them single?".

Kidding aside it sounds rather disturbing.

We believe that the creation of humanity as male and female was a purposeful and magnificent part of God's wise plan, and that men and women were designed to reflect the image of God in complementary and distinct ways.

So much for the homosexuals, transsexuals and intersex.

We realize that we live in a culture that does not recognize God's right to rule, does not accept Scripture as the pattern for life, and is experiencing the consequences of abandoning God's design for men and women.

All the world's problems is everyone else's fault.

Marriage, as created by God, is a sacred, binding, lifelong covenant between one man and one woman.

Once again, so much for the homosexuals, transsexuals and intersex.

Selfish insistence on personal rights is contrary to the spirit of Christ who humbled Himself, took on the form of a servant, and laid down His life for us.

Holy canole, Batman!

God's plan for gender is wider than marriage; all women, whether married or single, are to model femininity in their various relationships, by exhibiting a distinctive modesty, responsiveness, and gentleness of spirit.

Know your place, woman!

Some parts of that manifesto, if removed and presented alone, would not sound so bad. But the whole context is rather disturbing.

[Wandered Off]

I don't see the need for a manifesto or movement. If an individual woman wants to be this way, it's her decision. As long as someone else doesn't force it on her, I figure it's her choice. That's what true liberation is all about.

That said, I find some of their views silly.

[MissAlice]

I guess this is why I could never fit in with the majority of women especially religious ones.

I like my individual freedom thankyou very much.

Tis ashame some women think that they are not allowed to have an opinion or even voice one...

[Paul Rusco]

In short, I think Secular societies need to be more brave, and innovate new ways in which we can exist in the modern world without resorting to old religious traditions that have the potential to harbour descrimination.

Don't get me wrong, if a Woman wants to be a housewife, then so be it. If a couple mutually agree on a Patriachal family order then so be it, just aslong as the alternative option is present.

But personally, rather than reverting back to religious ways, Secular society needs to be brave and think to itself what are the best ways of dealing with modern day problems, then we should overcome them and continue to progress. Other less fortunate people of the past generations have tried, fought and died so much for us to be here, let's not put all that to shame.

One step forward, no steps back plox.

[Papersock]

I think it is kind of sad.
If some women want to be submissive to men, then fine, let them (though I don't think they should have to be). But you can't expect every woman to live that way.
I dislike their definition of "femininity."

[Amill]

If they prefer to be their husband's property, rather than an individual, then so be it

As long as they don't start telling other women that they need to do the same.