At the core, feminism simple consists of the radical notion that women are people, too. Feminism only means we champion the dignity, rights, responsibilities, and glories of woman as equal of importance - not greater than, but certainly not less than - to those of men, and we refuse discrimination against women.
-Jesus Feminist by Sarah Bessey
I can’t tell you how often I’ve been told that feminists are “scary.”
I get it. Feminism is quite an aggressive word that bears the image of man-haters, bra-burners, activists and protesters, seemingly the harbingers of a future where women reign supreme. Feminists seem like a couple of crazy women who woke up on the wrong side of bed. That’s terrifying, right?
To be honest, it makes me wants to laugh, or scoff, or cry. I can never decide which.
Because you wanna know what else is scary?
Being harassed by middle-aged men during your shift. The constant fear of being attacked by a sketchy-looking stranger and, as a result, having to keep anything that doubles as a weapon (pepper sprays, keys, pocket knife) in your possession at all times. Ignoring serious health conditions because you’re told that you’re stressed, or exaggerating, or on your period. The fact that we’ve accepted violence against women as a totally normal thing that women must be prepared for at all times. If we were to go to other countries, you could get shot in the head for going to school or even abandoned at birth for simply being a girl. And as much as we’d like to think violence against women isn’t as close to home as we think, trust me, it is.
I’m not saying feminists can’t be scary. But if a few passionate activists are the scariest thing that has occurred in your life, you’ve got a pretty good life going for you.
Feminism isn’t about talking heads on CNN or topics on Jezebel. It’s about the lives of women, everywhere, in danger and distress. Feminists come off as angry because, just like every other woman, they’re sick and tired of the ridicule, discrimination, and injustice that they didn’t ask for. Do you think these women want to battle for their right to be taken seriously? Don’t you think that, every once in awhile, these women wish that they could go about their lives without having to think about all the ways they could fight off someone who could possibly attack them?
I’ll tell you what: I’m tired of making up synonyms and disclaimers about feminism so that people who reject feminism feel convenienced while the lives of an alarmingly great deal of women are jeopardized daily. If you don’t care that girls are subject to harm and trauma early on in their lives in seemingly normal settings like schools and workplaces, that’s your own choice.
In the kingdom of God, women are of great significance. Sarah, Ruth, Esther, Deborah, Mary, the woman at the well, Mary Magdalene - they took on roles that God did not view as less-than, but as important. The first people to know that Jesus was raised from the dead were women, and they were entrusted to spread the news that He was alive. These roles don’t overpower those of men, but they’re not overlooked either.
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Jesus Christ. - Galatians 3:28
We can argue all day about feminism, about what’s right and what’s wrong according to the Bible. At the end of the day, women are still directly affected by the sexism that weaves through multiple cultures, sometimes so subtle it’s considered normal. These women need to be protected, need to be fought for, need to know that there is deliverance in God’s kingdom. They need to know that they’re not crazy or being dramatic. Their struggles and their fears are valid, and God cares about them. These women need God.
I don’t care how scary they seem; give these women grace. Give them love. Give them God.
Obviously, feminism is a very broad subject that even this post can’t summarize. This means you’ll probably see other posts of mine on this subject. But this, this right here, it’s a start.
