So here is my second blog in five minutes. I had to get this out!
I just started reading a book that a lot of women around here are loving. It's called Fascinating Womanhood. Interesting title, I like the word fascinating. However, I have become fascinated for all the reasons the author, Helen Andelin, probably didn't intend.
The basic premise is 'How the Ideal Woman Awakens A Man's Deepest Love and Tenderness'. Hmmm, well that would be awesome. The ideal woman? Let's have a read I thought.
The first thing that struck me was a personal testimony during an initial flip-through was on page 317 of the May 2007 edition. A woman is recounting her marriage relationship before reading the book on F.W. Describing her husband she says this, 'When he was home he was always drinking, yelling, and slapping me around...I feared him and almost hated him...I felt helpless...where had things gone wrong?' Then she read the book and realised, 'All this time I had blamed my husband for our bad marriage. How wrong was I! Bit by bit I started to change, I bought new feminine dresses in soft colours with full skirts, let my nails grow and put a permanent in my hair....I did these and much more, trying to show him in all ways, at all times, that I accept him as he is, a man and leader.'
Well, sheesh, it doesn't say if he stopped beating her or not but at least she had nice pretty skirts and long nails. Where do you even start with this kind of writing? In New Zealand, women are murdered regularly at the hands of their spouses and to have these kind of dangerous ideas floating around in the church is absolutely reprehensible!!! That it is the woman's fault that her husband is an alcoholic abuser? A woman has the absolute right to feel safe in her own home, regardless of what the hell she is wearing!
The book had me laughing almost to the point of tears where it stated that, 'Women need protection from work that is not appropriate for the feminie sex, such as driving a truck, construction work, road work or anything greasy or masculine. Some types of office work are inappropriate, such as executive jobs, management positions, police work or top political posts.' (p. 164) ARE YOU KIDDING ME???
I wouldn't really pay this book any other attention other than the fact that this is being read by many, many women around here!
You want a Godly, fascinating womanhood? Proverbs 31 is a much better outline for a strong woman.
Ahhh, that's my rant for the day.
Love
Jane.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. It worries me, too, that this thinking is so permeating our "Christian Culture". I can give you about a dozen more books that spout the same ideas, if you are interested. This has been some what of a pet project for me the last few years. I would love to talk to you more about it. And share resources.
ReplyDeletebtw, blogs are a very close 2nd on my list of internet addictions (FB being 1st).
Hey Amie, man, blogs are great but my housework gets pretty neglected! I need to set some boundaries or I would be writing and reading all day long!
ReplyDeletetrue that - I am just really efficient, hehe ;). Really though, I still have time nursing, so that keeps me spending time in front of the computer. :)
ReplyDeleteAs to the actual post. I had not heard of this book. I think the whole push for "true women hood" or "biblical women hood" is a reaction to our culture. Which I understand, and agree with, the reaction that is. I am not suggesting that we go back before women's suffrage, but it is frustrating, for me, that the *EXPECTATION* is that a women would find her joy or calling outside of the home. Again, not that there is anything anti-biblical about it if she does, but I think there are some misspent priorities/ expectations.
Now, how this plays all into a women having to submit to her husband to the point of abuse I truly do not understand that leap?
amie, see the blog post i am about to put up...and tell me what you think...
ReplyDeleteJane it so nice to read this...I totally agree, it is very frustrating to be a strong independent woman within the Christian Culture. Keep it up.
ReplyDelete