Feminism. A term that has been around forever, and used incorrectly probably as much as correctly. A term that has many branched off sects. A term that represents a much involved movement. A term that consists of “radical,” “first wave,” “third wave,” “individualism feminism,” “modern,” etc. So many terms it makes my mind boggle. It’s a foggy and controversial topic, I’m just going to jump right in.
I’m not saying “feminism” is the best term for this movement. Or that men’s rights don't matter. Because believe me; I’m tired of modern feminists downgrading men and acting like they aren’t objectified either (You all will be seeing this article from me later on). But, I also do not see the point in arguing over the word “feminism” or arguing that the feminism movement is bad because the media is in a torrid affair with the loudest wild child in the group. In this article I am going to talk about the importance of feminism, but first let’s get some misconceptions out of the way.
Myth #1: The women’s rights suffrage movement and feminism are the same.
They are not the same. Yes, feminism deals with rights of women which includes voting, fair wage, etc., but the movements weren’t originally the same. "In the United States, it was not until the late 1910s that some women began to call themselves feminists, just as women were about to obtain voting rights. However, following the success of the suffrage campaign and throughout the period from the 1920s to the early 1960s those calling themselves feminists remained few in number, and both their advocacy and identity separated them from the majority of their former suffrage allies” (Moses). Good, that’s outta the way.
Myth #2 Feminism is important because it is a safeguard for legal rights.
Now, when I talk about feminism I’m not talking about legal rights. Women can vote. So we aren’t going to focus on that. Women can also have an education. (At my university there are more women than men). So, that’s out of focus too. Legal rights for the most part isn’t the issue here. Yes, I acknowledge that women in 3rd world countries do not have legal rights. However, 1: I’m mainly referring to American feminism in this article. 2: While, they do not have legal rights, that issue stems from the fact they don’t even have basic human rights (which the media doesn't tend to report on. This violation of their human rights culminates into one of many major issues that need to be heard: and that is human trafficking). With the accomplishment of legal and education rights, we need to focus on defeating “rights” that go against our intrinsic rights as human beings and children of God. “Rights” that unfortunately our society views as “liberation.”
Myth #3 Feminists are bra burning, man-hating, lesbian, anti-Christian, baby killing women.
Again nope. There is certainly a group who present themselves in this way. I previously referred to them as modern feminists, but despite the media giving them all the attention, they don’t represent the whole movement. Just because some people in the movement act horridly and disagree with you, that doesn’t mean others in the movement are all the same. What this group of feminists seem to lack in understanding is that having equality does not mean being the same as men. Feminism should not mean undermining men despite how women were treated in the past. Feminism doesn’t mean that we don’t need men. Nor that we should use the “men should grow up and treat women well despite what she’s wearing “card as an excuse to wear and act in an immodest way. Feminism doesn’t mean women can simply do whatever they want because they are a woman. Feminism doesn’t mean pulling the “I’m a woman, and it’s my body” card to justify killing their child in abortion. Of course modern feminists do all these things and scream it loud in the name of feminism, but we aren’t all like that. Just because we are women that doesn’t mean we can use that card to do whatever we want. We aren’t great simply because we’re women (cough, cough, Hillary Clinton). That’s a cheap exhibition of what it means to be a feminist. We cannot do whatever we want just because we are women. So all these examples may be real things, but they do not define the group as whole.
Myth #4 You can’t be Christian and be a feminist.
Again, the whole movement does not consist of the modern feminists. Feminism is still a movement and it has validity.
Let’s look at the Merriam Webster definition:
“1: the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes
2: organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests”
The issue is how women are treated. Legal rights? We got that. Human respect? Well, in a world that lacks respect for human beings since before they were born to even after death, no we don’t have that. And modern feminists are at the forefront of this unholy crusade.
As a Catholic, I believe in the kind of feminism that promotes the authentic femininity of women. I believe in the kind of feminism that promotes women who are not afraid to put their child first, and those who can have a career but also choose to embrace motherhood and married life without being told she is “wasting her chance at a career.” Women should know their value comes from God and not by decreasing their self-worth under the ruse that their body has more value than their souls. We need a movement that will make a change in a culture that continuously degrades our bodies and our souls. And yes, this type of authentic femininity can be defined as an “organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.”
Why feminism is important.
Some women are treated as sex objects, literally sold into slavery, and are killing their own children. This is why we need to fight. I believe feminism, a movement that should be changing these things, is important. Because we need to combat this, by yes, putting on our spiritual warfare, but also by acting.
The porn, abortion and beauty industry are destroying women. (Which interesting to note, even some non-Christian feminists are against some, if not all, of these. Even if we don’t agree with all of the same things, it is possible to work together on one specific issue.)
Feminism gets a bad rap among the more conservative in nature due to the type of feminism that like to dis men, have their bra burning extravaganzas, and of course who think a woman’s “right” includes that of ending the life of her child. We can choose to accept the definition I mentioned earlier or we can choose to wallow in the waters of the modern feminist’s storm.
Yes, they are feminists, yes their movement is bad. But, that doesn't mean feminism “an organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests” is a bad thing. The problem is people associate feminism with the more radical approach. They want the same thing as us: to see women treated equally. What they consider equal, and how they go about it is certainly different and often wrong. But, that doesn't mean we should stop. It is true, we could ditch the term “feminism” all together. But if we want to show the world what we’re trying to do, that’s easier in a movement that already exists.
What can you do?
I don’t think we will ever be rid of all of the evils that have come out of this version of feminism and the many corruptions in society. We can’t let it defeat us though. Here are some ideas to make sure that doesn’t happen.
1: Stop arguing over whether we choose to use the word feminism. 2: Of course prayer (the most common being praying outside of abortion clinics). 3: Act. Get involved with the many groups and organizations in place to assist women and their families. There are crisis pregnancy centers, organizations such as Porn Kills Love (http://fightthenewdrug.org/get-involved/), resources from really authentic women (Leah Darrow: https://leahdarrow.com/), organizations that combat human trafficking (http://diningfordignity.org/u-s-sex-trafficking-facts/#), and of course homeless and women shelters. All of these places will gladly accept donations, but you can also get involved with them and help others hands on. Of course there are never enough places or groups like these, so you could even start your own!
We have to be an advocate for feminism in the sense that we're advocating for their rights as women of God. Their rights to not be sold into prostitution. Their rights to not have their bodies treated and viewed simply as objects. Their rights to not be lied to about abortion. Their children’s rights to not be killed. Their rights to be able to accept their call to motherhood without being told they are “wasting a career you could have had.” Their rights to know their own dignity.
Attributions: Moses, Claire Goldberg. "What's In A Name?" On Writing the History of Feminism." Feminist Studies 38.3 (2012): 757-779. (I found this on Academic Search Complete for a previous research paper.)
