An Open Letter To Anna Duggar
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

An Open Letter To Anna Duggar

Give 'em hell, Anna.

104
An Open Letter To Anna Duggar

In the past three months, the Duggars haven’t caught much of a break. Let’s face it: it’s not like they deserve one. In May, In Touch magazine posted some of the details behind Josh Duggar’s 2002-2003 molestation scandal, where it was revealed that Josh molested several young girls, at least two of which were his sisters. Josh resigned from his position as Executive Director at the Family Research Council, TLC pulled 19 Kids and Counting, and the empire-sized family began to fall off their high horses.

A couple weeks ago, hackers infiltrated the Ashley Madison website, and revealed that Josh Duggar had two separate paid accounts (that totaled over $900) linked to his grandmother’s home in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and his past home in Oxen Hill, Maryland. Josh issued an apology on his family’s website, saying things like, “I have been the biggest hypocrite ever” and admitting to both having a secret pornography addiction and cheating on his wife, Anna. Of course, the Duggars edited his apology (but not before it could be reposted in its original words online), asked people for prayer, and expect it to go away.

Unfortunately for them, it’s not likely to. A homophobic, traditional family values man who has both molested his sisters and cheated on his wife? It’s nearly too ironic to be true, but it is. Fans, critics, and even family members (specifically, Anna Duggar's brother) have been speaking their support and critique of Josh, but the Duggar family has more or less swept Anna Duggar out of the spotlight and under the rug, where women belong, right?

Anna’s job in the show is to periodically appear on screen, holding a child, cooking, cleaning, or supporting her husband at his job at a car dealership. In the light of the past two scandals, Anna is supposedly ready to, “stand behind her husband,” “absorb the blame,” and “pray a lot.” In the week immediately following this scandal, people commented, tweeted, and posted their support for Anna Duggar, hoping that she’d divorce him and settle down with a nice man who has no history of molestation or infidelity. Now, with Josh checked into long-term rehab, will Anna find her voice and place?

Of course, we also have to talk about Anna and Josh’s children, ages 5, 4, and 2, with another child who was born just several weeks ago. Are they going to grow up with a child-molester and unfaithful father as a role model? Are they going to learn from their mother to submit to an unhealthy relationship?

If we think that society is good at telling women to be submissive and inferior to their male counterparts, the Duggars bring it to a whole new level. They still live in their old-fashioned beliefs that women exist to cook, clean, and raise kids, and to turn their cheeks while their husbands are off gallivanting. Anna Duggar is caught in their web, and part of it is understanding the position she is in: her religion dictates that divorce is harmful and weakens the name of strong family values, but surely, no more harmful than staying in a dangerously controlling, oppressive, and unfaithful marriage. Anna’s job isn’t to raise children and smile while her husband garners huge amounts of bad press for his family, or, it shouldn’t be.

Maybe the better question should be: How can we present this issue so that they have a choice? How can we show Anna Duggar and women worldwide that it isn’t their job to stand behind your husband when it means sacrificing their happiness, it isn’t their job to absorb the blame for their husband’s mistakes, and it isn’t their job to be oppressed by their religion to maintain a façade of “good, traditional, family values.” So, Anna Duggar, it's up to you now. But first, remember that it isn’t your fault, you have the rights to take a stand, and you should refuse to be oppressed by the patriarchy or your religion.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

84920
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

51124
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

986589
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments