In the early stages of 2020, there were threats of international war. A topic that people have started joking about then was whether feminists should now be required to take military training because they “wanted to be treated equally to men.” While this suggestion did get a few laughs and memes from the general public, it sparked two reactions from women. One group responded jokingly, saying they would rather “stay in the kitchen where they belong,” while others were angered and considered this to be sexist. Amidst the contrasting opinions, it’s critical as Christians to rely on God’s Word to understand the correct perception of God’s view on the patriarchy, gender roles, and equality.
Feminism versus the patriarchy has become controversial in the 21st century. From online to the workplace, to showbiz, and even at home, the way women have been treated has changed drastically from fifty years ago. Women’s rights activists have been much more active than ever. Many feminists like to push that women should not be under men and that they should be given every single right that men have as well. These women say that they are only pushing for their rights, but others would argue that they already have enough rights and are taking them too far and being a ‘man-hating movement.’ So, do they have a point?
When faced with situations like these, where have we to turn but God’s word? First off, God is referred to as He/Him/His, which already gives us a feel of what its stand is on patriarchy. The Bible is full of stories of the patriarchs, from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob. God states in Colossians 3:18 that wives do have to submit to their husbands, and in their churches at the time, women were not allowed to speak up, but instead, relay their information to the husband. Clearly, the Bible places importance on patriarchy, with the male as the head. Although, it never mentions the woman to be lesser than the man as a person or that the man owns her. The Bible simply says her roles are different. The man will have no excuse either if he abuses his wife or the authority he has, as the Bible tells him to respect not only his wife but his neighbors as well.
Both men and women have roles in society that God Himself has assigned, and who are we to fight against that? Men are the heads of the households and earn for the family, while the woman’s job is to be his helper and run the household. Being under the man does not mean the woman cannot have a say and cannot work, as long as she can perform the tasks naturally given to her. Her role also means she cannot neglect the state of her family for the sake of her work.
To conclude, what is important is not feminism but equality. Equity. That all people will have the same fundamental human rights but also be treated differently according to specific needs that God made uniquely for each gender. It is no secret that both genders are very different, which is why we need to try to understand each other as much as possible and not make assumptions so that we can adjust to our neighbors based on their needs. The general solution? Be nice, fair, and respectful to everyone, regardless of gender, for God gave us all equal importance.
Comments