All the time I hear all the many people talk about how women are still not equal. Movements like #Me Too have stormed the social media world. You can’t be seen as a proper woman without being a feminist. We can thank a woman called Betty Friedan for all of this.
In this series of blogs, I will be taking you through all the pros and cons of the “isms” in this world, as I feel that as teenage girls we must be acutely aware of what is going on around us in order for us to respond as God’s girls.
As you have probably guessed “Feminism” is my topic for today. Feminism is the closest “ism” to women especially teenage girls. As I have said before, I will be taking you through the pros and cons. Here are some.
- The suffragette movement
The pros
This year marks a 100 years since women got the vote. This is definitely a pro. If not for women who fought for this I would not be able to aspire to a career in politics. But is it as good as we think?
The cons
So much violence arose from it. Public spaces where destroyed. Famous paintings were slashed by women. I have always been a supporter of diplomacy instead of war. Couldn’t women find a better way to get the vote? The vote was a good thing, but what about the steps women used to get it?
- Equal Pay
The pros
Equal pay is a good thing. Everyone should be paid the same if they are doing the same job. Whether old or young, male or female, rich or poor. This is so good, but what about the process women are still using to get their way?
The cons
Carrie Gracie resigned from her position as chief China editor because she wasn’t getting equal pay. I mean, defiance yet again! Most people look at this as a bold and strong way to show men we aren’t backing down. But seriously, rather than looking at this as bold and strong, it’s a bit petty. “Don’t give me what I want, then I won’t do what you want.” is the motto she is indirectly portraying. Yet again, a more peaceful way can be found like going to the government to change the law for not only women but for all people.
- # Me Too
The pros
What could be harmless about a movement which is rallying against sexual harassment? It should be good news for us girls. Fighting against sexual harassment is supposed to be good. But yet again, the process women and others have taken has bothered me.
The cons
Let us go to Harvey Weinstein the man who started all of this sexual harassment of women for years even to the point of raping them; he has horribly abused the film industry. He should receive justice. But at what cost, his marriage, his life? Instead of women forgiving him, they wanted to get back at him. Do to others what you want them to do to you is what the bible says.
I believe such a man, even though I am not condoning his behaviour, yet, I think such a one seriously needs help. It doesn’t mean going as far as being his best friend and it doesn’t mean it is not going to hurt, but simply saying “I forgive you” can lift a person’s spirit that they are accepted and that they are going to get the help they need no matter what they have done.
The question is, how does all this affect us as teenage girls? We are the next generation of women. If many of the women in this generation and even before this generation, are behaving like this, then what about our generation? Will we become like these women or will we do the right thing? God is watching and asking Himself “Will these young girls follow the path of the women of today or will they be my representatives of godly womanhood?”
As young Christian girls, we must do the right thing even if other girls aren’t. All the things that point to what becomes of us when we are older start now in our youth. This is the season we must follow God’s word and not what we feel or what society says.
Many of the women like Betty Friedan would not have started thinking the way they did when they were older, but I believe these ideas would have started forming in them at their teenage years. May God protect our hearts from the “ism” of Feminism and the many isms. I pray that we will all become women for the Lord. Amen.
Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, “Keep your Creator in mind while you are young! In years to come, you will be burdened down with troubles and say, “I don’t enjoy life anymore”