Huh?
Wednesday, Apr 6, 2005
It’s a good thing my commenting feature is a little persnickety. If you’re posting and it sends you to a spam site, it’s not intentionally personal. It’s getting worked on; new site quirks…
I’m getting a few unhappy private comments about my recent Feminism Scheminism post, and all I have to say is, “I don’t get it.”
Nobody called women weak, wimpy, or sub-intelligent. In fact, I can hold my own pretty well, too. It was only a year ago that I was sporting a little definition. (Pregnancy has a way of messing with that.) I’m a little feisty, and I just creamed five of my husband’s rocket science co-workers in a game of wit and strategy. Insert puffed peacock feathers.
But when women feel the need to flaunt their strength and wit, it often has the opposite effect.
Admiring men for the way God made them won’t make me less of a woman. God made men a certain way, and I frankly haven’t met one who didn’t enjoy a little stroking of his masculinity. Men like their egos. Priming your man will not diminish your value. Strong women like to make their men stronger. At some point, feminists must realize that the world doesn’t revolve around them and complimenting a man won’t devalue your womanhood.
And that’s why I have no problem admiring my man’s muscles.
Even if mine were stronger. ;)
8 Comments
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Amy,
I think it’s great to tackle topics like this. After all, if we can’t at least talk about it, who will. (I think the guys are a bit scared to have an opinion—out loud.)
Comment by Paula (April 6, 2005 @ 3:18 pm )
Paula,
Cindy Swanson linked me up to a guy who wrote about how men like to be Braveheart (my words, not his). He got pounced and shredded to pieces. In a gentle, feminine way, of course. If he’d like to come out of hiding, he’s welcome to post his link and/or thoughts.
Amy
Comment by Amy's Humble Musings (April 6, 2005 @ 3:22 pm )
What I don’t get is why feminists think that women have to prove we’re “equal to” men. Aren’t they just setting men up as the standard when they say women are as strong as or as intelligent as men? I don’t hear anyone mentioning the fact that men don’t breastfeed as well or birth babies as well as women. Because femininsts don’t think that’s important. Bottom line is we’re all different, but God made us all and loves us all and so we’re all equal. If feminists could accept this no one would get all riled up when a woman asks for a little help with that pickle jar:)
Comment by Shannon Miller (April 6, 2005 @ 3:31 pm )
I thought the post was great. Nothing wrong with a little ego-stroking.
Comment by Kristen (April 6, 2005 @ 4:45 pm )
Couldn’t agree with you more Amy!
Comment by Aimz (April 6, 2005 @ 5:14 pm )
Your post rang with scriptural truth and practical accuracy.
Plus, you were just modeling what John the Baptist said,
“He must increase, and I must decrease.”
(even with the smiley face, I know I’m gonna get flamed on this one)
Comment by Weets (April 6, 2005 @ 7:00 pm )
Amy, I thought you were right on the money this time. I’ve always considered myself a slight bit more feminist than the average conservative Christian woman but I can give my hearty approval to your thoughts. First, woman DON’T have the brute strength that men have. It’s an emperically proven fact. To deny it is to stick your head in the sand and your, uh, rear in the air. Women do have a tremendous ability in sports that require extreme endurance. It’s no secret that Susan Butcher won the Iditarod four times, and that Pam Reed ran 300 miles nonstop and also won the 125 mile Ultramarathon, even beating the men. (Okay, I’m getting off track. . .) But hey, women for thousands of years have endured long and agonizing childbirths without pain medication. Why can’t women got honor for that? Because, as Shannon commented, feminists don’t consider that ability to be important.
Second, you are totally right that complementing another person, even your man, does not diminish one’s own worth. Elevating your man does not mean you are lowering yourself. Grrr….
Comment by Dogwood Blue (April 7, 2005 @ 12:05 am )
This is an attempt to post what was rejected on the previous entry:
I once had a male friend (a non-Christian) who told me that having to deal with women in positions of authority over him (for example, a female police officer pulling him over) caused him to have “improper thoughts” about her, in the area of domination. I won’t go into any more detail about that, and I am not saying his reaction was correct…but I think it may be understandable psychologically. I thought it was a very interesting observation, and have wondered often whether there may be effects we cannot always see that stem from putting women in positions traditionally and usually logically held by men.
Comment by Samantha (April 7, 2005 @ 9:41 am )