People, I know the frock coat is pink, but do forgive him all the same. I've got a topic to talk about, if not with anyone else, then at least with myself. What are a woman's rights? Ok, my first big point is that it is not a woman's right to abort her child. That's human rights, which I'm not talking about at the moment. I mean honest to goodness male & female interaction. Are men supposed to dominate women, worship them as incomprehensible goddesses, or treat them as intellectual and spiritual equals? My personal inclination is to think that the latter is most desirable. I've seen several different scenarios which have influenced my thought line here; I'll give one of them:
Man is self-centered and irresponsible, never even tries to understand woman, and writes her offer as another moody, unpredictable female. This feeds the woman's self-centeredness, and she decides the all men are selfish pigs. So then she becomes independant of man. Bad, bad, bad. I would say that this is how much of our culture operates today.
So, I guess what I'm asking here is how do you all see men's and women's roles. I don't expect or desire to be addressed as Madam, Your Highness, or anything silly like that. I think we should all treat each other with the same basic, Christian love. Not that girls should be back-slapping, chummy types, but I don't think we need to be handled as aliens, either.
What say ye?
Hannah,
ReplyDeleteFrom whence cometh thou wisdom at such a tender age? I have been watching hoping to see some comments from others in your age group. But alas, I see no comment on women's rights. Why do you think this is? Are ladies and gentlemen of the teen years not all that interested in women's rights? Is it hard to put their thoughts into words such that the Anabaptist boggers can appreciate them? Besides, young mentor, are you really taking about women's rights here? Your words seem to speak more of the treatment of women, although it is true that women's rights may be part and parcel of the treatment of women. How do you think women can help men know how they want to be treated? Communication could cut back on the self-centeredness of men and the independence of women you speak of. Don't you think we women have a responsibility (more than a right) to say to men, "Please treat me with kindness, but also please treat me with honor."
Just a few thoughts from an older (but not wiser) woman than thee. I would enjoy hearing from the other maturing young folks among you.
Blessed be ye.
Priscilla (just following Christ in Elkhart)
oh thank you for your comment! I suppose I am speaking more of proper treatment than "rights." What I am really trying to say is that women aren't galley slave or goddesses, just fellow Christians. Thanks again for the comment, and hopefully my other friends won't feel too criminal if they express their veis as well. (c'mon guys!)
ReplyDeleteI meant views, of course.
ReplyDeleteYes, my friend, "rights" is such a worldly word and a worldly concept. And, yes, to your suggestion that women wish to be treated as sojourners equal in purpose and relationship to God. But don't you think that woman also want to be cherished for the inner beauty that God has bestowed upon them? If women do want to feel cherished, does that set us apart from men?
ReplyDeleteAlso, don't you wish you could go back and correct the errors you make in these comments? I do, in my earlier post I would have said "Anabaptist BLOGGERS," not boggers. And I would have said "TALKING" about women's rights, not taking. Oh well. Perfection will come later....
Hannah, I enjoy reading your post and fully agree. We just talk so much about it that you already know my feeling on the subject.
ReplyDeleteOoh yay! a Montana person is talking to me! Not only that, but my favortie galfriend, to boot! I know we've already talked about this, so maybe I'll post something different soon.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting subject and one I've given considerable thought to. . . however it is hard to put views and ideas into words without them coming across as one extreme or the other. I struggle with submission simply because I am afraid of being run over. It is easy to submit to a man who loves me and treats me as an equal follower of Christ. . . at least in theory it should be easy :D And most likely it is because if a man would do so, I would respect him and his opinions and therefore be more willing to go along with what he wants. Pricella puts it very well saying that communication is key. On both parts the mens and the womens.
ReplyDelete