KATHERYN GALLANT writes:

I thought you would like to read this article, “Why is Feminism So Afraid to Focus on its Flaws?,” by Deborah Orr in The Guardian. 

I consider myself a pro-life feminist and am a member of Feminists for Life of America. However, I realize that feminism is flawed (like all human endeavors) and cannot be the first priority in a Christian’s life. One comparison that I once read sums up my thoughts vis-a-vis feminism and Christianity: without feminism, I would not be able to walk, but without Christianity, I would not have a soul. If I had to give up the ability to walk in order to save my soul, I would do so — reluctantly, to be sure, and only after much reflection and being 100% sure that that was the right thing for me to do. Also, I do not think that I would say to other feminist Christians that they would have to surrender their feminism to be good Christians, even if I had done so. But being a Catholic Christian, since it has to do with both this world and the hereafter, is more important to me than being a feminist, which is concerned only with this world.

What do you think?

Laura writes:

Mark Richardson at Oz Conservative has a very good piece on the Guardian article by Deborah Orr. He writes:

Deborah Orr has done a rare thing. She’s written a column for a left-liberal newspaper, the Guardian, in which she discusses why so many women don’t identify with feminism. She writes that many women like herself feel a “profound intellectual discomfort” when it comes to feminism.

Orr’s piece asks “Why is Feminism So Afraid to Focus on its Flaws?”

Here’s my answer to that question. As soon as one honestly focuses on feminism’s flaws one confronts two possibilities: either try to minimize or cover up those flaws or come to the conclusion that the whole thing is not just flawed but wrong. That is why feminism is so afraid of focusing on its flaws. Revolutionaries have never focused on their flaws because once they do they must renounce the revolution.

Is feminism “flawed?” Well, that’s like saying that Communism is “flawed.” Communism is not flawed; it is wrong in all of its basic premises. Feminism is not flawed. It is wrong in all of its basic premises. Mark Richardson credits Orr with criticizing feminism. And certainly, she could not have gotten away with more in The Guardian. I understand that. But I have seen so many articles like this, articles saying, “Well gee, feminism is not perfect. It has not taken into consideration all  of women’s needs and that makes us uncomfortable.” This is a long way from speaking the truth. The truth is that feminism is positively evil.

I respectfully disagree with you. There is no such thing as a Christian feminist. You are perhaps a feminist or a Christian. But you can’t be both.

Feminism employs a rhetoric of selfishness, a materialistic view of human nature and a love of power that is entirely at odds with Christianity. There is no reconciling the two. Let’s leave aside the issue of abortion, which is one of the most glaring contradictions between Christianity and feminism. To cite another contrast, feminism does not believe that the human being is an intellectual and spiritual being who needs maternal nurturing and guardianship throughout childhood and adolescence. It denies the higher nature of the young. To a feminist, as long as a child’s receives physical care, self-affirming affection and vocational training, he needs nothing more. Certainly, all these things are important. The feminist does not deny the child needs to be loved if love is defined as affection and basic protection. But a Christian sees more. When a feminist reads a fairy tale to a child, she looks for how this story will make the child tolerant of absolute equality or more capable later in life. When a Christian reads a fairy tale, she hopes the child will see the mystery and wonder that underlies all things, a glimpse of all to come, a reflection of Divine love.

The Christian recognizes mind and spirit. Actions and thoughts are caught up in eternity. The idea of leaving a child to the care and nurture of hired workers, unless absolutely necessary, is repugnant. It may destroy the child’s wonder and trust. 

To cite another example, the feminist has no respect for a man’s worth or honor. She believes the average man is wicked toward women and we see this again and again in the themes of feminist thought despite the token denials. The Christian woman believes all men are fallen, but that men are not just wicked. They are also capable of love and concern for women. 

Perhaps you know women who are assertive or self-confident and you believe this is a result of feminism. Or perhaps you know women who have accomplished amazing things they couldn’t have accomplished without feminism.

Women have indeed accomplished amazing things and executed tasks well. But they have done so at the expense of other things, other amazing tasks. To say that feminism is wrong is not to say that every single action or deed of a feminist is wrong or evil. In fact, very many individual actions and deeds of feminist women have been good. A feminist doctor who takes care of her patients and works hard to care for her children has done many good things in the course of her career. 

But for every good feminism has encouraged, it has discouraged others, many of them essential to the common good. The fact that some women who are feminist work extremely hard and have many worthy accomplishments does not make feminism itself good anymore than a tornado that has knocked down old decrepit buildings, as well as good buildings, is a good event.

Feminism has made people heartless, irrational, power-seeking, sentimental and selfish. These are not Christian traits. You can’t have it all – this is something a Christian explicitly acknowledges. 

                                  — Comments —

Alissa writes:

So called “Christian feminism” is a contradiction in itself. Can one be an atheist Christian? About a majority of “Christians” in the Church of Sweden don’t even believe in Jesus Christ. Can one be sinful yet blameless? Is it possible for God to be the “unholy of hollies”? Can one be a Christian whom worships many gods? Can there be “Christian libertarianism” (theological liberalism or social liberalism)? While yes any of these situations and forms are possible and exist they are certainly not biblical and verge on heresies and blasphemies. Behold the museum of idolatry of the Christian church.  

Please follow and like us: