If you read many of our posts you know we only see equality between men and women, we are all people, reconnecting with nature, reconnecting with ourselves.
But throughout the ages women have been assigned the back seat and regarded as second class citizens.
Religion has played a major roll in all this, "women should keep silent," "women should obey their husbands." "Women should know their place..." You've heard it all before.
So, we were interested in an article posted by Abby, it deals with her realization and awakening that women are not subordinates to anyone or anything, it's entitled, "The Mormon Church Made Me Hate Myself."
Abby Van Buren is a student at Utah Valley University studying journalism and the world around her. Her blog, "Dear Abby," explores everything.
We're not picking on Mormons, but Abby discusses her adventures as a Mormon in the article, so it is what it is.
Here's a sample of the post and a link to the full article:
"This is another thing that I noticed a lot during my time in this church. Other members of the church will tell you that if you question something, pray about it. They want you (or at least they say they want you) to always ask God if something is true. But here’s the catch. If you come back from that prayer or pondering session and feel that the doctrine isn’t correct, you’re wrong. I experienced this first hand.
I had an open mind and heart about everything this church had to offer me but every time I would ponder it, something felt wrong. Actually, a lot of things felt wrong (but we’ll get to those later). But when I would talk to my church leaders about my finding, they would shrug it off or tell me that I wasn’t asking properly or I have closed heart. They put the blame on me, not the sexist doctrine.
The mind games began.
I felt guilt. I felt like I was doing something wrong. God didn’t want to speak to me or maybe I just couldn’t understand him correctly because this church did not feel right to me. I was in this cycle of feeling shame so I would go to the LDS church to try to feel cleansed and the cycle continued. I would feel a distance from a doctrine the church taught, and I again felt guilt. Guilt. Always guilt.
I was told in church that as a woman I “have, by divine nature, the greater gift and responsibility for
home and children and nurturing there and in other settings.” This is a quote from the Mormon Message called “Women in the Church.” I cannot act in all things to bring salvation to man, but don’t you worry. I can nurture children and make bread and keep my home in order (it’s like we’re stuck in the 1800’s for Christ’s sake). “As a disciple of Jesus Christ, every woman in the Church is given the responsibility to know and defend the divine roles of women, which include that of wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend.” Another quote from the same article.
Wife, mother, daughter, sister…why can’t I just be a person?
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