Welcome to ‘A Simple Femininity’! 

This blog was born out the heart cry of women who are grappling with the complexities that face our culture and asking themselves difficult questions.  There are various issues that might be considered – balancing career, family and marriage; understanding church, social and political roles; optimizing spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health; securing financial freedom, and many more. However, one concern seems to be ubiquitous among most women – that of marriage and family.  It has been documented that many modern women who have over the course of years longed for family and children are approaching an age when childbearing will no longer be possible. Though apparently successful in their chosen careers they find themselves alone.

My own heart aches as it echoes these often unspoken sentiments.  This poem represents a mingling of these heart cries.

 The He-Man Woman

A movement in our culture has created a curious being… the He-man-woman.

It is a lie… but deeply held.

To acquire the titles by them so romanticized

my heart had to be contorted to fit into a clear, rigid, acrylic box.

I’m tired of trying to be a He-man woman.

I just want to be a woman.

The ‘He-man-woman’ is a creation of the feminist movement.  The ‘He-man-woman’ can do anything a man can do – only better – or so she thinks.  She’s independent, self-sufficient and has no need for a man – only a desire at times.  But the philosophy of feminism is at its essence only an illusion, a dismal, evasive mirage. Yet it is a lie so thoroughly steeped in the worldview of our culture as to be hardly recognized as a deception.  It is a malignant influence that is insidiously destroying the lives of women rather than granting them the freedom and enlightenment so vociferously promised.

These issues placed a heavy shadow over my thoughts for some time until I had an enlightening conversation with a friend.  As we discussed the roles of women in our culture, I began to realize what had happened to create the tragic state of affairs many women are facing today.  The feminist movement which dates from the 1800’s had most certainly deeply affected modern women of our day, but I began to recognize how it had also deeply affected us as well – despite our religious beliefs.(1) It began to dawn on me how I had been deeply marred by the lies of feminism.  For the first time I recognized attitudes imbibed which were really at war with the spirit of heaven.

Fear had darkened and manipulated my life since childhood and I longed for comfort and strength.  Recognizing it now I see that I really deeply distrusted God and did not understand His love.  The promises made by the feminists seemed to offer hope for freedom.  Yet as a child I did not recognize that this was a lie.  Unwittingly I attempted to be the “He-man woman” they so romanticized.  I was fiercely independent.

The Lord in His love and pity did not leave me to perish.  Through His tenderness and longsuffering the scales have begun to fall away.  I have been led to recognize the traits that had deeply stained my soul.  I felt and continue to feel a deep need for repentance and cleansing.  Long forgotten memories flooded my thoughts as I recalled the tender pleas I had spurned over the years, the gentle entreaties that I had refused.  To this day the Lord in His great mercy continues to intercede for me. 

The purging has been painful but it is bringing a deep sense of peace and rest.  Contentment is becoming more comfortable.  This cleansing process has helped me to face issues I had been previously unwilling to even acknowledge existed.   ‘A Simple Femininity’ is part of that healing journey. If you have a similar story I would welcome the privilege to dialogue with you.  But even if not and you’d just like to explore issues regarding femininity, please join me.   You may share your thoughts at my blog site www.asimplefemininity.com.

References

1. See these timelines for brief histories of the women’s movement: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/womenstimeline1.html http://www.ibiblio.org/prism/mar98/path.html http://backtohistory.osu.edu/resources/events/Suffrage%20and%20Feminism%20Timeline.pdf http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20090306/PC1208/303069957