So, these are some thoughts on feminism. If you're looking for something light and humorous, click away! (Quickly, before you're sucked in!)
I occasionally read one of the feminist Mormon blogs. The problem is, every time I finish reading, I become much less of a feminist than I was before. (It's the whining. and the self-centeredness. And the looking at everything bass-ackwardness. And little things like that.)
I have realized that I believe a few key things differently than some of my feminist sisters. One, I believe that any understanding of women begins with the fact that we are different than men, and those differences are deep and eternal, and encompass not only the way that we look, but the way that we think and our own internal purpose. I believe that women throughout time have been strong and powerful in their chosen and necessary roles. I believe that we as women are communal, and when we cut ourselves off from our foremothers, by believing them to have been weak and powerless, we become weak and powerless. When we connect ourselves to their legacy and find the respect and the deep reverence that they are owed, we find that we ourselves are worthy of those things.
This is not to say that there has never been abuse, discrimination, or oppression. Certainly, there has. But when we focus on "the systematic oppression of a patriarchal system" we miss the matriarchy that is so essentially intertwined with that patriarchy. Destroying patriarchy as being devoid of anything positive and good quickly destroys its partner as well. So, I say, "Yay, Women!" " Yay, Men!" Love 'em both.
