The Real War on Women and How Jane Austen Can Lead Us to Victory

A few months ago during one of my classes at school, a fellow classmate made this statement: “You know, books like the Bible and other holy texts do not have any respect for women.”

My immediate reaction was to say “Waaaait a minute!” But I reconsidered. My mouth remained closed because the majority of the class believed the same way, therefore I would have been shot down the moment I spoke, just like when I said “Pirating movies on the internet is against the law. People shouldn’t steal someone else’s work by watching them.”

You would have thought I said something like “I ate my dog for dinner last night.”

Now that I have taken some time to consider my classmate’s original statement, I have come to the conclusion that she is an egalitarian feminist.

Okay, I can hear you now: “What the heck Amy? Using big words, are we?”

Well, yes. I am.

Basically, I’ve been reading books. This is a good thing if you are reading sound arguments and not the loud ramblings of an author whose love for radical ideology clouds what little common sense they have.

As a Christian woman, it has always bothered me like a bunch of chiggers in my underpants when people make blanket statements about the Bible. Granted, this classmate was a Buddhist, and is definitely entitled to her opinion. But it strikes me as odd that a young woman like her would make such a statement without discovering just exactly what the Bible says about our sex.

Now, I am not a Biblical scholar, nor do I have a doctorate. But I do know enough to say that the Bible does not demean women. I will not go into a long, drawn out narrative here in order to convince you, but bear with me. Yes, there is the scripture where Paul says women should be silent and if they have a question, to ask their husbands at home. But as I said before, I’m not going to get into that whole debate here. I would encourage you to find out for yourself because if you are smart enough to be reading this, then you have the brains to do some research on the background of Paul’s statements regarding women.

If the Bible records stories such as Tamar’s, then why would a woman’s only role in the church be as a silent statue, giving birth and making meals day after day?

So, let’s take a look at Tamar, one of my favorite ladies of the Bible.

In Genesis 38, Tamar was chosen by Judah as a wife for his son Er. Apparently, Er was seen as wicked in God’s sight, so God took his life. Tamar was then passed down to Judah’s second son, Onan, and commanded by his father to impregnate her. But each time they lay together, Onan didn’t do his duty toward Tamar and spilled his seed onto the floor. Tamar knew that legally speaking, she was nothing unless she gave birth to a son, and therefore her fate was on Judah’s head. God also took Onan’s life because of his wickedness, and once again, Tamar was left a widow. Judah promised his youngest son to her, but as he grew, she could see that Judah had no intention of fulfilling his promise to her.

Now here is where the story gets good.

Tamar dresses up like a prostitute and has sex with her father in law, unbeknownst to him, in order to get what she so rightfully deserves. He gives her his seal, cord, and staff as a pledge to send payment, and Tamar keeps them. After she returns home, people start noticing her growing belly. Judah is enraged, and demands for her to be brought out so that he can burn her alive.

Now imagine this: Tamar is brought out in front of everyone, and before she can be put to death, reveals her father in law’s possessions, naming him as the father of her child.

BAM!

Even though Tamar did not know she was part of the line from which Jesus would come, she did what she had to in order to claim what was rightfully hers.

That takes guts.

Tamar was an Old Testament feminist in my opinion. She was not about to let a man, acting in disobedience to a holy God, take what she knew belonged to her. Without demonizing men, she demanded respect from them in her life and knew they played an important role in how the world worked. When that role was not fulfilled, she forced them to do right by the laws God had set in place, and He blessed Tamar because of that by including her in the lineage of Jesus.

Tamar was smart. She had a burning desire for right to be done and used her feminine strengths in order to achieve this.

Rahab, the prostitute, is another stunning example of the female strength we see portrayed in the Bible.

But let’s get back to the book with the big words…

In Christina Hoff Sommers’ book titled “Freedom Feminism: Its Surprising History and Why It Matters Today,” Sommers shines a light on the forgotten heroines whose hard won victories we enjoy today as modern women. But much of their stories are hidden from our view because of the radical feminist mantra being shoved down our throats today.

In a short history, Sommers states that the feminist movement to achieve dignity, equality, and liberty for all began in the European enlightenment. People began to realize that “all” referred to men and women. Two schools of thought brought about two different kinds of feminism, and for the most part, we’ve only gotten one side of the story.

First was the egalitarian version of feminism which was radical to most people during the enlightenment, and still is to the silent majority today. But on the other hand, maternal feminism covered a broader spectrum than its radical counterpart.

Here are the differences between the two listed in Sommers’ book:

Egalitarian Feminism:

Men and women are essentially identical

Secular, universalist, progressive

Appealed to abstract rights and social justice

Rarely achieved mainstream following

Maternal Feminism:

Men and women are different but equal

Traditionalist, religious, and family-centered

Sought to strengthen and expand women’s traditional roles

More popular and politically influential

Let’s take a closer look at a maternal feminist rarely mentioned in the history books, Miss Hannah More.

Hannah More was a novelist, poet, pamphleteer, political activist, evangelical reformer, and abolitionist who devoted her life to the education of women. But sadly today, millions of young women do not know her name.

Why?

Because this section of history has been exiled to a top shelf by radical feminists, attempting to hush up their work and legacy. According to Sommers, More’s books were so popular during her lifetime, that they “outsold Jane Austen’s many times over.” She rose to prominence and found herself at the same table with men such as Thomas Paine, Edmund Burke, and the man who is named as the father of British abolitionism, William Wilberforce.

More founded the Bluestocking circle, a group for men and women (many of the intellectually starved upper-class), who met and discussed all manner of subjects, including politics and literature. She encouraged the upper-class women in her community to take part in volunteerism in order to help the poor and unfortunate. Sunday Schools were established by the Bluestocking circle where children were taught to read and write. She was called a progressivist, a Christian capitalist, and the “first Victorian.”

But what sets Hannah More apart from any other feminist is that she is considered the first “maternal feminist.” According to Sommers, More “envisioned a society in which women’s characteristic virtues and graces could be developed, refined, and freely expressed.”

Today, the virtues which More sought to praise and use for the betterment of society, are not extolled. They are trodden upon, laughed at, and criticized for being weak, silly, or stupid. Every day we are bombarded with messages telling us to rise up and be “just as good as a man.” We are convinced that men are out to get us, to keep us down, and to “own” us.

Society claims that there is a “war on women” in America, but we have all the rights men do. My generation does not seem able to open up their minds to the plight of those around the world who are the true victims of a “war on women.”

Where is the outcry when it comes to female genital mutilation? There are places in our world today where women are not allowed to vote, show skin in public, or are married off to men sometimes three times their own age. The modern American woman doesn’t have much to complain about.

When will we look outside ourselves and speak up for those whose societies never experienced an enlightenment period, enabling them to become equal with men?

The power of femininity could be harnessed and bring about such a change the world has never seen. American women should be a beacon to our sisters, but to our detriment, we continue to fall prey to the lies the egalitarian feminists tell us. We have achieved equality and respect in the workplace, and the truth is, the silent majority would rather work part-time and be mothers and wives than not have children at all and remain solely in the workplace.

And when will my generation realize the lies we have been told by the media, those who want a sexless society, and those who wish to destroy the family unit?

The role women play is a powerful one, but because we listen to the media and teachings that have their roots in communism and socialism, which produce egalitarian feminism, that power is slowly being stripped away.

Hannah More was accused of fear mongering and brainwashing the working class by Marxist historians for teaching children to read. One historian even called her a “necrophiliac opportunist.” But even though More had many critics and people who wanted her to just plain shut up, she kept on speaking. She continued working because she believed in her convictions and that God was going to work through her.

So what does Jane Austen have to do with all of my maternal feminist ranting?

Have you ever wondered why Austen’s leading men are so attractive to the modern woman? When we look at history, during the Regency period and beyond, women were not the beneficiaries of their father’s or brother’s estates. Money and land always fell to the men in the family, even if that meant the women became destitute. Historically, many men at that time saw women as creatures who remained at home, fulfilling the everyday tasks required to run a household.

But Elizabeth Bennett is not your average Regency female. She has a mind of her own and is not afraid to say what she thinks. Mr. Darcy is frequently challenged by her sharp wit and intellect, and is sometimes unable to recover in order to retake lost ground that Elizabeth conquers. Darcy and Elizabeth eventually see that they are equal, and therefore perfect for each other.

I have never been able to put my finger on why Elizabeth is so outspoken until now, thanks to Sommers’ book. Jane Austen was directly influenced by feminist activists such as Wollstonecraft and More. She states that Austen’s heroines are “paragons of rational, merciful, and responsible womanhood.” They see themselves as equals with the men they fall in love with, which is as it should be.

And what about the men? Mr. Darcy is not your typical “I need to marry in order to find someone to have my children and run my household.” He could have had Caroline Bingley, remember? Darcy chose Elizabeth because she was his equal, not only a jewel to adorn his arm. She complements him. These characters are chivalrous and intelligent, taking into account the women they encounter and keeping an eye out for the one with whom they will be able to see eye to eye. As Sommers says: “Austen’s heroes – men like Mr. Darcy, Captain Wentworth, and Mr, Knightley – esteem female strength, rationality, and intelligence.” Captain Wentworth knows that Anne Eliot is the only woman who can complete him, and so he waits for her. This shows a power that only Anne herself possesses. He appreciates her steadfastness. Even when he tried to forget her, she remained as she was, a strong, gentle woman who continued to love him even though she thought he might never return.

Reading an Austen novel or watching a film adaptation, I always find myself intensely considering their situations and relationships. Yes, I know it is fiction, but Austen plainly understood that the world is a better place when men are men, and women are women. When both work together in mutual respect, recognizing the unique gifts possessed by the other.

It is a beautiful dance we are invited to engage in.