I did not know, but I have learned, recently, that there is an argument about women these days. The argument that surprised me is whether women should work in careers, out of the home, or if they should stay at home and raise children.
Apparently, this is a fierce argument, for some people. Who knew?:
So, what are the best answers?
a) No
b) Yes
c) How dare you ask the question?
No: Feminists struggled for decades to liberate women, and they should be free to work in careers and to make money, just like men. I think we know the rest of the story …
Yes: A woman should build a family, with her husband. Families work better when the best nurturing partner stays home to raise the next generation. I think we know that old story …
What?: How can I write about this topic, in this year? Haven’t we progressed past these old arguments?
What is my best answer? We need to see our sickness.
We have a bigger problem: our need to conform.
I remember when feminists were a real force around me. I was trained to hold doors for women, and to give up my seat on a bus, to any woman. I remember holding doors for women, at university, and the women would get angry at me.
They were feminists.
My friends and I agreed that we should stay back and watch carefully, at any door, and go through when there were no women near us. We didn’t want arguments.
Also, I was raised in a home where my father worked hard, and my mother stayed home and raised five children. Some people have different ideas about how people should live.
One name for the new movement is “Tradwife.” Did you know?
So, what should we do? What is the best way forward now? What movement should we join?
We should be free from the push to conform. I have learned as a Christian, that we follow God, or we make another god. Whatever choice we make, other voices will support us or condemn us.
We are never correct.
The answer for me is to choose freedom. Decide and believe. In the Bible, Jesus told us to be free. He told us that He wanted us to have life. We were told:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” (John 10: 10)
We still have moral right and wrong, and we have to obey laws, but we can be free from social pressures. I was a slow learner. We have a road to follow, that does not belong to this world, and is not a passing fad. I see that more clearly now.
We can become so lost in life that we can’t find a higher purpose.
Someone named Jesus told us:
Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God, what is good and well-pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12: 2)
Sometimes the yes / no questions miss the point; we can be free.
This is one of life’s great lessons for me.
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