I am going to talk about what it means to be a woman. It is well understood by many that women have been mistreated, used, abused, and oppressed throughout history. Eventually, things began to come full circle. Women have sought true justice, pursuing their God-given human rights and statuses as image bearers of God.

Unfortunately, some women have also gone the extreme route and are now esteeming themselves as “goddesses” and superior to men. They bash men in general. Some are rejecting their God-given positions and roles, in certain regards. I do believe a main reason for this is because women have been made to feel less than in their God-given roles.

This however, does not excuse the resulting extremism that has some women refusing to acknowledge gender differences. They do this in the name of gender equality. I have spoken to some women who seem to believe that the differences between men and women and their roles are mostly a social construct.

Just because men and women are equally valuable does not mean they have the same roles and are the same. It is very obvious that men and women, boys and girls, are NOT the same! God created men and women different. Thank God for that! Men and women compliment each other well.

Men and women best glorify God in their God-given roles.

There are exceptions in the thought processes on both sides of feminism. Described below are characteristics of women who embrace their femininity according to God’s design. In contrast are characteristics of other women who are feminists in a radical way.

• Godly femininity- embraces and celebrates the differences between femininity and masculinity.

• Radical feminism- encourages gender neutral ideology, or the idea that there is little or no distinction between male and female.

• Godly femininity- influences a woman or girl to honor and embrace femininity. Honoring femininity helps a woman to conduct herself in a feminine, modest, respectful manner. Matthew 25: 27- 28

• Radical feminism- at times doesn’t mind acting like men, looking like men, copying bad behaviors of men, all in the name of “equality.”

• Godly femininity- means a woman respects her body and carries herself in such a way.

• Radical feminism- often causes women to demand “rights” to walk around, for example, without a shirt on or do whatever they see men doing.

Is there really no difference between men and women? Yes, there is. Is honoring the differences a result of ungodly patriarchy? No.

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Genesis 1: 27- 28.

If there is no gender difference, why is the Bible specifying both male and female?

Why wasn’t “them” referred to as male only or female only, if they are the same? Why are men and women built completely differently with different capabilities? God created us that way! It cannot be changed with surgery, wishful thinking, or with people’s attitudes, or beliefs.

• Godly femininity- brings understanding that there are differences between men and women. It is understood that these differences are to be appreciated and celebrated.

• Radical feminism- ideology says “I can do anything a man can do!” This does not make sense, even on the most basic level. It is apparent that men are able to do certain things women cannot do. It is clear women are able to do certain things that men cannot do.

• Godly femininity- is based on righteousness and being Christ-like in our feminity.

This includes living a life of holiness and modesty with the condition of the heart being the determining factor of beauty. There isn’t a dependency on mere outward beauty and on extravagant hairdos or apparel. 1 Peter 3: 1-6; 1 Timothy 2: 9-10.

• Radical feminism- can be very liberal and extreme in lifestyle, including in dress and appearance. The mindset tends to be that God-given differences are invented by men.

• Godly femininity- embraces godly patriarchy. A godly woman or girl respects God-given authority. Ephesians 5:22-24; 1 Peter 2: 13-14.

• Radical feminism– wants to take charge and demands control. This ideology seems to believe that everything about patriarchy is bad and wrong. There is lack of understanding that God ordained men to be leaders, but who lead righteously and lead in love.

• Godly femininity- will manifest in a woman in how she cherishes the lives of the unborn. If a woman is married and a mother, godly femininity will manifest in a way that prioritizes being a wife and mother above having a career.

• Radical feminism- tends to have the viewpoint of pro- choice. Some prioritize career and independence over family.

First of all, not every woman will be married or have children, and that is ok. Certainly, there are situations when wives and mothers will be working outside of the home.

Prioritizing being a wife or mother over career should remain the same, however. The wife and mother ideally would work only as much as necessary, but knows that the priority is to be a good wife and mother.

Motherhood and being a wife are such high callings, but society has not held them in high enough esteem. I know however, that God holds being a wife and a mother in very high esteem. The fact that women have been belittled for who they are has caused some women to reject their God-given roles.

I encourage everyone to refer to God’s word for truth on these matters.

Proverbs 31 and Titus 2: 3-5 are good Bible references. In addition, Genesis 1: 26- 28 will help show us that gender distinction, as well as gender equality is a very real thing.

• Radical feminism- tends to be against patriarchy in general, and wants all things equal. Men and women are viewed as equally suitable for the same roles. It is an “equality” that does not properly differentiate between masculinity and femininity.

Gender equality does not cancel out gender distinction.

Some don’t seem to understand that men and women are equally valuable, without having the exact same roles. What do you think the reason is for this? Throughout history, some men have belittled women for gender differences. Some men have pretended that men are superior to women. They have glorified their own roles and callings and belittled or diminished women’s. They have oppressed and hated women.

God-ordained male leadership is a good thing. The problem is, there have been many instances of ungodly patriarchy. Confusion has people mixed up. Some put godly patriarchy and certain men’s perpetration of abuse in the same category. Some radical feminists believe patriarchy is a bad thing. I believe the main reason for this is because of men who have rebelled against God. They have mistreated women.

Ungodly patriarchy is a problem. Godly patriarchy is good.

Some men have misused and abused their responsibilities. This does not mean that God’s plan is not perfect. Too many men have sought to govern themselves, instead of doing what God commands them to do. It is sinful man that has distorted and misused his position. Righteous leadership is ordained by God.

I like to point out known history behind behaviors and attitudes. There are lopsided perspectives that blame feminism for just about everything. People are willing to blame women for being radical feminists, without acknowledging the history of misogyny.

There are some men who want to play the victim, but are not victims. Most feminists, and even radical feminists likely do not hate men, but they are against oppression and abuse.

In speaking to some women who claim to be feminists, I understand their focus is not on man-hating, but they are against hatred and oppression of women. Some extreme feminists are going about it in the wrong way, in how they address the injustices.

Many religious people, including women, blame women and feminism, but don’t acknowledge the initiating role misogyny plays.

This shows me again, the deflecting, blaming problem that some men have. This one-sided view represents the double standards that have continued to plague society. Also, it reminds me that many women are easy to get strung along with blaming women and feminism.

At the same time, some folks have little to say about chauvinism and women’s oppression. Both sides play their own parts in getting away from God’s design. I like to point out both sides. Some people won’t be fair and acknowledge both sides.

It is my testimony that if not for the grace of God, I may have become a radical feminist. This would have been due to the oppressive, demeaning, damaging spiritual abuse I had experienced.

By the grace of God, He was able to help me see the truth as I dug deep into His word and in prayer. When I saw the truth in His word, I realized that I had been taught fallacies. False teachings and spiritual abuse had caused me to believe that women were inferior, that God thought less of women, and preferred men.

I believed that women were at best, second-class citizens of the Kingdom. I also had a wrong picture of who God is, because of false portrayals. It is important to note I had these misunderstandings before I became Biblically literate.

I am a believer in standing firm in God’s righteous precepts, statutes, and adhering to His design. Nothing else will work out properly to glorify God and benefit society as a whole. Anything contrary to God’s design is confusion and corruption. Proof of this is seen in the chaotic, dangerous world we live in. It is a world that is far from God, in many regards.