The Great Lawsuit and If Men Could Menstruate

Discrimination against women has been an issue in our country throughout history.  Both of these articles, a hundred years apart, seem to have the same message: equality for women. Both of these articles were written by feminists, with both of them clearly stating what they believe. Margret Fuller women's rights advocate is associated with the American transcendentalism movement in the mid-1800s. Gloria Steinem was a media spokeswoman for the women's liberation movement in the late 1960s and 1970s. However, I respectfully disagree with the content in Steinem’s article. Instead, I will present you with a passage of Biblical scripture and compare and contrast the roles of men and women in society. I will also compare the Bible to what Fuller spoke of as well, since she made a few good points.

To start out, I have a question. Honestly, what is the real difference between genders? I know you may be thinking there are tons of differences, but can you name some without referring to biology?  This particular topic is impossible. None of us have a clue or say out loud what we think. The shrillest voice in late feminism genders exist to exploit each other and fighting to gain control over each other instead of “avoiding collision, but to bring forth ravishing harmony.”- Fuller.

Margret Fuller’s, “The great lawsuit” was taking the perspective that women were the “idle” men “live upon” from the “earnings of industrious wives,” meaning that the men depended on and took the women’s money. Nothing belonged to the women in the household. It all belonged to the man. Even to the extent that women were “slaves”, house workers for their husbands, having no say in anything. Fuller states “we wonder why reformers think that measures are not likely to be taken in behalf of women, unless represented by women”. It seems as though there is an enormous good in feminist movement empowering the right for women during this time, and even through today.

Both Steinman and Fuller expressed the truth that women are equal to men. Steinman’s idea behind the discrimination behind women was as compared to African American’s was on the right track. That the “superior group has will be used to justify its superiority, and whatever and inferior group has will be used to justify its plight”.  It’s not in fact to treat women “poorly” and as if we are “weaker.” Steinman even said that men liberals and radicals says that “women are equal, just different.”  Fuller’s knowledge that we have laid every path open “to women as freely as to man.” Also referring to the slave aspect, you cannot hold “another in bondage, on women.” That both a slave and women have a “soul.” There is one master and law that everyone is held accounted for. “If there is to be an interpreter of it he comes not as man, or son of man, but as son of God.” Yes this is all true. God gave a good gift when he gave complementary gender roles for men and women how we should each be treated and to flourish in each other.  The Bible states in Colossians 3:18-19, “Wives, submit to your husband, as is fitting in the Lord.   Husbands, love your wives and don’t be harsh with them.”  The husband is in charge of the household, the head of his wife.  What we hear is that the husband has the ability and authority to exploit his wife.  Instead, God is telling us that the husband is in charge of loving and caring of his wife and household.  Back in the Roman times, which is what Fuller was referring to, there were relationship codes, household rules to go by. The women were not addressed, just the men. It was to provide rules for how the men should run the household. He has the right to do what he had to do in order to keep the household together. There was no limit on violence if the husband thought it was necessary. The Biblical view is different.  It doesn’t say subject your wives to your authority (talking to the men) but wives, are to willingly submit to their husbands.  Husbands, in turn, are to treat their wives with respect and as an equal.  They (husbands) are to guard their families and protect them.   So, men and women shouldn’t have to compete for top spots in society but instead they should build each other up and share the responsibilities as their talents allow.