Feminism - Equality vs Equity - Amy Lawrence

Feminism

Equality Versus Equity

In July of 1848, at the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls, NY, a convention of women signed a document titled “Declaration of Sentiments”. This document highlighted women’s rights to legal, social, and political equality that were currently being denied them. Very little ground was gained through this particular convention, but women still persevered. Time marched on. The 15th amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified on February 3, 1870; however, women wouldn’t gain the right to vote until 50 years later - when the 19th amendment was ratified. History recorded how women fought for equal work opportunities, equal pay, and equal ability to be elected to government positions. The fight for women’s rights was going in a positive direction, until…

Margaret Sanger came into the picture. For those that are unfamiliar with this name, Margaret Sanger was the founder of the organization Planned Parenthood. She was a profound activist for women’s “reproductive rights” (e.g. birth control and abortion), but what many do not know is that she was very vocal about why. She felt it was necessary to “breed out” mental and physical handicaps in order to build a “stronger, healthier, more intelligent human race.” She went about doing this through eugenics. By influencing women to prevent or abort conception of a child instead of advocating abstinence, such a movement opened certain doors that should have remained closed. The allowance to murder innocent unborn children has become a megaphone for the feminist movement. Females of such a mind see pregnancy as an inconvenience that they should have the right to eliminate. A child in the womb slowly became nothing more than a “fetus” to society. This and more has brought to light a dangerous mindset many women hold today. And it doesn’t stop here.

Feminism has gradually become less a fight for rights and more a push for privilege. Women in the mid to late 20th century were certainly mistreated and abused by society at large. I’m not dismissing that fact. Many women today still suffer from gender prejudices. There will always be those that see women as inferior, but there are laws in place that make it easier for us to feel safe and fairly treated. The rights that were gained through efforts such as the Women’s Suffrage movement have brought about the establishment of those laws. Now, however, there are certain feminists whose sole aim is to utterly eradicate anything masculine. This brings me to my original study topic: equality versus equity. 

The two are not synonymous. It would be prudent to our study to first define exactly what is equality and equity. Cambridge Dictionary defines equality as, “the right of different groups of people to have a similar social position and receive the same treatment." Equity is defined as, “the situation in which everyone is treated fairly according to their needs and no group of people is given special treatment." I once saw a drawing that illustrated the difference between these two concepts. Equality was depicted as a tall fence blocking the view of three people with varying heights. Each was given the same sized box to stand on (equality), but the shortest person still couldn’t see over the fence. The next frame showed the same fence and same people, but each was given a different but appropriately-sized box that lifted everyone to the same height to see over the same fence (equity). To ask a woman to equally give and receive the same things as a man is to not understand why they are asking the impossible. Most women need a taller box to see over that fence. Being given the same sized box as a man will keep us on the blind side.

I feel I should also point out that feminism is inconsistent. Let me explain. Did you know that between 1968 and 2024, there has been little to no change in the percentage of men in construction work, installation/maintenance/repair, transportation and shipping, production, farming/fisheries/forestry, and computer science? Feminists argue that men unfairly dominate the workforce…so why aren’t more women after the jobs I just listed? Discussions concerning an imbalance in occupations rarely acknowledge where the men are largely absent - mental health, education, nursing, and social work. These women are not fighting for fairness. They are fighting for dominance in the workforce. Many (not all) are misandrists that allow their prejudice against men to cloud their judgement.

Men and women are not equal. We never will be. Why? Because these two genders are different in ways that cannot be changed, both physically and emotionally. More than this, though, we don’t HAVE to be. There are things men can do better than women and women can do better than men. There are things men cannot do that women can, and vice versa. Does that make either less useful or important than the other? No. Placing our value in an ability to do all the things men can do is preposterous. What makes our differences wonderful, however, is that, when we work together, our talents become complimentary to one another. 

Sadly, there are women that view men in such a manner that they carry their prejudice over into the religious arena. Many denominations allow women to hold an office of leadership over men. God’s word is very clear about a woman’s place in the church. “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.” (1 Timothy 2:8-15 NKJV)

Does this diminish our value in the church? Absolutely not. We have such a powerful influence - that begins in our homes. The Christian home is of such importance that God has made it the beginning of an education in godliness, Eph. 6:1-4. We are to be managers of the home and the children, 1 Tim. 5:14, Prov. 31:10-31. We can also influence our husbands in good, godly ways, 1 Pet. 3:1-6. 

Feminists tend to feel they shouldn’t have to submit to anyone. Pride is a dangerous thing, Prov. 16:18, 1 Tim. 3:6. We should remember; the only Person that has ever had the right to rule over mankind instead became a servant to mankind, Mk. 10:45. We are encouraged to be like Christ, 1 Cor. 11:1, and I can’t think of a better example. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus…” Phil. 2:1-11. We, as Christian women, have the profound ability and responsibility to influence Christ-like behavior. The best way to teach this is to BE this. Whether we like it or not, God has commanded that women submit to men in the church, 1 Cor. 14:34. Have you ever been asked to do something you really didn’t want to do, but you later discovered that it was the best thing you could have done? Were you glad in the end that you submitted to the request? We don’t always like or understand what God asks of us, but we can always rest assured that He knows what is best. He is God. He has already seen the outcome. History is replete with stories of lives that were changed by the influence of a good woman. The best leaders have been those that have stood in the shadows with no desire for the spotlight. We don’t have to be in the lead to be a leader.

Yes, women are often stereotyped and underestimated. So was Jesus. He still obeyed God, Phil. 2:8. We need to be careful how we respond to prejudices and not forget our place. We are the handiwork of God, and as our Creator, He knows where we do our best work, Prov. 3:5-6. Consider women in scripture that were where God needed them to be: Ruth - Ruth 1:16, Esther - Est. 4:13-14, Mary - Lk. 1:38, Elizabeth - Lk. 1:5-6, Dorcas - Acts 9:36, 39, Priscilla - 1 Cor. 16:19, and Mary Magdalene - John 20:11-18. He has put us all in a place to influence, guide, and cultivate for good those that are around us. A meek, hard-working, godly woman is a force to be reckoned with on any day. We must use our position, always, to give glory to God.