Feminism for Christians*

Why are Christians hesitant to call themselves feminists?

I would describe myself as an egalitarian, but more and more I'm wondering, why not a feminist? These are my top three insecurities with making the label change:

1) I don't want to become the stereotype: i.e. a single woman seeking ordination, writing a masters thesis on gender (har har, oh the irony!).

2) It's already hard enough being an egalitarian in the evangelical Christian world, how would being a feminist make it any easier?

3) If I label myself a feminist, what kind of baggage will I have to spend the next decade of my life sorting through to convince myself and my peers that feminism is indeed a Christian ideal?

Perhaps assuming a label of any kind---egalitarian, complementarian, feminist---is the problem to begin with. But in a world where categories seem to necessarily order our lives, I can't help but wonder why I feel uncomfortable with a label that encapsulates so much of what has been good and transformative in my Christian journey; here, two experiences in particular come to mind:

1. I spent the better part of my undergraduate studies wishing I could set aside my pastoral calling for a career that felt much more comfortable, that is, much more egalitarian. Then one day, my Lit. and Comp. professor stood in front of a classroom of 60 of my peers and, in his usual animated manner, jumped in front of me and shouted in a loud, exclamatory voice, "You need to be a preacher, Helen! You've got a prophetic voice and the church needs to hear it!" Looking back, I can't help but think how this was more than an act of egalitarianism; this was a man calling a woman to offer her gifts in a role (preaching/pastoring) that was thought by the majority in my undergraduate context to be single-sexed. This feels now like it was very much so an expression of feminism and not surprisingly, a moment that gave me profound confidence in buckling the bootstraps of Christian discipleship and choosing to pursue the (pastoral) vocation that God was calling me to.

2. In my freshman year, after one of my biblical studies professors had laid out the continuum of positions regarding women in leadership, he concluded his lesson by stating "Thank God feminism is dead!" Feminism, in his opinion, was never on the continuum, and never would be. I look back now and think fondly of this class, primarily made up of females (not uncommon in a Christian College setting), many of whom would later go on to be pastors and then others who would win scholarships to advance their education because they were females, females who showed exceptional Christian character and promise.

Admitting females to programs of study in equal numbers as their male colleagues would today be considered egalitarian; but allocating specific financial aid for women through academic scholarships takes it one step further and provides women with a financial asset in a world that remains financially "male". This too is an act of feminism, is it not? This too is something that I, and many others of Christian conviction, celebrate.

So why not feminism? I can vote because of Nellie McClung. I can go to University because of feminist groups like the Oxford AEW. I can own property because of feminism. I can marry a man whom I have chosen to love because of feminism. The list goes on.

A friend once told me that Jesus would not have been egalitarian. For years I argued with this friend, holding tightly to my so-called "Christian" ideal of equality. The truth is, my friend is right; Jesus didn't preach equality. He preached something much greater.  Jesus called the privileged to give up their possessions to provide for the poor where there were yet no provisions in place. This he did, not so the poor man could live to become rich and therefore be equal, but so that both the poor man and the rich man might live to seek the kingdom of God. So the next time your friend, classmate, student, daughter, etc. is struggling to follow Christ because of the hasn't-fully-arrived world in which she finds herself, turn to her and say, "Buckle your bootstraps, Nellie! Jesus is up from the grave and he's brought feminism with him!"

*Note: My interest/research in feminist discourse is a developing art; thus, many of the opinions expressed in this article have been and continue to be sharpened. I hope to post something soon regarding how my growing understanding and appreciation for feminism has caused me to nuance some of the ideas posted in this piece. 


-helen