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Feminism is Love and Equality

When it comes to the topic of feminism, most of us will readily agree that it is a

movement to stop inequality of women. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the

question of what type of person is a part of this movement based on religion and what type of

lifestyle the person lives. On one hand, some are convinced that you do not need to follow the

textbook definition of a feminist, which is being a successful, unmarried, childless, independent

woman, because believing in the rights of women is enough to call yourself a feminist (Gay). It

is also widely known that stereotypical feminists are anti-male, but some argue that men are not

the enemy; feminists want equal rights for both men and women (hooks). While some may

believe this, others maintain that Christians can also be feminist even with contradicting beliefs

that are entailed with being a Christian feminist (Adams). One may say that Christians have

modernize throughout the years, and now women are in important leadership roles within the

church (Kuruvilla). By examining Christian beliefs and non-stereotypical feminists, I come to the

understanding that feminism is best defined as a way to promote equality of all men and women

by loving and supporting each other.

Christianity can seem contradicting to feminism in some ways, but it actually supports

feminism by loving everyone equally like Jesus did and does. For example, I am a Christian but I

still believe in women having equality and rights because of the first Bible verse I memorized as

a child: For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son (John 3:16 NIV).

God loves the world equally, that is why he sacrificed his own son and why I believe the world

must love equally as well whether you are a woman or man. In the bible it is said that women

should submit to their husbands and have children but, to me, women have always been a

bigger part of the church then being a caretaker (Adams). According to Kuruvilla, Christian
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women were preachers, ...suffragists...wrote music and founded churches (2). Women have

always been important to the church but they are seen as equal in some churches now, which

shows the movement to feminism moving through the church itself. As for the members within

the church, it may seem shameful to be a feminist because of the contradicting beliefs of children

and husbands. I understand that feminism is about men and women loving and supporting each

other, and Jesus loves everyone equally. Adams writes, In my eyes, Christians should be on the

front lines of the feminist movement, because God is a God of justice who loves us all equally

(Adams 7). I have found that Christians can be feminists through my research, because the

church should pride itself on helping and loving everyone like Jesus.

In addition, many other women feel like feminism is just for one type of woman, which

some think that this type is independent of men and do not need children to feel empowered. But

through further research, I believe one can call themselves a feminist with non-traditional

feminist aspects of life. For instance, Beyonc is a self-proclaimed feminist but she has a

husband and children. On Instagram, she has posted about her baby bump and cute family

pictures with her husband. Beyonc loves her husband and children but still considers herself a

feminist, which supports my point that women can still be a feminist even though they are not

the stereotypical feminist. Many believe they are not feminist due to the unfounded idea that

feminists do not have a man in their lives or that all are heterosexual women. I believe that the

idea of not being about to have a man hinders the movement of feminism because some think it

is an anti-male movement. But, some would agree with bell hooks, who defines feminism as a

movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and oppression (hooks 1).

I, too, found feminism to be against men until I read further into other peoples stories

about what feminism is to them. I recently talked to friends who said they were feminists
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because they thought men were the enemy, and that men are a big part of our problems. The idea

that men are the enemy can be refuted by the book, Bad Feminist, when Roxane Gay says, Like

most people, Im full of contradictions, but I also dont want to be treated like shit for being a

woman (Gay 318). Gay is right that many women do not think that they are feminists because

they believe that having a man is breaking the rules of feminism or are full of contradictions. But

to Gay, myself and many other women, it is enough to call yourself a feminist if you believe in

women being treated with equality. In brief, some women feel like feminist have to be

independent without a man or children, but it can be shown through numerous accounts that if

you believe in equality for women, you can be a feminist.

My definition of feminism has been shaped by my background and beliefs throughout my

life, which differ greatly from one person to the next. It is important to understand all these

differences between people, so we grow and learn to understand and love others. As I believe in

strong, independent women, I also believe in women being able to have a family with a husband

and whatever else their life consists of. I define feminism as a way of letting people know about

equality, even if the women taking part in the movement are not the stereotypical feminist. While

others may say that you cannot be a bad feminist or a Christian feminist, I say that you can be

both as long as you believe that everyone should be loved and treated equally. Women that

consider themselves either bad feminists or Christian feminists, your voice needs to be heard so

do not be afraid to lead the way for many others, like myself.

Works Cited
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Adams, Char. Im A Christian Feminist, Because Jesus Loves Women, and We should, Too.

Bustle, 27 July 2016, p.1-7. Bustle, www.bustle.com/articles/173684-im-a-christian-

feminst-because-jesus-loves-women-and-we-should-too.

The Bible. New International Version, 1984.

Gay, Roxanne. Bad Feminist. First Edition, HarperCollins, 2014.

hooks, bell. Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics. South End Press, 2000. p.1.

Kuruvilla, Carol. 15 Christian Women Get Real About The Role Of Women In The Church.

The Huffington Post, 30 Mar. 2016, www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/15-christian-women-

get-real-about-the-role-of-women-in-the-church_us_56e1dd0ee4b0860f99d84e80.