Two weeks ago, I talked about the new ‘Woke’ phenomenon, and asked you about addressing non-conservative, controversial issues within Christian Fiction. Your response was immediate and it seems that this subject is stirring in many hearts.
This time, I wanted to talk specifically about one issue that has always been controversial to me.
When I was young—and knew it all—I believed that I was not a feminist. This belief was so strong I would have reacted if anyone had suggested I should become one. I had a traditional, conservative view of women in the home and the workplace, was happy with it and sure that there was no other way a Christian could look at it.
That was until I studied the beginnings of feminism, how the journey progressed, and what has been achieved as a result.
There is not one of us reading this—if we have been to school, are enrolled to vote, and have our name on any employment payroll, bank account or property deed—who has not benefited from this cultural and social revolution.
When Mary Wollstonecraft first wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman in 1792, she was considered an hysterical, trouble-making woman. But if you read what she had written, and the context in which she wrote, there is not one of us here who would not press like and share.
For the first time, here was a woman who was challenging the status of women ruled by common law, culture and Christian tradition—all dominated by men. This state of affairs existed despite the very pro-woman attitude exhibited by Jesus and the Apostle Paul.
By the turn of the 20th Century, the suffrage movement took to protest marches, demanding the vote for women. This was no easy task, and was met with ridicule, mockery, physical violence, and jail for some women who were determined to see the law changed. New Zealand, and then Australia, were the first countries in the world to allow women to vote and own property.
Fast forward another century and we now live in a time where ‘Misogyny’ is the foul called on too frequent occasion, and ‘Misandry’ is a word that is hardly ever heard of. Misogyny is the hatred or contempt of women, and misandry is the hatred or contempt of men.
Crazy times. God loves and values us all, equal in his love, mercy and grace. That is the material point.
So here I am, in the early Twenty-First Century, observing the battle that continues to rage, the hatred and vitriolic speech that is thoughtlessly poured out, with little thought to the concept that we are all one in Christ, loved and valued equally.
I had to deconstruct my earlier traditional beliefs about the role of women in our society, and do a thorough analysis. I probably still have preferences (certainly for my own life), but I now have a wider understanding and appreciation of other roles and values that are not so traditional and conservative.
Enter my main character in the novel ‘In Want of a Wife’. Chloe is loud, opinionated and opposed to her parents’ more traditional way of relating.
I worried about Chloe because I knew she was going to meet a lovely young woman who had embraced the traditional, conservative role of home-maker with loads of children. I knew Chloe would react and probably offend. Chloe’s job in the novel, was to accompany Michael to a staff retreat as his fiancée (bogus fiancée, but that’s part of the story). The problem with Michael’s boss and workplace was that it was ultra-conservative and used all the wrong language if they hoped to be politically correct.
Could Chloe hold her tongue? Would she explode, and if she did, was it possible to mend the damage she would cause by her self-righteousness?
That was a turn around. Usually, you expect the badge of self-righteousness to be awarded to the conservative Christian. In this case, Chloe had to come face-to-face with her own narrow-minded, self-righteous attitude. It was a bitter pill to swallow.
As I was set to launch this novel to the reading world I worried. Would readers be offended by Chloe’s unrestrained political ideals of women’s rights in the 21st Century? Conversely, would other readers be offended by Esther’s choice to marry, quit her medical degree training and start having numerous children?
I loved the story and set it free to the world. Most feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. I hope it has helped readers to take another look at how we judge each other.
Did you get to read In Want of a Wife? Did you get to read Echoes in the Valley?
This was another of my stories where I addressed one of the Christian hot-potatoes—divorce.
I tried to look at the issue sensitively and carefully, as well as traditionally and conservatively. Let me know your thoughts.
Thank you. It sounds like you’ve tried to be gentle to both sides, yet warn us of possible pitfalls. I’ll have to have a look at ‘In Want of a Wife.’
As to another book on this theme of opposing sides, I found ‘The Lines between Us’ by Amy Lynn Green insightful.
I haven’t heard of that title. I’ll have to look it up.
Thank you, Meredith. I have read “In Want of a Wife” and thought you handled this subject really, really well.
I have read all three books in the License to Meddle series – very much enjoyed them and looking forward to reading more.
These sound very interesting. We have a friend who became a doctor and never thought she would have a boyfriend and marry. She is a little different in some ways. However one of our good friend, a lovely young man and a farmer at heart trained to be a nurse. He went to an inland hospital and in his work, met this doctor and wanted to marry her. They have now been happily married for six years, have three children and now she has let her medical degree go to be a mother and help her husband with his farm. She has learnt to make cheese and bread and other such pursuits. I guess it comes down to where we feel our calling really is.
Wow. That sounds like a sweet story. True story. 🙂
Hi Meredith, Thanks for sharing your challenging post series. I enjoyed reading “In Want of a Wife” and I found Chloe’s character very relatable. I understood why she held certain ideals and beliefs and I appreciated seeing her character growth in the story. If the character motivation makes sense, and if I can understand why the character is holding opinions that may differ to my own, I’ll happily go along for the ride in the story and expand my horizons and ponder different perspectives on various issues. If all the characters I read were similar to me, then reading fiction would be a very boring exercise, lol.
As an aside, I’m often disappointed by the way people, especially on platforms like social media, are happy to shout their opinions as absolute truth without any willingness to consider the other people who may hold a different view. The ability to agree to disagree and move on has too often been lost, and it’s a sad reflection on our society.
Yes, our times are a bit sad for that reason. Strong opinions have now become creeds that we will fight to the death over (at least relationally). As you say, it is good to go along for the ride with a character who has a view different to mine, try to see the foundation or pathway to how that view has formed, and expand my own understanding a bit. It doesn’t mean I have to give up something I believe strongly in, it just means I love more and understand more, and perhaps I may just adjust my own thinking.