The thought that either sex is lower or higher than the other. That we are anything other than equals. I will mainly be focusing on how sexism affects Christian girls. I'm not sure if this applies outside of the church simply because I'm 17 and haven't really had that much life experience. This in no way indicates that I believe sexism doesn't exist for guys. I know everyone has to deal with sexism in one way or another.
I need a man: The Christian world trains girls that they need a man to be anything. That you aren't pretty if you don't have a boyfriend. Women are trained to believe that their life isn't complete without a male by their side. It's a sad day when a freaking fourth grader laughs at me because I don't have a boyfriend. (That did actually happen) I don't need a guy to complete me. I'm totally fine on my own. Having a boyfriend/husband is more about wanting to share life with someone special. Not grabbing a husband ASAP so that 'my life is complete'. And I'm not going to wait around for a dude either. I'm not going to miss life because I'm desperate for a husband.
It's my fault if a guy looks at me: Evidently it is my responsibility to dress myself in a tent so that I don't draw their eyes. Well kids, you can keep your eyes to yourself. Girls are not a possession and they are not a piece of meat. We are human beings that deserve respect no matter what we are wearing. There is nothing wrong with looking at a girl and thinking she pretty. But it's a whole other thing to stare at her with your mouth open. It's rude. And to be honest it makes you look kinda like a fool.
The Unforgivable Sin: Even though the bible only states one unforgivable sin (blasphemy of the Holy Spirit) Christians treat so many sins as though they are unforgivable. For girls one of the many unforgivable is having sex outside of marriage. And heaven forbid she get pregnant. That girl will be slut shamed and told she is worth absolutely nothing because she made one mistake. That no one will ever want her again because she isn't a virgin. That girl will go on to feel hated, disgusting, unworthy of any sort of love, and it will effect her relationship with God. Who wants to a follow a God when His people torment her so? Christians teach that Jesus loves everyone so why is the pregnant teen girl an exception?
Different rules: I had a wonderful youth group that I truly loved but there was one thing that made me so mad about them! If we had a youth group pool party the girls where not allowed to wear bikinis but the guys where allowed to take their shirts off. How on God's green earth is there a difference between a girl wearing a bikini and a guy taking of his shirt? Christian excuse? guys don't have control over their sex drive. But what the church is forgetting is that it's mentality's like the example above that teach teenage boys that they can't do anything about their raging hormones. Well, girls got them hormones too (ever hear of a period?) we just have a much higher expectation of controlling it. It's not fair and it's not right.
My modesty is for men: Ummmm, wrong. My modesty is for me. Because I respect my body and I respect my God and the conscience He gave me. I don't give two craps about what you think about my modesty. Honestly, I wear what I like and what I am comfortable in and if you have a problem with it then you can go away.
My place is at home: Absolutely not! I have just as much right to be out in this world making a difference and doing things that I enjoy just as much as any male around. I won't be stuck in a kitchen my whole life. Not only do I hate baking (such a mess) but I am not your doormat. And my existence doesn't revolve around men. Sorry.
I know that I sound harsh and judgmental. But these are some basic mentalities of the Christian world. And it really sucks being a girl sometimes because that means that I'm weaker and dumber and I don't have as much of a use in the world. That is something that women in general get to fight every single day of our lives. And some days we don't win. And we feel dumb and weak and small. Well, here's the thing. I am not weaker. I just don't have the same strong points as you. I am not dumb. I just have knowledge in different areas. I do have use in the world. And it's just as important as the males use in the world. And that is what equality is all about folks. Realizing that just because the opposite sexes mind works differently and our bodies where made differently doesn't make them any less human. It just makes us different. And I think that a world with just guys or a world with just girls would be pretty darn boring.
Dorothy Coffey
