Family: Feminism, Lack of Male Leadership, and the Biblical View

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Over the past few decades, there seemed to have been a major, cultural shift with roles and responsibilities for both males and females. Not only does this switch effect each party individually, but it also effects our society and the nation as a whole. These reversals have also cultivated within the many different aspects of life: work, jobs, schools, education, military (etc.). However, the biggest and most prominent area of life that these reversals have taken place and effected lies within the family structure.

When dealing with gender roles and the effect that it has had on the institution of marriage and family, an individual may be prompted to ask some of the following questions:

1. Where did this switch in gender roles and responsibilities become so prevalent?
2. Is there any indication that there have been some pros and cons to these reversals?
3. Are there any dangers/ ramifications that come with these reversals?
4. Do these reversals pose a serious problem for our future?
5. Do we have any instruction as to what gender roles should be? How? Why?

There are a number of references that speak clearly on this specific cultural issue, but only a few that provide a substantial amount of answers and clarity on the matter.

Stephen Grunlan’s text on the Christian perspective is one reference that emphasizes this issue. His elaboration on marriage relations and family life in one of the later chapters helps readers to understand the concepts of certain roles and responsibilities. However, he also discusses the dangers and problems that glean from such reversals within these structures, leaving society to face many potential repercussions for the future. In addition, seeing as he incorporates God’s Word, individuals are also able to observe the distinctions between these roles in light of God’s ordinance and cultural relativity.

Where did the switch in gender roles/ responsibilities become so prevalent?

Although it may be difficult to date back to an exact area, there is one specific account throughout history that allows for individuals to understand where these reversals became much more prevalent. Rosie the Riveter, an American icon of the early 1940s, was used in a governmental campaign in order to recruit women into the workforce after the men had been drafted for World War II. Ultimately, this campaign proved to work well. There is a small article from History.com that elaborates on this occurrence. It states that “between 1940 and 1945, the female percentage of the U.S. workforce increased from 27 percent to nearly 37 percent, and by 1945 nearly one out of every four married women worked outside the home” (www.history.com). Due to this simple add campaign, women’s rights for work, jobs, and other endeavors outside the typical home life continued throughout the years to follow.

Grunlan also provides some insight regarding these occurrences within his marriage and family chapter. He states that “no consideration of the changing roles of women can escape certain realties of both demography and our economy” (p. 184). With the rise in corporate businesses, economic status (for some), and the push of double-digit inflation, a number of married individuals have come to understand that for women/ mothers to work outside the home has become a necessity within our culture.

Is there any indication that there have been pros/ cons to these reversals?

Over the years, individuals have been able to determine a number of pros and cons for these reversals. Listed below are some of the pro/ con examples and descriptions that tend to arise within the marriage and family structure.

PROS:

• Increased finances. As described before, one of the many factors that plays into these role and responsibility reversals is corporate businesses and income inflation. A number of men and women who maintain a single incomes are becoming increasingly overburdened with the demand of finances in regards to payments (such as rent or bills). With a dual income, married individuals may find that paying off a number of items has become easier.
• Sustainable living. This speaks for itself. With the increase in financial stability between both husbands and wives, sustainable living within the home tends to follow.
• Work practice/ routine. The more that each individual continues to work, it is more than likely that both will have a much better opportunity in maintaining that routine within the home. This should allow for married individuals to split the home-work evenly, providing a sense of ease and ensuring that the home is cared for in some way.
• Increased support of one another/ teamwork. All of the factors listed above essentially summarize this final pro. As each of the married individuals continues to work, it should provide another sense: however, this can be seen as a true commitment to one another. Having both men and women work together in this capacity should provide this sense that each party is continuing to support and encourage one another always.

CONS:

• Lack of time. Although there seems to be a number of pros that occur within a dual workforce, husbands and wives may come to find that their time for other endeavors (both recreational and work related) are extremely limited. Social time with friends/ colleagues, extended families, and other individuals could be cut significantly due to the work that occurs for both married individuals.
• Family involvement. Aside from extended families, there are also some issues that occur when children are present within the marriage and family dynamic. Although children are an incredible blessing from God, it is hard to accept that, as married individuals pursue a dual workforce, children are often neglected the proper care that is needed from both the father and mother figures.
• Stress. Stress permeates everywhere, and there seems to be no escape from it. One of the biggest cons that husbands and wives in a dual workforce face is the stress that is incurred from a number of these factors. Lack of time, care for their children, miscommunication, along with some others have cultivated into a means of stress as each married individual pursues work.

While presenting only a few of these pro/ con examples, it is also remarkable to point out God’s reassurance of provision through many of His Scriptural references (Matt. 6:25–34; Phil. 4:19; Heb. 13:5). These references should allow for married individuals to understand that even with a single or dual workforce, He will continue to provide in a number of ways.

Are there any dangers/ ramifications that come with these reversals?

Although some marriages may be able to maintain steadiness with the switch in roles and responsibilities, there are a substantial amount of others within today’s culture who have had an unfortunate turn-around. This particular problem derives in various forms, but there are two specific issues that correlate as they instigate conflict among one another immensely.

1. The rise in feminism. Although Rosie the Riveter was used as a mere attempt to keep factory jobs and other corporations in business, she become more than an American icon. Rules, regulations, and other laws regarding women and their rights have drastically changed since the WWII era. With the help of some marketing and petition, women gained the equal standards that they sought for years. However, women’s rights have moved far beyond the equality factor and began to affect society, and families, in a negative way. As women continue to influence and advocate for other women, prompting them to take control over the family household, men begin to lose their sense of position. They also begin to feel violated and discouraged in a vast way, leaving them with the option to either “submit” to a dominate and overbearing wife, or divorce due to a major lack of respect.
2. The decrease in male leadership/ model. This is also another danger that society faces when dealing with role reversal and family relations. How did fatherhood begin to crumble, and where have all the men gone? Dennis Leap, a contributor to the Trumpet, writes on this particular issue in full. He describes how corporate businesses, marketing, and feminism all contribute to the disappearance of men within our modern culture. With the promotion of sexually explicit materials (pornography), lack of education in schools (to promote true leadership), and “new age wives” (feminists), men have become wrongly complacent, lazy, anxious, and majorly depressed over the entire cultural shift. With this certain lack in male leadership, divorces and singleness have continued to increase drastically.

Do these reversals pose a serious problem for our future?

The answer to this question is extremely simple: yes. With the increases of divorce due to all of the factors listed above, our culture may experience a massive wave of broken family structures within the near future. The reversals that have occurred over the past century have brought tension, stress, aggression, frustration, depression, and other heartbreaking contributions to both males and females in covenant relationship. In addition, children who grow up within these specific family structures will eventually succumb to emotional, mental, and (potentially) spiritual ramifications within their lives. Society must be prepared to face such consequences if these problems continue to occur as well.

Do we have any instruction as to what gender roles should be? How? Why?

When it comes to the Biblical foundation and certain institutions that God has created (as expressed by Grunlan throughout his text), our culture should be willing to research, observe, understand, and accept the family dynamic that God has ordained. Although there are many different references throughout Scripture that encourage individuals on both ends of the spectrum (singleness vs married life), there is no denying the structure that has been placed for men, women, and even children.

• Men: heads of the household, and the true shepherds over their family being patient, loving, and respectable in all they do (Eph. 5:21/ 25–33; Col. 3:19; I Cor. 11:3; Tit. 2:1–2/ 6–8; I Pet. 3:7).
• Women: “submissive” to their husbands: not in a “dominant” way, but also a patient, loving, and admirable way showing respect to one’s male counterpart (Eph. 5:22–24; Col. 3:18; I Tim. 2:11–15; Tit. 2:3–5; I Pet. 3:1–6).
• Children: obedient, respectful, and loving to one’s parents (Prov. 6:20–23; Eph. 6:1–3; Col. 3:20)

The marriage covenant that a male and female make with one another is marvelous to behold. Not only does it prove a willingness to commit through devotion and loyalty to one another and their families, but it also resembles Christ’s bond and commitment to his Church, our one Body. As husbands and wives continue to grow closer to God through Christ, they will also continue to grow much closer to each other. Although the culture’s demand for work, increased opportunities for women, and lack of male leadership, have each played a significant part in negatively affecting the family structure, they have not stopped all families from functioning well together. Husbands and wives must ban together and pursue the roles and responsibilities that God has ordained, providing more of a positive outcome for family structures within the future.

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Gress, Carrie. “How Acting Like A Feminist Can Ruin Your Marriage.” The Federalist, 28 Jul. 2017, http://thefederalist.com/2017/07/28/acting-like-feminist-can-ruin-marriage/

Grunlan, Stephen A. Christian Perspectives on Sociology. Wipf and Stock Publishers, 1982.

History Staff. “Rosie the Riveter.” A+E Networks, 2010, http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/rosie-the-riveter

Leap, Dennis. “Why This World Lacks Leadership.” The Trumpet, Sept. 1998, https://www.thetrumpet.com/128-why-this-world-lacks-leadership.

The Holy Bible. New International Version, Zondervan, 2011.