We often talk about the impossible demands that are put upon women. Demands from the world that expect women to be thin, pretty, always young. The list goes on and on.
But today I discovered the impossible expectations put upon women of the church. Well, maybe not all churches (certainly not mine), but a segment nonetheless. I listen to a Christian radio station on occasion. It is mostly "talk format" with a lot of sermons and recorded workshops. Today's sermon was for women, given by a woman that I suspect has never looked at how hard it is to raise a family in today's world.
She had lots of advice for how to keep a Godly home. Emphasis was put on cleaning and cooking creative meals that husbands and kids will eat. I thought about how much I love to cook, but never have enough time after working a long day. Day after day...
She talked about how a woman has no need to work outside the home; her job is to keep her family happy. I wondered if this speaker had ever met a woman that was either divorced or widowed in mid-life with absolutely no job skills and thus no way to support herself.
The speaker talked about wearing clothes that were fashionable and interesting so that "your husband will be proud to show you off". I thought of the busy moms I know who have too little time and money to bother with fashion for themselves.
An emphasis was placed on a woman's responsibility to raise well-adjusted, happy children. I thought about my own mom who had me--a child that battled depression for years. No amount of creative cooking could fix my depression. It's a medical condition and must be treated as such.
A clean home. A woman with no desire--and no financial need--to work outside the home. A mom who is always making great food, and a wife who is there to support and inspire her husband. A woman that looks great, too. Kids with no issues that are perfectly well adjusted.
Wow. And I thought the entertainment industry was tough on women...
