Important article on biblical feminism. Three stages of gender roles must be analyzed: God’s original intent, the effects of the Fall, and the changes redemption in Christ brings.
I. Basic gender questions:
A. Which gender differences are intended by God in Genesis?
B. How do gender differences come about?
C. Which differences are genetically inevitable and which are more cultural?
D. What are the costs of the current gender distinctions?
II. Adam and Eve sinned differently.
A. Each overstepped the bounds of part of God’s cultural mandate.
B. Each got a differentiated curse.
C. Much that we see as “natural” is not what God intended.
III. Gender complementarity is just as important as gender equality.
A. Differences are usually not black and white, but tendencies and averages.
1) We are more alike than different.
B. Environment plays a big role.
1) “Baby X” experiments with mislabeled babies.
Small infants were dressed neutrally.
They are given to adults and told it’s a boy or girl.
After some time with the baby, they described them.
Girls are described as more friendly, sociable, feminine,
physically “fragile,” and easily upset.
Boys are described as more independent, masculine, tough,
and secure.
There’s only one problem – the researchers lied about the
child’s sex!
C. Actual differences are slight.
1) In perception, thinking, and personality.
2) Even differences in brain use have been exaggerated.
D. Cultural universals.
1) What men do is seen as more important than what women do.
2) Ironic since the NT describes becoming a Christian in childlike and feminine terms.
IV. Natural but fallen.
A. Gender roles are shaped by culture, and influenced by the Fall.
1) Distortions of the differences become the norm.
2) Yet Christians use them to support status quo.
B. Myths among Christians.
1) The nuclear family is primary.
a) Healthy families? Next to alcoholic families, incest and abuse is most common in highly religious homes.
2) People were content with their roles before feminism started.
V. Headship and Servanthood.
A. Traditional families are not necessarily healthy families.
B. There is more concern over who is in control than on whether family is healthy.