MBKnabe

I have to bow out of this conversation because I'm feeling attacked and defensive, as I'm sure many others are, and we can't have good, respectful discussions when people feel at war. Lets remember each other's worth as children of God, even if we disagree about political or philosophical questions. Feminism isn't a destructive force in society, like the original poster said. It's just a label for a political ideology that focuses on gender inequality, and how we can fix that. Please understand that many faithful Church Members are feminists, and don't lump us all in with extreme, militant feminists. Look for a MormonHub article about this from me in the future.

But the KKK is a cohesive group with actual membership and initiations. Further, equality is the fundamental principle of feminism in the same way that racism is the fundamental principle of the KKK, so a more accurate statement would be "Every racist person is a Ku Klux Klanner..." even though, feminism is not an actual organization. Feminism is a political ideology; in the same way we call ourselves conservatives or liberals even if we don't agree with conservatives/liberals on every individual issue. There is no "official" conservatism. It's just a label used to clarify your viewpoint. The same is true of feminism.

But feminism isn't as cohesive a group as the LDS church. They don't have a "General Conference" equivalent, they just have people and groups who say their opinions. But you're not "out" just because you don't agree with what prominent feminists believe. Feminism means different things to different people. But if you strive for equality, you're a feminist, whether you call yourself that or not.

That is a false comparison. The prophet doesn't get to the celestial kingdom faster than anyone else. He's just a man who has worked hard, been worthy, and been chosen to bring us God's word. Here's an example: Studies show that women get interrupted and ignored more than men (see for example this article from the journal of anthropological and Anthropological linguistics It's behind a pay wall, so if you need further evidence, feel free to peruse this summary of the article, and news articles such as this one from Forbes Magazine and this one from the New York Times as well as this article about  female supreme court justices being interrupted.) I have seen this in my life at church. My husband and I teach a gospel principles. No matter how studied I am on a subject, when I teach, I am interrupted and talked over. It's not deliberate or malicious, but it is sexist and systematic. When my husband teaches, he is recognized as the authority on that lesson, and is able to direct the conversation, finish his thoughts, and answer questions. That's just one example. I have a ton more examples of how I'm treated differently than male counterparts. Sexism exists. That's not the question.

Ultimately, we have the same equality of opportunity within the church, because the goal of this life is to become like our Heavenly Parents and we are all capable of that. Being the prophet isn't the point. Being the prophet doesn't make you more important than being a nursery leader in a small branch. We all have opportunities to serve. Besides, you are leaving out equal treatment, which is what I'm focused on within the church. Often women are looked at as second class citizens. That's why I am feminist.

Some women don't consider themselves feminist because they misunderstand what feminism means, but they still espouse many feminist ideas - specifically striving for equality. Those who want the priesthood are just shouting louder than the majority of Mormon feminists. And besides, feminism is not one thing. People are individuals! They have different thoughts about what feminism means. But one thing it definitely doesn't do is try to diminish the important roles of men. Don't feel threatened by women reasserting our rights. We don't want to take anything away from you.

So you're suggesting that equality is synonymous with sameness? Men are dollar bills and women are silver dollars. They're both equal in worth. They just have different constructions and different roles. Therefore, we don't need to be the same to be equal.

Very few women want the priesthood. I am a Mormon feminist. I understand that the priesthood is a sacred calling for men. We have other things. Ordain Women was a small but vocal group of people who were misguided in believing that they needed the priesthood in order to be truly equal. The VAST majority of Mormon women are happy with our place in the church. The vocal minority, doesn't define feminism for most Mormon women.

No feminist wants to take fathers out of the home. What feminists refer to as "The Patriarchy" is a completely different concept from righteous "Patriarchal Order". I think mixing up those two terms is where our fundamental disagreement comes from. The Patriarchy is systematic dominion of women. Patriarchal order is the way Heavenly Father organizes homes, congregations and families. Those two ideas are not at odds, because in the patriarchal order you refer to "No apower or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the bpriesthood, only by cpersuasion, by dlong-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;"

Yes, but despite what Prophets have said on the sacred nature of women, the equality between the sexes, and the importance of men and women as a unit, sexism within the church is rampant. The Gospel is perfect, but people are flawed. Focusing on issues of gender inequality within our culture and trying to create a more equal society can function within the church to help people become more Christlike. Christ loved, valued and respected the women in his life. Many Mormons don't. Mormon culture as a whole could do a lot better at that. That's why we need to integrate feminism into our culture. Because people are not listening to what the gospel actually teaches about how we treat our fellow human beings and that needs to change. Hence, I am a Mormon Feminist and I try to help others understand feminism.

Feminists in the US don't agree on everything. I am super against abortion. But you can't dismiss the whole movement because of one issue where we disagree. I see issues in the way we treat women as a society at large and we HAVE to fix that. Feminism, for now, is the best way to address that. And I can simultaneously fight for the rights of all women, while defending the rights of the unborn. We need feminist, equality driven, woman centered points of view on the side of the Pro-Life movement. It adds credibility to the argument against abortion. When women kill their own off-spring, something is seriously wrong with society. Pro-choice activists use abortion as a band-aid to temporarily fix the problem of an unwanted pregnancy. What we need is to fix the system. Society has to empower women to raise their children. We need men to step up and be good fathers, so that mothers don't have to do it alone. We need paid maternity leave so that women can help financially provide for their children, and have time to bond with them. These things will end abortion. When women are supported, empowered and capable, they will not willingly kill their children. Feminism can help provide that.

Oh but it is. Suggesting husbands and wives must be equally yoked is feminism. Feminism is about equality. Differing roles between men and women do not contradict the tenants of feminism.

Really? Not militant groups throughout the world that murder Christians in cold blood, in the name of religion? Not wars that devastate homes and livelihoods, leaving thousands of stranded refugees with nothing but the clothes on their backs? Not drug addiction, rapists, murderers and criminals? With all of these atrocities going on, the greatest threat is from people who want to be treated with fairness?

And being a loving, present father. An example for his sons about who he should grow into. An example for his daughters about what to expect from the men in their lives. The place of a father is in the lives of his family. Money is always secondary. We need it to survive. We need love to thrive. We need good, strong men in the home as much as we need loving, compassionate mothers. That is my feminism.