Welcome to the July–September, 2008 edition of Web Explorations for Christian Feminists. Here you’ll find links to websites that I’ve enjoyed visiting and want to share with you.. They are sites that tell us about people, ideas, and happenings (many that are challenging or disturbing) that we, as Christian feminists, along with our sisters and brothers of other faiths, should know about.  The information they provide may stir us to prayer, move us to take loving and compassionate action, and inspire us to increase our efforts for justice and equity.  Please remember that the links in Web Explorations take you to sites outside eewc.com, and thus EEWC can’t be responsible for any content they may display. Nor does the inclusion of a link mean that it necessarily represents the views of EEWC. The links simply take you to some sites I’ve discovered and think you’ll find worth visiting.  Some you will no doubt find of greater personal interest than others, but take a little time to scroll through the list, and then click on those that interest you most.  I hope you’ll return to visit some of the others later.

“Women Face Bias Worldwide”— U.N. Report
This 2008 report, commissioned for the United Nations, shows that “despite the fact that 185 UN member states pledged to outlaw laws favoring men by 2005,” blatant discrimination against women continues throughout the world.

160 Years Since the Declaration of Women’s Rights Conference in Seneca Falls, NY
July, 2008 marks the 160th anniversary of the first women’s rights convention in the U.S.  The author of this commentary shows how much work remains to be done to combat the sexism that still permeates so many areas of American life.

Attitudes and Rules that Keep Saudi Women in “Perpetual Childhood”
This article from the BBC summarizes a Human Rights Watch report titled, “Perpetual Minors: Human Rights Abuses Stemming from Male Guardianship and Sex Segregation in Saudi Arabia.”

Mass Rape as a Weapon of war
“It has become clear that mass rape is not just a byproduct of war but also sometimes a deliberate weapon,” writes New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof.  See also a related report from Radio Netherlands.

Restoring Virginity
Columnist Ellen Goodman writes about a current controversy in Europe as some sexually experienced women—“mostly immigrants and mostly Muslims”—are asking doctors to restore their hymens surgically.  Otherwise, these women fear, they will be rejected as unmarriageable and open to severe punishment for dishonoring their families.

“‘Biblical Manhood’ Conference Espouses Male Supremacy”
In this report about a recent conference of conservative Christians, Kathryn Joyce points out troublesome—even dangerous—aspects of complementarian theology’s emphasis on distinctive male and female roles.  Summarizing a speech by Southern Baptist Theological Seminary professor Bruce Ware, Kathryn Joyce writes:  “Making a familiar complementarian argument that men and women act out their sin natures in familiar patterns of rebelling against the gender hierarchy, Ware said that women victims of domestic violence were often to blame for their own abuse because they were failing to submit to their husbands' authority. Men's sin came in response to their wives' lack of submission, becoming either abusive or passive: equal failures in the eyes of Ware and many complementarians, who see men who fail to ‘lead their families’ with proper authority as morally deficient as those who rule with too heavy a hand.”  See also “Southern Baptist Scholar Links Spouse Abuse to Wives' Refusal to Submit to Their Husbands

Education “Wasted” on Women?
This report from Ethics Daily exposes other disturbing teachings promoted by some leaders of the fundamentalist patriarchal movement.  Criticizing such teachings, the report’s author, Bob Allen, quotes fundamentalist pastor Doug Philips as objecting to advanced education for women. Philips said, "We do not need MORE female Christian lawyers, doctors or artists, but MORE godly women raising MORE godly children who will fill the earth and subdue it to the glory of God. And does it really make economic sense to invest tens of thousands of dollars for a woman to get an advanced education (often having to go into debt to finance that education) that she will NOT use if she accepts that her highest calling is to be a wife and mother?"  Philips is the president of Vision Forum Ministries, which believes families should be guided by “The Tenets of Biblical Patriarchy.”

A Young Girl, a Goat, and Educational Opportunities
When Beatrice Biir, who had grown up in in Uganda, graduated from Connecticut College this summer, she knew she would never have reached this goal had it not been for the children of the Niantic Community Church in Niantic, Connecticut. These children had purchased goats for families in Africa through Heifer International, and Beatrice’s impoverished family was one of the recipients, making it possible for them to earn income and allow Beatrice to go to school.  Otherwise, as New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof points out, Beatrice  “was on track to become one more illiterate African woman, another of the continent’s squandered human resources.”  Read more about Beatrice’s educational journey and watch a CBS 60 Minutes video about her. There’s also a children’s book about Beatrice and her goat.

"Gender Inequity in Whoville"
Peter Sagal, host of NPR’s, “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me,” is the father of three daughters. When he and his wife took them to see the movie version of Dr. Seuss’s book Horton Hears a Who, they were surprised and disturbed by a not-so-subtle message of male superiority coming through.Sagal comments: “In a new subplot added by the filmmakers, the mayor of Whoville has 96 daughters. He has one son. Guess who gets all his attention? Guess who saves the day?”

In “A Feminist Hears a Who,” Mother Jones magazine writer Debra Dickerson reacts similarly to society’s conditioning of girls. She refers to Sagal’s commentary and tells how her young  daughter has already internalized the idea that girls are weak and helpless and need boys to rescue them. 

Speaking of the socialization of young girls and children’s movies in general, you might want to read “The Thinking Girls Barbie,” in which three women of differing ethnic backgrounds discuss the American Girl Doll phenomenon and the 2008 movie, Kit Kittredge, based on one of the American Girl books. Kit Kittredge grew up during the Great Depression and provides a strong role model for young girls through her determination to overcome any obstacle to reach her goal of becoming a journalist—even at age ten—and to help her family save their home.

The next three links take you to recent articles from AlterNet.org.  I think you’ll find each of them interesting and provocative.  In “Men Explain Things to Me,” a female author talks about her encounter with a man who seemed to think that being born male made him an expert on virtually any topic—and that his role was to impart his assumed wisdom to any woman he met.  The article drives home the point that arrogance can be an unfortunate byproduct of traditional male socialization with its message (both implied and overt)  that men are superior to women.

Another article tells points out that American society can’t make up its mind about how women should conduct themselves—that being “too feminine” implies weakness and that being “too feminist” implies an unattractive assertiveness.  See "Damned if Feminine, Damned if Feminist."

Then there is the question raised by an article about the bitter clash between Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, and her daughter Rebecca.  Rebecca Walker, who had earned a reputation as an outspoken third-wave feminist, has accused her mother and other second wave feminists of neglecting and downplaying the importance of raising children.  See “Must feminists choose between dreams and diapers?

The mother-daughter conflict between the Walkers is said to have resulted in total estrangement. You might want to read Phyllis Chesler’s commentary on it in the online magazine, Salon.  See “The Mother-Daughter Wars.”

Human Ovulation Caught on Camera
The writer of the 139th psalm glorified God by saying, “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (vs.14).  The truth of those words comes through in these first ever photos showing what happens as the human egg emerges from the ovary.  [Note: This website sometimes comes up with a note that the site is unknown.  If that happens, go to BBC home and put “human ovulation” in the search box for all of BBC.  You’ll be directed to the article and photos, which were posted on June 11, 2008.]

What Goes on a Birth Certificate When a Transgender Dad Gives Birth?
If you’ve wondered about this question, check out this article from Slate.  See also this related article from the BBC Newsbeat and Ellen Goodman’s  July 11, 2008 column, “When daddy is also the mommy”

“Breast Cancer in the Family: Children’s Perceptions of  Their Mother’s Cancer “
This informative study of  families in which the mother has been newly diagnosed with breast cancer was published in BMJ (British Medical Journal).  The research was conducted by Dr. Gillian Forrest and her colleagues, and provides helpful information for health professionals, patients, and their families.  When Dr. Forrest, a child psychiatrist and Senior Research Fellow at Oxford University, was herself diagnosed with breast cancer, she wondered what to tell her own young children. She shares her answers with other families through a children’s book she wrote for preschoolers. Its title is Mummy’s Lump, and it’s published by Breast Cancer Care, “the UK's leading provider of information, practical assistance, and emotional support for anyone affected by breast cancer.”  Just click on the book title under “Publications,” and scroll down.  The book is listed as available free of charge , but no information is provided about its availability to those living outside the UK.  However, if you think the book would be useful for yourself or someone in your family, you might want to contact the Breast Cancer Care organization about how to order a copy.

Humankind broadcasts
If you haven’t heard Public Radio broadcasts of Humankind (or even if you have), you’ll be glad to know that you can listen to samples of these “voices of hope and humanity” on a variety of topics.  Check out their website to see all their offerings.

Religion Dispatches is a new online magazine, daily reporting religion news and analysis.  It’s worth checking out.

Women and Worship: Expanding Sacred Spaces

This new series from Women’s Enews shows the impact women of various faiths are having on their religious institutions.

“Stations of the Cross”
An exhibition of artist Kathryn Cramer Brown’s “Stations of the Cross: The Weight of Dust” has been on view this summer at the Oxnam Chapel of the Wesleyan Theological Seminary in Washington, DC.  Kathryn Cramer Brown is the pseudonym used by EEWC’s own Kathy Pigg for signing her art and poetry.  Many in  EEWC will remember with fondness and gratitude the open art studio that Kathy led throughout the 2006 EEWC Conference in Charlotte, NC.  Now, through poetry and clay tiles, with images of a heart and a cross in various positions to represent Jesus’ walk to his crucifixion, Kathy has given us a creative and moving new way to reflect on the Stations of the Cross.  You can view it online.

“Blogging While Brown (and Female)”
Concerned about the demeaning characterizations of black women in the media, attorney Gina McCauley saw the opportunity presented by the Internet—a place “where women don’t have to go through a male power structure to be heard”— and decided to become a blogger.  “There are things happening to black women and girls in this country that we think only happen in war zones in Africa, and nobody’s covering them,” she told writer Kristal Brent Zook of the Women’s Media Center. McCauley has set up two blogs to deal with sexist remarks and attitudes directed toward African American women.  She also organized the first international “Bloggers of Color” conference held in Atlanta in July, 2008. 

Blogs that Mention EEWC’s 2008 Conference in Indianapolis

Both BK Hipster’s blog, “In My Lifetime” (June 30 post) and one of Kimberly George’s blogs, “Faith and Gender: A Necessary Conversation” (July 9 post) refer to “A Place at the Table,”  the EEWC biennial  conference held in Indianapolis in late June, 2008.  Both women were first-time attendees, and we are so glad they found a place at our table!

Just for Fun

In this edition of our quarterly Web Explorations for Christian Feminists, I’ve focused for the most part on serious, heavy—even painful— topics we need to know about in promoting justice, empathy, compassion, and peace in our troubled world.  But in closing, I thought I’d list a few sites you can visit just for the fun of it!  After all, Scripture tells us that “a cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).  I don’t want to leave you with any “dried-up bones”!  So check out these sites to end on a lighter, more relaxed note.

How Many of Me?
Have you ever wondered how many people have the same first and last name as you do?  This site will tell you.

Name Voyager
Have you ever wondered in what year or decade a particular name was most popular in naming babies?  The creative Name Voyager is a fascinating way to find out.

Matt Harding Dances around the World  (click on high quality for best viewing)
If you haven’t already been caught up in the phenomenon of Matt Harding, whose video has been viewed by millions around the world, now’s your chance! Be sure to read the New York Times article about it, too. As the video begins, it may strike you as a bit foolish—watching an ordinary guy do a silly dance at diverse locations around the world.  But keep watching. Catch the childlike exuberance as more and more people of all nationalities and ages join and in, even in the most unlikely locations, moving their feet for the sheer joy of it. It makes one wonder how different the world would be if the peoples of the world were quicker to dance and sing together than to fight each other!   ( Be forewarned: you’re not likely to leave this video without a smile on your face and a bit of a dance in your step!)

That’s all for this edition of “Web Explorations for Christian Feminists.” Hope you enjoy these new discoveries from my ongoing travels on the World Wide Web. Be sure to check out the archives, too.

Your Web Explorations Guide
Letha Dawson Scanzoni

© 2008 Evangelical & Ecumenical Women's Caucus