So here's the thing...
I am a feminist.
Like in the very basic sense of the word.
But here's the kicker:
According to my research, so were Adam and Eve.
Yup, Adam and Eve were feminists. Gender equality was their jam.
I'm a feminist because I believe in absolute truth. I know that God is no respecter of persons, I know that agency, or the ability to choose how we think which determines how we feel, is the great equalizer, and I believe that everyone should have an equal chance at being awesome.
I believe Adam and Eve felt the same way.
So, here are 7 myths about Adam and Eve and their marriage that I've exposed, and have found to be proof that Eve, and Adam were in fact, bare-naked feminists.
11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. Genesis 3:12-13
Myth #1: Adam throws Eve under the bus
My truth: This here is an honest confession of what actually happened. It's not a betrayal, it's not finger pointing, and it's not inappropriate. To me, this gives insight into unity.
In order for there to be any kind of equality, there has to be individuality.
Unity is not possible without individuality.
And unity, at least for humans, is not actually about always having the same ideas all of the time, and never having any disagreements. Unity to me actually means that there is ENOUGH trust for spouses to have differing opinions.
Unity is about safety, the safety of a common purpose, a common cause, a shared goal, It means if I mess up, you've got my back, and if you slip, I'm there to reach out and grab you. It's not about pretending we didn't mess up, it's knowing that mess ups are part of the journey.
Myth #2: Eve is subjected to Adam
My truth: Eve accepts the PRIESTHOOD which Adam is given stewardship of....BIG DIFFERENCE. It's also implied that Eve/any woman reserves the right to check or balance her husband in any decision that she would not have made herself in righteousness anyway. Again, this means that while Adam is fulfilling a divine role as a Priesthood holder, he is still equal with Eve. Check every General Conference in the last few years, and you'll notice a huge emphasis on equal decisions, family councils, and general love and support of the spouses.
Myth #3: Because Adam holds the Priesthood, he also holds more power and weight in family decisions.
My truth: Being the Priesthood holder is about taking responsibility for the family, not about doing everything, or being in control.
Myth #4: man: woman, you wouldn't be here without my rib.
woman: true, that could create a hierarchy.
My truth: Besides this whole rib thing being symbolic anyway...In general, man supports woman, woman nurtures man. (or a variety of permutations thereof)
We usually think of Eve coming from Adam's rib as something negative and possibly sexist, but I don't think it is.
man: God developed further what had already been created, so you need my support, and I need you to "be whole", which means we need each other in order to reach our potential.
woman: I am part of you, which means you need me and I need you.
It fits a whole lot closer with Plato's two halves of a whole theory than it does dominion and submission.
(NOTE: This is in no way a commentary on the idea of "soulmates", or one gender being better than the other. My goal here is to clearly point out that men and women need each other on a very basic level.)
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. Moses 3:25
I love this verse, for both of its possible implications.
Myth #5: Chastity means sex is bad.
My truth: Physical intimacy is beautiful and sacred. The bonds-or emotional connection and commitment- of marriage are meant to keep it that way.
...I'll just let Elder Richard G. Scott explain the rest:
“Within the enduring covenant of marriage, the Lord permits husband and wife the expression of the sacred procreative powers in all their loveliness and beauty within the bounds He has set. One purpose of this private, sacred, intimate experience is to provide the physical bodies for the spirits Father in Heaven wants to experience mortality. Another reason for these powerful and beautiful feelings of love is to bind husband and wife together in loyalty, fidelity, consideration of each other, and common purpose” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 50; or Ensign, Nov. 1994,
Basically, physical intimacy as God intended it to be is all about equality.
There's no gray area here.
Myth #6: Weakness or "nakedness" makes me ugly. If my spouse were to see my weaknesses or mistakes, they wouldn't be able to love me...aka mistakes make me unworthy.
My truth: Marriage, in my opinion, should protect the most tender and vulnerable states of each individual, while allowing for maximum growth. Honesty coupled with acceptance.
Myth #7: Gender roles mean inequality
My truth: I do believe in gender roles, as far as they protect a couples' ability to give equally to their marriage. I also know that that can look different for different couples.
So there you go.
Take it as you will.
"Talk" about it:
It is Not Good for Man or Woman to Be Alone Sheri Dew
Lessons from Eve Elder Russel M. Nelson
Glorious Mother Eve (this is a link to a document that should download, not a website) Vivian Mcconkie
5 Things Every Mormon Should Know About Mother EveBeverly Campbell, adapted from "Eve and the Choice Made in Eden
