There is a need for a feminism that sees women as more than \u201cskin and bones\u201d that can be transformed into men with the proper clothing and pronouns; a need for a feminism that works to keep women safe and honor them as daughters of God. Denying women certain fundamental rights leads to half the global population being denied the opportunity to flourish. When women aren\u2019t given proper healthcare, financial opportunities, and protection from violence, they\u2019re shut out from spaces of influence, which will lead to the world\u2019s missing out on the many gifts women can offer.<\/p>\n
Catholics, in particular, have recognized the need for this type of feminism. Saint John Paul the Great didn\u2019t call for an end to feminism. He called for a\u00a0new\u00a0<\/i>feminism, writing in\u00a0Evangelium Vitae<\/i><\/a>:<\/p>\n In transforming culture so that it supports life, women occupy a place, in thought and action, which is unique and decisive. It depends on them to promote a \u201cnew feminism\u201d which rejects the temptation of imitating models of \u201cmale domination,\u201d in order to acknowledge and affirm the true genius of women in every aspect of the life of society, and overcome all discrimination, violence and exploitation.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n When Catholics surrender the term\u00a0feminism<\/i>\u00a0to modern thinkers who rely on outdated stereotypes and a perverted sense of womanhood, we\u2019re not answering Saint John Paul the Great\u2019s invitation. We\u2019re allowing our own bitterness and often justified disagreement to prevent us from recognizing the ways women\u00a0are<\/i>\u00a0suffering. We let our culture twist words as it pleases. If Catholic women feel that they\u2019re thriving, that is clearly a good thing. But many women aren\u2019t, and those of us who are uniquely privileged are obligated to increase our aid.<\/p>\n Feminism, as it was originally intended, identified and honored the differences between men and women. It didn\u2019t emphasize the stereotypical differences that both modern gender ideologues and Instagram #tradwives tend to emphasize\u2014what a person wears, for instance, or what hobbies she enjoys. Feminism originally illuminated the fact that\u00a0because\u00a0<\/i>women are life-bearers, and\u00a0because of\u00a0<\/i>their innate capacity for care and serving, they were uniquely positioned to suffer discrimination.<\/p>\n Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n Feminism has never been a phrase without its detractors\u2014many men in the 1800s very much did see women as \u201cskin and bones.\u201d But today, Catholics seem to be split over the virtues and vices of the word \u201cfeminist\u201d more than ever before.@claireswinarski<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/wyqHeJOSqN<\/a><\/p>\n — Public Discourse (@PublicDiscourse) February 9, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n \n