You could say that this is a difficult time for women, or you might say it has always been a difficult time. But let’s just say that women have had to be courageous forever.
Antigone, a 3000-year-old play by Sophocles, is perhaps our oldest example of a woman speaking truth to power. The protagonist defends the right to bury her deceased brother, a young man considered a traitor to Thebes by Creon, who is both her uncle and king.
Antigone believes it is her responsibility to her brother to perform the holy rites attached to his burial — an ancient religious act. Creon, however, decrees that this man should be prey for animals as he lies above ground where he was felled in battle.
When Antigone defies the king, she is put to death, as she knew she would by doing so.
There is more to a woman’s courage than this, however. Bearing children has always been associated with pain and the possibility of death. Raising those same little ones includes their defense, sometimes to the point of giving your own life to safeguard theirs.
Mating requires attachment to a man, historically stronger and capable of harming the female and her children. Rape remains a danger, a peril on every occasion women leave the home.
But there is more. Victims may endure verbal brutality in the questions they are asked when reporting the crime. Cross-examination in a court is not less harsh. Some defense attorneys claim the female provoked the attack.
Nor has the fair sex long been permitted the choice of a husband. Instead, the future wife had to accept the custom and control of parental matchmaking. The practice still exists.
A number of religions continue to characterize women as “less than” men — to the males they marry, in particular. They are told what to do, what is ladylike or brazen, and when to be silent.
Always by gents.
And yet, the partner must defend her husband without outshining him.
A tightrope walk.
Women are now firefighters and serve in wartime. They play hard in games that used to be the property of men. Rosey the Riveter might be a WWII fictional icon, but if brought to life, she would work in every available job today, even though wage discrimination exists.
The dangers of factories and slaughterhouses do not block the necessity of making a punishing living any more than the agricultural industry.
All the while, members of the fair sex are still called foul words related to their sexuality and their appearance. They are derided by the likes of Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who recently claimed the USA is short on “masculine energy.”
Ladies have taken on “men’s jobs” and taken on males. Think of Greta Thunberg, a 22-year-old climate activist who began her crusade to save the planet and the human race at age 15.
Data from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) indicate that in 2022, adult females were more likely than men to be diagnosed as mentally ill. In addition, women were more likely to be characterized as suffering from serious mental illness.
Many reasons have been offered for these gender disparities, including a greater willingness among women to open themselves to treatment via drugs or psychotherapy. Some would say more significant challenges exist for women than for men in the course of life. Nonetheless, it is well known that life expectancy is longer for the females of the species.
Argentine history offers a striking illustration of female bravery by the mothers and Grandmothers of the Plaza del Mayo. Wikipedia tells us this:
Women had organized to gather, holding a vigil, while also trying to learn what had happened to their adult children during the 1970s and 1980s. They began to gather for this every Thursday, from 1977 at Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires in front of the Casa Rosada presidential palace, in public defiance of the government’s law against mass assemblies.[1]
Wearing white headscarves to symbolize the diapers (nappies) of their lost children, embroidered with the names and dates of birth of their offspring, now young adults, the mothers marched in twos in solidarity to protest the denials of their children’s existence or their mistreatment by the military regime.[1] Despite personal risks, they wanted to hold the government accountable for the human rights violations which were committed in the Dirty War.[2]
The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde is the latest model of uncommon dauntlessness. The cleric speaks with quiet strength in delivering her pleas for the unfortunate in her church and elsewhere in this country. Three thousand years after Sophocles, she inherits Antigone’s example of speaking truth to power.
Budde echoed the Hebrew Bible when she spoke to the new President at the National Cathedral in Washington:
“Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Exodus 22:21I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away, and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands, to find compassion and welcome here. Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we all were once strangers in this land.
Mariann Budde’s sermon, which was part of the recent Inauguration ceremonies, has gone viral and is on YouTube. Rather than offer it here, you will find an older speech by the Bishop above, describing how she found courage in a difficult moment in 2020.
This woman says that she still experiences anxiety every time she preaches. She further states that “we are all called to be brave.” Indeed, she wrote a book about it in 2023: How We Learn to be Brave.
Very few of us are without fear. To be brave we overcome it. May you be brave. Perhaps you already are.
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The top photo is a Woman Operating a Turret Lathe by Howard R. Hollem in 1942, courtesy of the Library of Congress. It is followed by a picture of a Woman Firefighter taken by Spapa003. Norman Rockwell’s 1942 Saturday Evening Post cover of Rosie the Riveter comes next. The first and last of these are sourced from Wikipedia.org. The second comes from Wikimedia Commons.
I’ve been thinking about this because of Bishop Budde. Also the woman from J6 who refused the pardon — not sure what the outcome of that will be because the article it may be that she cannot legally refuse it. But I was thinking we need a list of women who are willing to stand up to him in his second presidency. Perhaps the men would do well to observe and learn.
Your post brought to mind a song from 2002 that was meaningful to me at the time. The song asks what I would do “if I were brave.” The song does not resonate as much now because I *am* brave. I would have to change the words to “what will I do today since I am brave.”
I have very little experience of suffering simply by virtue of the fact of being a woman, but I have seen it a million times in others. Women are subject to some extra bad suffering in times of war and poverty. My wish is that women would begin to embrace their personal power more and more.
I do not doubt your bravery and endurance for a moment, Susan. If you can get through a paywall, you and others might want to read Timothy Ryback’s January 8 essay: “How Hitler Dismantled a Democracy in 53 Days.”
Our nation must take care not to wait for those who are already taking actions to destroy what our fathers and grandfathers and forefathers fought for. Whatever one can do as soon as one can do it. All good wishes for you and your family.
Thank you for the recommendation for that article. 53 days is a really short time.
Indeed it is, but that depends on what happens in the meantime, and how we all — the players in the chess game — play our hand.
Well, that is one chilling article. I am alarmed at the parallels.
Yes, but it was also a matter of luck. And what was not said, was that Hindenburg was increasingly suffering from dementia. To the good, the Catholic priests in the US are not capitulating at the Pope’s direction, as they did in Germany.
I was gratified to see that the Inspectors General he fired are pushing back saying he can’t do that.
It’s one thing for members of the R party are going along with everything but what are the D’s thinking. Or is everything just about keeping the money and the power?
the women have really emerged as the strongest resistors in this debacle we find ourselves in
I do not doubt it, Beth. The times call to us if we care to listen. Thank you.
And to think you didn’t use a pic when I was a firefighter! Harumph! LOL….
I do get the joke, Laura! Truth is, I thought of you in your role as a firefighter as I was writing, but did not presume you necessarily wanted your photo or name attached the essay. That said, it would be an honor if you would send me a picture of yourself in that role, so that I can include it belatedly. Either way, you are a heroine in my book!
Now I think you might have a bit of an idea about me and my twisted humor. :)~~ xoxoxoxo I was kidding.
And PS, the “H” word makes me squirm.
Sorry for the “squirm” word, Laura. I will try to restrain myself! All the best!
Not to go back and forth and back and forth but this does bring up an interesting point these days.
After I sent the “H” word makes me squirm reply, I thought oh no! I don’t want you to have to be careful of what you say to me. Nothing could be further from the truth! I miss the good ole days when people were able to say, within polite boundaries, whatever they want!
All that being said, you NEVER have to choose your words carefully with me.
I can take it. 🙂
xoxoxo
Thank you and good for you, Laura. I am aware that you have taken more than that in your life.
Thank you, Dr. Stein, for this beautiful post. Dr. Budde is bringing the light…leading the way. 💕
Thanks, Vicki. I am reminded of a comment by John Boehner, 53rd Speaker of the US House of Representatives: “A leader without followers is simply a man taking a walk.”
We must follow those who lead in a worthy direction and not be fooled by Pied Pipers.
Perfectly put! Yes. ❤️
I remember being finally aware as a teen in the 1970’s so vividly how women had been and continued to be portrayed in society. Throughout my life I have had small glimmers of hope that maybe…then society adamantly chooses to go back to the status quo and the marginalization returns at full pitch.
Oh Dr. Stein, millions of us have seen these practices and lived within these practices and been labeled by many of those names you mention our entire lives. I desperately wanted more than this legacy for my daughters and granddaughters. I encourage the focus to remain on these outspoken, powerful and yes brave women who refuse to be labeled or overlooked but I hope everyone also realizes that there are millions more who go about their lives doing small brave things everyday. Those are the women that really matter in my opinion.
On a side note I have in my reading list a book by sociologist Jessica Calarco titled “Holding It Together: How Women Became Americas Safety Net” It apparently discusses many of the reasons why women are not recognized in society, why they are held back, why they cannot achieve the same level of independence as men. I look forward to reading it.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Much appreciated, Greg.
You have added an important perspective to the essay and previous comments, Deb. There are many ways to do good and women do their part as they always have, often in terrible circumstances. They and we now face something unlike the day to day challenges that face our lives. We need all the “safety nets” you refer to and to find another way to do our part. The game isn’t over and your legacy remains to be determined. As a father and grandfather, I share the concern and the responsibility. Thank you, Deb.
Excellent post Dr. Stein. I find it disconcerting that masculine energy or masculinity needs to be defined by force and brutality, and if it is lacking, then men are seen as taking on feminine traits. We all have masculine and feminine energy and traits and depending on the circumstances, one or the other will come to the fore. We do ourselves a huge disservice when we label one or the other as “good” or “bad”, instead of allowing ourselves to just be ourselves instead of trying to force people to conform to be accepted.
Recently I read one of those Reddit threads reposted, where men were talking about the moment when they realized that women were human too! They had been conditioned to believe that women were inferior to men, so in effect couldn’t be human!
Yes, Tamara. Name-calling is one of the first steps to dehumanization. Once we say others are not human, we make it possible to mistreat them, at the worst, declaring them “life unworthy of life.” Thank you for your comment, Tamara.
All so true, and moving.
Thank you, Dan. Good to hear from you. Best to you and Pearl.
My mother would have loved this post. I regard her as something of a pioneer for equality of women. She was born in 1913, before women even had the right to vote in this country and most other “Western democracies,” although it now seems preposterous that such a condition could have existed. It was not normal for a woman of her generation to obtain a Ph.D. in chemistry, but she did so, pushing past misogynistic resistance, slights and discrimination. She always stood up for equal treatment of women in all areas.
Quite a model, not just for women, but for all of us. My apologies for thinking someone else wrote this. As you can see, I have corrected my reply. Your mother was a heroine for today and yesterday. Thanks for adding to the conversation.
Beautifully done, Dr. Stein. I love your, “The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde is the latest model of uncommon dauntlessness.”
May we all find our uncommon dauntlessness. And overcome what Mark Twain noted, “It is curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare.”
Mark Twain knew a thing or two. Thank you for your sentiments, Wynne. Here’s to the next generation. May they live with the freedoms we have enjoyed.
Dr. Stein, at a time when we women are once again being denigrated by those who hold power positions, I thank you for adding your voice in recognition of women in our society. I give thanks for Bishop Budde’s courageous act in addressing our president’s latest policies on illegal immigrants. When needed, heroism arises in the most unlikely places from the most unlikely individuals.
Let us hope that Bishop Budde inspires others, Rosaliene. When some of our houses of worship are failing us, it is heartening that voices such as hers can still be heard. Thank you, Rosaliene.
Indeed, Dr. Stein. The failure of our houses of worship is highlighted in Russell Moore’s book “Losing Our Religion.”
Thank you, Rosaliene. I imagine you are well versed in the capitulation of the Catholic Church in Germany during the Third Reich. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor in the Confessing Church, returned to Germany from safety in the USA in an effort to overturn the Nazi regime. As you know, he gave his life in so doing. Simone Weil also returned to Europe from the USA to do her part for the Free French government in England. We have many heroic models.
Thanks for the info, Dr. Stein. Without a doubt, there are many more heroic models we will never know about.