The Senate confirmation process for Judge Kavanaugh and the accusation of Dr. Christine Ford have been playing out in an excruciating way. I have been paying attention and musing about the effect of the sexual revolution on our culture.
If the incident Dr. Ford described took place I am sad about the trauma she experienced. I am sad that it wasn’t dealt with earlier in her life.
Even still I wonder about the expectations of young women in a culture that has removed all boundaries for sexual behavior. What might happen when a fifteen year old girl goes to a party where alcohol is available, unsupervised by parents?
Certainly boys should be respectful of women. It should be modeled at home. At the same time we need to acknowledge the effects of alcohol on teenage boys in a culture where sexual activity is promoted. I hope that one result of this accusation will lead to discussions with young people about the situations they should avoid.
Another area worthy of discussion is the goals and expectations of the feminist movement which has led to #MeToo.
The feminist movement has allowed women to move into positions once held mainly by men. I believe the strides forward in education and opportunity for women are a great achievement. In fact, the number of young women going to college now exceeds the number of young men. The Atlantic published an article titled Why Men are the New Minority in College.
It seems to me that feminists want equality with men in every area, on every level. Men and women are different physically. Their hormonal system is different. The way they think and process things is different. The differences need to be acknowledged and respected.
The relationships between men and women have been tainted with sin since Adam and Eve. The gift of sex is a deep bond between a man and woman that may conceive new life. But the gift can be misused and women have suffered when men have not shared the responsibility for pregnancy and children.
What if women and men could enjoy sex equally without fear of pregnancy? The birth control pill, made available in the 1960s, has given sexual freedom. But when sex is separated from its original design for family bonding, less thought about commitment in a relationship and potential pregnancy takes place. Boundaries for sexual behavior erode.
The feminist movement has been focused on making life better for women. But what has happened?
The #MeToo movement displays anger and rage. The expectations of the feminist movement have not been met. The truth is that both men and women are sinners who need to repent and forgive. It is my prayer that wounded women will seek healing instead of revenge.
