Who put the men in Amen?
Jun 10th, 2007 by Glenn
I am a huge fan of John Dehlin’s Mormonstories Podcasts. He has a new series up now on “Women in the LDS Church.” I haven’t listened to them yet (I’m saving them for my flight to Tokyo tomorrow) but I was thinking about the idea of it during sacrament meeting today, and at one point I became very sensitive (to the point of absurdity) to all of the sexist language we have in the church. It’s time to make some changes, people, and I am hoping that you will help me round up all the examples of sexist words and expressions that we need to change.
For example:
Amen ought to be changed to Apeople.
Hymnal ought to be them-nal.
Testimony really should be gona-mony.
On the other side, Missionary should be… (can anyone think of a gender-neutral prefix)-ionary.
You see where I’m going with all this? Of course the sexism is so deeply entrenched I don’t know if we will ever be able to root it all out, but with your help, maybe we can change the whole entire world, possibly overnight. What say ye? Will you help me in this new quest?
I am appalled by this post. Advocating desecration of our basic gospel terminology in the name of political correctness. The brethren would not be amused by this one bit!
Language in the gospel relies on masculine nouns and verbs because it is the men called to preside and hold the priesthood. There is a reason why the Lord says Amen.
I have made an in-depth study of this issue (in addition to my groundbreaking study about matri-lineal priesthood among the Hebrews) and have concluded that the Relief Society has nothing to complain about. If anything, it is the Prieshood that has a right to complain about sexist language in the church.
In languages that assign gender to nouns, Church is feminine in all cases. No wonder men feel uncomfortable there. The subversive influence of the Relief Society is also seen in the way that nouns like revelation and inspiration and stake presidency are also feminized. Go ahead, look it up. And if you really want to see something that will make your masculine blood boil, look up the gender of the word priesthood in the germanic languages. It’s enough to break a chauvinist’s heart. Honestly, Im surprised that the Relief Society hasn’t demanded unisex bathrooms at church yet, but maybe I’m speaking too soon.
I hear a lighthearted tone on this thread, so I’m not sure if you are actually looking for a serious conversation on this topic or not . . .
I’ve never been a woman who shys away from a challenge.
But, I guess I’ll take that chance
Let’s start with calling men by their titles and women by their first names. Bishop: “I’ve asked President Lamb to give the EQ report, and Megan (Primary Pres) to give the prayer.”
Now this isn’t language, but it bugs me anyway. How about more subtle discrimination, like the fact that the diaper changing table is in the mother’s lounge? I’ve actually witnessed a breastfeeding mom become very embarassed when a man walked in to change his baby, but where else was he supposed to go?
Back to language, I think it’s the scriptures that convey the most sexism. And, it’s difficult because sometimes “men” means mankind, but sometimes it means “men.” And other times I just can’t tell, like when we are told we will become the “sons of God,” not sure about that one.
I’ll agree with Glenn, I hear the sexism in the church and perhaps I haven’t had the blessing of stepping back to realize the absurdity of it all. Right now it’s just a huge pain.
(I’m waiting to hear the podcast, but I’ve got to borrow dh’s ipod)
Jess,
Even when I am joking I’m serious. I appreciate the examples. I have heard the male=formal titles, female=informal first names used as well. In our chapel, at least, there is a changing table in the men’s bathroom (and someone scraped away the “C” so that it now reads “hanging table”). At least the woman nursing her child was not doing it in the chapel during sacramnet meeting like some mothers I have seen (not that there’s anything wrong with that…)
It reminds me of a story. I was home teaching once, and the family was just getting over the flu. They asked me to bless their children, so I did. Except for one — the one (I think she was about two-and-a-half at the time) who was nursing at her mother’s breast (and NOT under a blanket). They said, “please bless the baby, too.”
Um… now?
So, as the young toddler continued to peacefully suckle, I very uncomfortably placed my hands on the child’s head and tried very dilligently to focus on a blessing rather than the fact that my hands were inches away from this woman’s right breast.
Great family — lovely family. Just a little uncomfortable for me.
My dear sister Jessicuz, if you hear a lightminded tone on this thread it is because you yourself are lightminded, and of course that is a sin for which some are going to burn in hell.
You somehow persist, in spit of all evidence to the contrary, in believing that the church is indifferent to so-called women’s so-called concerns. How do you think that poor brother felt when he innocently went to change the baby and that woman acted in such a pornographic manner, flashing her bare bre*sts at him? And in the church, no less!!! Later on in Sunday school class he would have listened to a lesson about the ten virgins. How can a righteous priesthood holder possible identify with them? And the bridegroom, symbolized by Jesus, is coming to greet the church, sytmbolized by a …… bride. This is just one of a countless number of examples of how the priesthood is marginalized and silenced.
Sacrawoment meeting? Sacrapersont meeting?
Sacrapersont. We want to get away from the sexism, not overload it in the other direction. All in favor? (any opposed?)
Must you all defile the gospel terminology I hold dear? Next you’ll be suggesting we not pray to Heavenly Father because addressing him as such would be sexist.
Peter,
I’m not sure if you’re kidding on the last comment, but there was a thread at fMh (I’m too lazy to try to find it) where women describe praying to God and not Heavenly Father specifically because of the gender issue.
I advocate calling the laurels priestesses (the quivalent to priests) and using Evangelist and Pastors for the Beehives and Mia Maids (since those terms aren’t being used by any other group in the church right now)
And Glenn, I am sorry you were embarassed to bless a baby while she was breastfeeding. You are probably not alone. I don’t think my husband would have a problem with it. However, we had a friend who was asked to give a woman a blessing before her breast implant surgery, and my husband decided he would decline that invitation were it extended to him. So, I guess breasts and priesthood blessings just aren’t compatible sometimes . . .
how’s that for sexist?
Evangelists, Pastors, and Priestesses — great suggestions for the young sisters’ auxilaries. Sustained.
A blessing before an implant, huh? Oh the fun things you could say.