It is troubling to me sometimes to see how society views women. First there's the obvious peddling of various products that have nothing to do with sex or women, yet somehow all the advertising is blantantly sexualizing women. Then there's this constant pounding in of the idea that women need to be on BC -- not just for contraception, though, but because periods and just the regular functions of our bodies are bad. But the one that REALLY gets me is the reaction of so many people to breastfeeding.
I just don't understand why people are SO grossed out/offended by it. Why is it SO awkward for a man to be in a room where a women is discreetly feeding her infant, yet that same man loves checking out the barely-dressed cheerleaders at an NFL game? It's just crazy that apparently a woman isn't supposed to allow her body to function in a natural way.
Re: How Society Views Women
Don't get me wrong, I used to be one of thsoe women who thought sex was the only way to find happiness/long term commitment or to feel loved/happy. But I am SO much more happy and fulfilled now in a real relationship not only with a man who loves and respects me, but also in a relationship with God and with myself. I wish other women could feel what I do now rather than feeling like babies/their fertility are disesases, while sexuality is the cure (which is soooo backwards)
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It's totally an American viewpoint too and I've heard that most other countries have no issues whatsoever with breastfeeding. I think it also discourages women from breastfeeding both because of the backlash against women nursing in public which makes it harder to maintain nursing and because I think "breasts = sexual only" is so ingrained in our culture that it makes women uncomfortable to think about them as anything else.
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[QUOTE] It's totally an American viewpoint too and I've heard that most other countries have no issues whatsoever with breastfeeding. I think it also discourages women from breastfeeding both because of the backlash against women nursing in public which makes it harder to maintain nursing and because I think "breasts = sexual only" is so ingrained in our culture that it makes women uncomfortable to think about them as anything else.
Posted by TeaForMe[/QUOTE]
Agreed. We have friends who were missionaries in Costa Rica and they said women would routinely get up to lector at Mass with the baby attached and nobody thought anything of it.
That bugs me too - apparently being equal to men means we must, in essence, become men by "taming" our uteri, implying that the female body and, heck, everything feminine is inferior. Riiiight... sounds super pro-woman to me. ::eye roll::
One thing to remember: The wedding is just one day. The marriage is all the rest of them.
April 2012 Siggy Challenge: Cake Inspiration
Generally, I think people have made femininity and "women's work" to be equivalent to weakness, oppression, submission. I think it is great that we acknowledge that women are capable of doing all of these things that were considered "men's responsibilities", however I think it is awful that we've somehow turned mothering and caring for a house into "lesser" work. It isn't lesser work. Caring for one's family and one's home is the most important work. Also, I think it is a shame that the ONE THING that women can do that men will NEVER be able to do (carry and give birth to a child) is treated as a diseased condition or something that makes them a "lesser citizen". How convoluted is that? This is a power that men will never have! Oh wait - it's a BURDEN, right. My mistake.
One of the questions she addresses is "Are Orthodox Jews Sexist?" because women (generally, but not always) focus on raising their family rather than on careers and women do not have roles in the synagogue. The part I loved about her answer was that women are capable of two things, biologically, that give them a closer connection to God as it is - carrying and sustaining life. So men have to find different ways to be closer to God by seeking leadership roles in the synagogue. I know this doesn't exactly relate to Catholic teaching on why only men may be priests, but really it makes more sense to me when I think about it that way - women already have a closer connecton to God as life-givers and sustainers.
[QUOTE]I think this is somewhat relevant to this discussion. I enjoy the website Jew In The City - an orthodox Jewish woman who kind of explains in interesting/humorous ways a lot of the misconceptions of Orthodox Judaism. (I feel we need the Catholic version of this!!) One of the questions she addresses is "Are Orthodox Jews Sexist?" because women (generally, but not always) focus on raising their family rather than on careers and women do not have roles in the synagogue. The part I loved about her answer was that women are capable of two things, biologically, that give them a closer connection to God as it is - carrying and sustaining life. So men have to find different ways to be closer to God by seeking leadership roles in the synagogue. I know this doesn't exactly relate to Catholic teaching on why only men may be priests, but really it makes more sense to me when I think about it that way - women already have a closer connecton to God as life-givers and sustainers.
Posted by TeaForMe[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>The worldly perception of womanhood is so upside down.This is one of the ways I explain the understanding of men-only priesthood. (I may have already talked about this - can't remember) Think of an upside down triangle... The pope is at the bottom in service to the rest of the church with the weight of the world's souls on him. Above him, are the cardinals, in service to the church, then priests, then lay men, with women as the crown of creation. The vocation of priesthood, in a certain sense, a "lowering" of oneself in service to others. Men are called to be the "guardian of the recirpocity of the gift" (love and responsibility).---they are accountable. It's so beautiful because it "hails" women as the crown... and for them to be priests would be below their dignity. </div><div>
</div><div>I think this crosses over to homemaking, bearing children, etc. The domestic church is the home, and for wives/moms to be in charge of running the day to day is the most important part!
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[QUOTE]I have struggled as a Catholic with the BC issue that's mentioned by a few posters above me. The thing is...what my body naturally goes through each month puts me through hell. Depression, anxiety, mood swings, cramps so bad I can't move, migraines so painful I can't work. I've been through counseling for the emotional issues, taken pain killers, but it still doesn't work. So for people like me, BC is an option to hopefully lead a more normal life. It's the one thing that works. I know what the church says about BC. But, it's also important to know that judging others doesn't really get us as women any further away from the negativity/societal issues we battle on a daily basis. There is little we can do in our everyday lives to control the actions or thoughts of others. The best we can do is work with what we can control - how we react. Be the positive influence we know people need - I try the best I can to be the best example I can. That's the best way to combat all the negativity women experience from society on a daily basis. Well, at least it's a start.
Posted by caradi[/QUOTE]
<div>What you are talking about is not birth control. It is medicine. There is nothing immoral about taking a medicine to treat something, even though it has unwanted/unintended side effects. They are 2 completely separate things.</div><div>
</div><div>That said, as many threads talk about here....artificial hormones only masks symptoms. It does not treat the problem. It's a carcinogen. (Just like prescribing cigarretes for stress). I've had several issues that would normally been "taken care of" with the pill, but instead through napro technology have been cured or treated, gotten to the root of the problem. </div><div>
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[QUOTE]I have struggled as a Catholic with the BC issue that's mentioned by a few posters above me. The thing is...what my body naturally goes through each month puts me through hell. Depression, anxiety, mood swings, cramps so bad I can't move, migraines so painful I can't work. I've been through counseling for the emotional issues, taken pain killers, but it still doesn't work. So for people like me, BC is an option to hopefully lead a more normal life. It's the one thing that works. I know what the church says about BC. But, it's also important to know that judging others doesn't really get us as women any further away from the negativity/societal issues we battle on a daily basis. There is little we can do in our everyday lives to control the actions or thoughts of others. The best we can do is work with what we can control - how we react. Be the positive influence we know people need - I try the best I can to be the best example I can. That's the best way to combat all the negativity women experience from society on a daily basis. Well, at least it's a start.
Posted by caradi[/QUOTE]
No one will judge you for using BCP if your doctor had prescribed them for a medical problem. My DD had severe PCOS that was treated for over 5 years before she got relief. haha, the relief was pregnancy!
But that was only after two years on metformin, preceeded by a year of the BCP. Then clomid worked on the second dose. Fortunately. she and her H had wanted to wait for a couple years of married life alone before they even tried. They have a 3 year old and an almost 2 year old now.
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: How Society Views Women : The worldly perception of womanhood is so upside down.This is one of the ways I explain the understanding of men-only priesthood. (I may have already talked about this - can't remember) Think of an upside down triangle... The pope is at the bottom in service to the rest of the church with the weight of the world's souls on him. Above him, are the cardinals, in service to the church, then priests, then lay men, with women as the crown of creation. The vocation of priesthood, in a certain sense, a "lowering" of oneself in service to others. Men are called to be the "guardian of the recirpocity of the gift" (love and responsibility).---they are accountable. It's so beautiful because it "hails" women as the crown... and for them to be priests would be below their dignity. I think this crosses over to homemaking, bearing children, etc. The domestic church is the home, and for wives/moms to be in charge of running the day to day is the most important part!
Posted by agapecarrie[/QUOTE]
<div>This is the best explanation I have ever come across for the male priesthood. As a woman, I feel more dignified just reading it. Thank you so much!</div>
[QUOTE]just taking a quick look, it says you are in ohio? I don't know if any of these towns are near you, but there are MANY MANY NFP-only docs in ohio. (I know ohio is a big state, but there are so many that maybe there are some near you). I highly recommend giving it a shot... <a href="http://www.omsoul.com" rel="nofollow">www.omsoul.com</a>
Posted by agapecarrie[/QUOTE]
Thank you! I will look into this!