Book Review: Radical Womanhood

The Surprise of Christian Marriage

Are you a SAHM? Have you made the concious choice to spend your energies supporting your husband, raising your children, and devoting yourself full-time to homemaking?
If so, your marriage is counter-cultural.

And much to my surprise, mine is too.

Who would have thunk? You see, unknowingly, I made the decision to stay home long before I was married. Raised in the fifties and sixties, I absorbed my mother's values.
I watched my (college-educated) Mom and her many friends prioritize their families and use their free time for volunteer work. None of them had full or part-time jobs. As a little girl, I loved dolls and “playing house.” So it seemed natural that eventually, some day I would become a SAHM, just like all the grown-up women in my life. (Complete BIO)

Color Me Surprised

Over the past four decades, it’s been a huge surprise to watch my siblings and most of my childhood girlfriends grow up and advance their careers in the paid workforce. Today, only a handful of my Boomer peers have made marriage, child-rearing, and homemaking their full-time occupation.

So what happened? Why are marriage, mothering, and homemaking no longer valued and respected—and even under assault in our culture?


History of Modern Feminism

The answers to these questions can be found in Carolyn McCulley’s new non-fiction book, Radical Womanhood: Feminine Faith in a Feminist World. (Moody Publishers, October 2008) A Gen X-er, and an unmarried former feminist, McCulley's writing is completely compelling. The following endorsements summarize the book’s contents very well:

“In this carefully researched and clearly written book, Carolyn McCulley exposes the historical roots and contemporary bitter fruits of the Feminist movement. She shows that in contrast to the truly radical way to affirm femininity is to adopt the Biblical perspective on womanhood. This is a book that needs to be read by all women - and by men too!”—Iain Duguid, Professor of Old Testament,
Grove City College

Carolyn traces the first, second, and third waves of feminist ideology, and discusses how these ideas have influenced all of us more than we might have ever known.

“How wonderful when biblical clarity and conviction expose and replace worldly confusion and deception. Radical Womanhood does just this on the profound impact of feminism within our culture and particularly within the church. Carolyn McCulley combines solid research along with engaging personal testimony (her own and that of others) to give a clear picture of feminism’s influence over the past two centuries. Carolyn traces the first, second, and third waves of feminist ideology, and discusses how these ideas have influenced all of us more than we might have ever known. The foundation of this discussion is God’s Word, and Carolyn regularly demonstrates how God’s eternal truth is the answer to feminism’s questions and confusion. We highly recommend this book to discern God’s abiding truth as it relates to one of the most powerful deceptions of our age.”—Bruce and Jodi Ware, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“Several decades ago, feminism redefined the meaning of womanhood. Today, most women would reject a 'feminist' label, but have nonetheless absorbed its ideas. Like an intravenous drug coursing through the vein of an unconscious patient, feminist thought has thoroughly permeated our culture. In this insightful, engaging, and relevant book, Carolyn McCulley encourages us to wake up and become radical—to live as biblically savvy women in the modern world. It’s an excellent read and a stirring challenge!”—Mary A. Kassian, Author The Feminist Mistake


A Timeless Spiritual Battle

Carolyn aptly points out that contemporary feminism is a manifestation of a timeless spiritual battle that began in the Garden of Eden. We're all feminists at heart. We lust for control, and we raise our fists at God's created order.

Men aren’t the problem, says McCulley. Sin is. “Sin warps everything, including the good that God has designed in being a man or a woman. Women sin against men and men sin against women, and everyone sins against God and falls short of His standard of holiness and perfection. Sin is the reason men have oppressed women and women have usurped men... Sin is the reason we need a Savior…

The glorious hope we have is that Christ came to rescue us from this spiral of sin and sinful response. Only the gospel can accurately diagnose the issues on both sides and offer both the good news of forgiveness for our sins and the restoration of our relationship first with God and then with each other. That is true liberation for women… and men.”


Biblical Womanhood is Not For the Weak

If you’re ready for a challenging read, and the opportunity to understand the source of confusion surrounding our God-given roles as women, I strongly recommend you get this book. Personally, I've gleaned much from its pages.

Using a narrative approach appreciated by postmodern readers, McCulley incorporates solid, biblically-based teaching for personal application and growth. “Far from taking a combative approach toward understanding the complexities of female identity, Radical Womanhood presents the pro-woman truth of the Bible. Biblical womanhood is not for the weak—Carolyn will show you how to be radical.”


Our Post-Feminist Culture: The Gains & Losses



YouTube: McCulley discusses the gains and losses of living in a post-feminist culture. Includes compelling historical footage. 4 min.




Related Links

1. "Confessions of a Recovering Feminist" by a Gen "Y" writer, Courtney Tarter.

2. "The Mommy Wars," a chapter excerpt from Radical Womanhood by Boundless Webzine.

3. For more Marriage Monday posts on The Surprise of Christian Marriage, click here.

4. Semicolon's Saturday Review of Books is here.


Your raves, rants, reactions? Go ahead,
be honest.

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. (Prov. 14:1 NIV)

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Photos: Christianbook.com & Vermin Inc. (Flickr)