A Dog Bite: Whose Fault is it Really?

A plane heading to Phoenix had to make an emergency landing on Monday, December 6 because a dog was let out of its carrier case and bit two people.  The report on this may have been short, but the implications are somewhat larger.

First, a reader can assume the dog was a small one because it was in a carrying case.  Now, I know a lot of people would disagree with me, but in my experience, the little dogs seem to have more... how shall I put it... dominance issues? problems with anger management? attitude?  Either way, this dog was probably already on edge from being locked up and going through security.  Airlines have been changing their rules to more strict ones over the past few years, and most certainly do not allow dogs to be let out.

That being said, when my father went to get both my dogs, the flight attendents were so taken with their puppy-ness that they let them sit on my father's lap.  But then, if the puppy isn't crying or making a mess, they usually don't go around biting people.

Fergus, one of two, at eight weeks old.

Who can't resist that face?

The owner probably knew beforehand that the dog had a tendency toward drama, and should never, EVER have let the little thing out of its mesh enclosure.  Airplanes are no places for dogs.  Driving, which is longer, isn't as stressful on them, especially the larger ones who would have to be in the cargo hold on a plane.  The point of this story is that even though the dog should not have bitten anyone, the owner was truly at fault.  A dog that small could have been held, but the more likely scenario was that the owner put him down on the ground to get something and he escaped and went on a rampage.  That rampage, for the record, was completely the owner's fault for not teaching the dog earlier who was in charge and who wasn't.

Holiday Eating

Every year, people make New Year's Resolutions to change the way they eat because over the past week, they have gorged themselves on every comfort food known to mankind.  When a large family gets together, they usually bring a lot of food.  Sometimes, one family can have more than one Christmas by visiting each side on different days.  All this eating can be bad for our health.

But all this eating can have another victim.  Pets are notorious for begging for food, and when family and friends are together, it's hard to keep track of how much they've had so far.  Unfortunately, all this eating can have a more negative effect on our pets than it does for us.  Specific things, such as chocolate, dairy products, grapes, macadamia nuts, and alcohol are prohibited for dogs.  These are not the only things, but checking a reputable website will help you become knowledgable about these dangers.

Under no circumstances should a dog or cat be fed alcohol.  It can cause intoxication, coma, or death, depending on how much an animal is fed.  Something that makes people behave dangerously and stupidly should NEVER be given to an animal with even less conscious judgement.

To make sure you don't spend your Christmas evening cleaning up the contents of your pet's stomach or worse, put a "NO FEED" rule in place for the holidays.  Everyone who walks through your door should be told in no uncertain terms that the dog is not to be fed, no matter how much he begs.  In a time of cheer, make sure that your pet can safely enjoy the season with you.

Group Profiles: Spaniels

*disclaimer: I do not own a spaniel, and so I can neither confirm nor deny the truth of the research I have compiled from the American Kennel Club and the Canandian Kennel Club.  If I make a wrong statement, please PLEASE comment and set me right*

In the sporting group, it seems as though there are 3 main groups.  First, there are the spaniels.  Secondly, the retrievers.  And finally, the pointers and setters.  Each group has more specific characteristics than the broader sporting group.

Spaniels include the American Water Spaniel, the Boykin Spaniel, the Clumber Spaniel, the Cocker Spaniel, the English Cocker Spaniel, the English Springer Spaniel, the Field Spaniel, the Irish Water Spaniel, and the Sussex Spaniel.  As a group, the spaniels seem to love to hunt and do things.  In addition, they usually seem to be friendly, willing to learn, and gentle.  Many people fall in love with their silky coat and large eyes.



American Water Spaniel

American Water Spaniel
The American Water Spaniel is reputed to be an active, loving dog, good for the field or for the home.  If you are looking to adopt one of these dogs, you must be ready to train him or her, teaching the pecking order of the home.  This dog will require daily exercise, so a person who is looking for a fellow couch potato might want to look elsewhere.  In addition, these dogs require regular brushing, meaning that they might become matted or that they shed a lot.  This dog is not for a person unused to dog fur.  The American Water Spaniel does not have a single disease that they are known for, but diseases such as cancer, hip displasia, allergies, hypothyroidism, follicular dystrophy, epilepsy, and cataracts have occured in the breed.  So, if you are buying a puppy from a breeder, make sure the breeder has had both the mother and the father checked and cleared for hips, eyes, and heart.
American Water Spaniel General Information: Wikipedia
American Water Spaniel General Information: AKC


Boykin Spaniel

 Boykin Spaniel
This dog is described as having enough energy to remain by his master's side throughout an entire day of hunting.  This means for the potential owner that they will need to live in an active home, or one where someone will be able to provide regular, moderate to intense exercise or the Boykin will become bored.  A bored dog is one that destroys furniture, one that digs holes, and one that does not listen to commands.  The Boykin also lives for human companionship, so leaving him at home for extended periods of time will not result in a happy, healthy dog.  Weekly brushing is needed for the Boykin, which is minimal compared to the maintenance needed for other breeds.  Healthwise, Boykins are prone to hip dysplasia and eye problems, so any breeder should have the necessary clearences for the mother and father of the puppy.
Boykin Spaniel General Information: AKC
Boykin Spaniel General Informaiton: Wikipedia
Sporting Group Breed Standards: Canadian Kennel Club

Clumber Spaniel

 Clumber Spaniel
By far my favorite spaniel, the Clumber spaniel is described as a gentle dog.  He stands only about 20 inches high and shed moderately year round.  The Clumber should be playful and loving, a perfect fit for a family with children and other animals.  This dog is not your high energy workout partner, but will enjoy a laid back walk.  The Clumber is intelligent and will behave best if trained in a positive manner.  The Clumber is not a dog for you if dog drool is equivalent to acidic slime.  There are three common health disorders that severely affect Clumbers.  First, entropion/ectropion eye conditions (the inward/outward rolling of the eyelid) are common in dogs whose families have not been cleared for eyes.  Second, spinal disk herniation is the bulging of one of the disks in the dog's spine, causing paralysis or pain.  Third, hip dysplasia causes immense pain and trouble walking.  If you want to add a Clumber to your family, make sure you go to a reputable breeder who has all the clearances in order.
Clumber Spaniel General Information: Wikipedia
Clumber Spaniel General Information: AKC
Sporting Group General Information:Canadian Kennel Club

Cocker Spaniel (American)

 Cocker Spaniel (American)
The Cocker Spaniel is the smallest and one of the more well-known of the spaniel group.  They usually average about 14 inches tall at their shoulders and are the perfect size for someone looking for a smaller dog.  Don't let their size fool you though.  These spaniels can have a mind of thier own and dominate a house if given the chance.  In addition, Cockers have a lot of energy and need a lot of exercise.  Cockers are intelligent and would benefit from a class that engages their mind and body.  Owners of cocker spaniels need to brush them regularly and make sure they keep their coats free from mats, which will cause skin irritation if allowed to develop.  No diseases are exceedingly common for cocker spaniels, but any puppy that does not have parents with clearances runs the risk of diseases, even fatal ones, later on in life.
Cocker Spaniel General Information: Wikipedia
Cocker Spaniel General Information: AKC

English Cocker Spaniel

English Cocker Spaniel
The English Cocker Spaniel is related to, and is even the ancestor of, the American Cocker Spaniel, but their are some differences in the way the dogs are built.  For example, the English Cocker Spaniel has a longer head than the American.  English Cocker Spaniels should go to homes where daily exercise is normal and homes with yards with things to sniff and engage their attention.  Described as merry, English cockers are friendly, happy dogs, but will dominate your household if you let them.  The most common health problem with English Cocker Spaniels is cancer, but if you get a puppy from a reputable breeder and make sure their bloodlines are clear, you will reduce your chance of cancer.  These dogs also have longer coats, so grooming will be important to keep mats at bay.
English Cocker Spaniel General Information: Wikipedia
English Cocker Spaniel General Information: AKC


English Springer Spaniel

English Spinger Spaniel
The English Springer Spaniel is one of the most accomplished hunting/flushing dogs and therefore will need a lot of exercise in his new family.  These dogs are friendly and loving, perfect for a family home, but will become attatched to their owners.  Even though they are only considered medium sized, the English Springer Spaniel will need daily exercise and regular grooming to keep their coat under control.  Badly bred Springer spaniels have a chance of hip dysplasia, which can be avoided by clearances and buyer knowledge.
English springer spaniel general information: Wikipedia
English Springer Spaniel General Information: AKC

F

Field Spaniels

Field Spaniel
These dogs are one of the most docile spaniel breeds.  They can come across as reserved when they meet new people, but never should they be shy or fearful.  These dogs function well in a family setting and love human companionship.  They enjoy walks, but will not resort to hyperactiveness if not taken on a 5 mile jog every day.  Also, field spaniels have a shorter coat than many other spaniels and therefore need less grooming.  Health problems common to field spaniels are usually associated with the eyes.  If you would like to avoid paying thousands in vet bills, buying a puppy from a reputable breeder would be advisable.
Field Spaniel General Information: Wikipedia
Field Spaniel General Information: AKC

Irish Water Spaniel

Irish Water Spaniel
This might be considered the spaniel version of a poodle with its curly coat!  These dogs are hypoallergenic, so people with allergies can have a sizable dog.  Irish Water spaniels are supposed to be inquisitive and humorous as well as easy to train.  Regular exercise is a must with these dogs, and they love water, but they are a wonderful family dog, although reserved with strangers.
Irish Water Spaniel General Information: AKC

Sussex Spaniel

Sussex Spaniel
Sussex spaniels are calm and sweet, perfect for families with children.  However, these dogs can become somewhat protective of their families.  They somewhat resemble a Clumber spaniel, and have about the same energy level, but are much smaller.  Daily walks are something a Sussex looks forward to everyday, but intense exercise is not needed.  Instead of shedding to an excessive degree, Sussex spaniels are more apt to drool.  Hip dysplasia is possible in Sussex spaniels but can be prevented by good breeding.  Recurrent ear infections caused by their long floppy ears can be avoided by thorough, regular cleaning.

Getting a Dog

The first step in choosing an animal, any animal, is research.  Many people do not conduct the necessary research before purchasing that cute Labrador Retriever puppy.  Knowing Sam is going to grow to 70 pounds is one thing, but experiencing the breed firsthand is a must.  The choice should not stem from simple cuteness, because bear cubs are cute, but this is not as adorable.

Size is not the most important consideration either.  Homes with children should be especially careful in choosing a dog breed because some breeds may have less of a tolerance for fur- and ear-pulling as well as involuntary teeth brushing.  In addition, activity level is an important consideration for people who live in a more urban area.

Most of the dog breeds today have been created for a specific purpose, and can be grouped  together with other breeds who share a similar purpose.  The temperment and needs of the dog will be linked to the specific group a dog belongs to.

Sporting Dogs
These dogs were made to hunt.  Swimming, running, fetching, digging, running, playing, playing, playing.  My retrievers go  through this list at least three times a day.  Many times, people are drawn to these dogs, which are usually of medium to large size, because they represent something sacred in their childhood.  Unfortunately, what most people don't realize is that they can go from this

to this.

The breeds in the sporting group are:

American Water Spaniel
Boykin Spaniel
Brittany
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Clumber Spaniel
Cocker Spaniel
Curly Coated Retriever
English Cocker Spaniel
English Setter
English Springer Spaniel
Field Spaniel
Flat-Coated Retriever
German Shorthaired Pointer
German Wirehaired Pointer
Golden Retriever (LOVE, but I'm biased)
Gordon Setter
Irish Red and White Setter
Irish Setter
Irish Water Spaniel
Labrador Retriever
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
Pointer
Spinone Italiano
Sussex Spaniel
Vizla
Weimaraner
Welsh Springer Spaniel
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

This is only the first group!  The diversity in the dog world is astounding, and it has its pros and cons.  If you want to read an "official website" on the specific breed standards before I present them on here, http://www.akc.org/ is the place to go.  These people are the official organizers of the foundation of respectable breeding here in America.  HOWEVER, AKC PAPERS DO NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEE A QUALITY PUPPY WITHOUT HEALTH PROBLEMS.

Getting a Puppy for Christmas

There was an article in our local newspaper today that addressed the issue of parents finally caving and getting a puppy (or a kitten) for the holidays.  The author was a vetrinarian arguing towards the idea.  She said that it simply didn't matter when one got a puppy or a kitten; it would still chew and eat miscellaneous items, still relieve itself in your house, and still need constant care.  The conclusion was that it didn't matter what time you added a puppy or kitten to your house.  It was going to be difficult.  While this is, I believe, untrue, I do think that this woman has a legitamite point when she says that puppies and kittens go to homes where the people aren't ready for them all year long.  But right after I read her article, I looked at the classifieds selling litters of puppies, just to see how many had been born for Christmas.  About 15 out of 24 mentioned Christmas in one of the following ways:

"Will be ready for Christmas"

"Makes the perfect Christmas gift"

"Will hold for X-mas"

Now, in my home, we do not have little children any longer, but with three dogs who love to unwrap gifts, I am going to assume that Christmas at my house is somewhat equal to the excitement Christmas brings in other homes.

It begins with the first present.  Hunter, traditionally, relieves that one of its wrapping.  And then another, and then another.  And before you know it all the dogs are simultaneously unwrapping presents.  And then someone tries to eat something.  And finally there is a large chase around our house after the dog who has the something.

That is, in a nutshell, a very excitable Christmas.  Our family would never bring a puppy into that environment, because puppies need stable energy to develop correctly.  At most houses, family, food, presents, and excitement are abundant.  These elemants are not conducive to a puppy's happiness, and therefore make the holidays generally not a good time to bring him or her into your house.

PS
Potty training in the cold and ice is not the most enjoyable experience in the entire world.  Puppies need to go out about ever 15-30 minutes.  That equals a whole lot of cold.

Cute Puppy Syndrome

Last Wednesday, my local SPCA group visited the animal shelter in our area.  The staff there gave us a tour and allowed us to interact with the animals.  I am most decidedly a dog person, with three relatively large, golden ones at home.  I do, however, like cats, especially when they don't hiss and scratch.  There were kittens in the lobby in cages and I will admit they were cute.  And fluffy.  But my heart stopped when I saw Dottie, the Yellow Labrador mix puppy who was about 8 weeks old.  Our entire SPCA group gave a collective "awww" at her clumsy puppy antics.  I wanted to bring that puppy home, but was deterred by the fact that 1) my family could not possibly handle anymore dogs and 2) I didn't have enough money to adopt her.

When a family goes looking for a dog or a cat, children are usually drawn to the small, fluffy puppies or kittens who resemble their stuffed animals.  Parents see only an adorable ball of fluff.  And then the puppy/kitten is on its way home. Within five minutes of coming home, the puppy soils the carpet.  I have never had a kitten, so I do not know what they do, but puppies can be little fluffy weapons of mass destruction.  All over the country, people make this mistake.  It is how the puppy mills remain in business.

I held Dottie, all of her wiggling, warm self.  But then we went into the main dog section with dogs of all shapes and sizes.  Dogs young and old.  Dogs of all breeds.  There was one Pitbull there named Bean who was going to have a hard time getting adopted.  Bean would lunge at anyone who came close to his kennel, snarling and showing his teeth.  Many of the girls screamed when Bean lunged, but after watching countless episodes of the Dog Whisperer, I knew that Bean was not aggressive.  His tail was wagging furiously, so his seemingly "aggressive" behavior was a product of his crazy excited environment.  Bean could easily attack any weak energy, however.  Weak energy in a human is anything (fear, excitement, nervousness, anger) that is not calm and assertive.  Bean most likely would have attacked the girls who screamed, because they were afraid, but I knew how to try and handle him.  The first rule is no touch, no talk, no eye contact.  So I stood there with my hands in my pockets looking calmly away.  Bean did quiet down after he realized I did not care about his noise.  Then, I knelt down, still looking away.  This sent Bean into another frenzy of snarling, but still I held my ground.  Soon, Bean again became quiet and laid down on the grown, a sign of submission.  If Bean were to be adopted by someone who has no idea how to handle him, he would attack eventually.  But there were plenty of other dogs there for people not ready for a dog like Bean.

Anyone considering getting a new dog should consider getting an adult that fits their lifestyle.  One of our dogs is one we adopted as an adult because at that time, we did not want a puppy.  Meet Hunter.



Hunter likes to swim



Hunter's the one in the middle.  He has raised three puppies in his lifetime. 
He wishes his family would stop bringing him baby brothers.

Hunter is one of the sweetest, most gentle animals I have ever met.  With him, he was fully trained and past all stages of puppy naughtiness.  Hunter may not have been puppy-cute when we got him, but he was lovable and sweet, all the things a dog should be.  Dottie at the animal shelter was adorable, yes, but I would not trade a dog like Hunter for her any day.

Animals in the City

I do not exactly live in a city.  My neighborhood has an adjoining cornfield.  Consequently, my three golden retrievers (the aforementioned Hunter, Myles, and Fergus) have an acre of fenced area to stretch their furry limbs.  New scents, small critters, and some deer make our backyard a dog haven.

This past weekend, I have been visiting Chicago, which is quite a large city, at least in my opinion.  I am not used to people everywhere and all the activity.  But something that was extremely powerful was the image of a Great Dane being walked down the streets of downtown Chicago, with no grass or trees to sniff and absolutely no room to be a dog.  Yes, the sight of city people and their beloved pet is a quaint sight, as Gene claims, but how treasured can this be if animals are being forced to live a life so different from what they should be?

In the holiday season, people in the city seem to think it is romantic to take a carriage ride around the city for an exorbitant amount of money.  All I can see in theis venture is the horse pulling the carriage, clopping down asphalt instead of eating green grass.  I am in no way suggesting that these animals are being abused, but I can't help but notice that their ears never perk up with interest as the horses I always rode did when I approached.  There is no more curiousity, no more joy.  These horses shouldn't be instruments of profit, trodding the streets amidst insane traffic and horn-blaring.  Even if the animals can't be used as more than a children's horse, that in itself is more of a life than pulling a carriage.  I was reminded instantly of Black Beauty, not for any reasons relating to abuse, but for the lack of animal happiness that I could see when I compared the carriage horses to the most lazy, slow pony I had ever tromped through a pasture to retrieve.  He, at least, would respond to noises, not being made deaf to stimuli through car horns.  Insensitivity in a animal of prey such as a horse is completely unnatural.  People in the cities, who are traditionally the most liberal, need to see that their advocation of animal rights must extend to animals in their own cities.  These are animals, and however domesticated, are not made to live in a concrete jungle.

Holiday Cheer

My dog Fergus is going to experience his first Christmas this year.  My other two are veteran gift-unwrappers.  Fergus has never seen a Christmas tree before, and it is now his favorite toy.  In our house, we have two trees, one upstairs and one downstairs, and Fergus is mesmirized by the smaller tree upstairs. We decorated the tree with care, taking great pride in even how the garland lay.  After trying to figure out exactly what his family was so focused on, Fergus realized that the Christmas tree was in reality a colored-ball holder.  There, hanging from almost every branch, was a perfect globe that fit easily into his mouth.  For days, we had been scolding Fergus as we caught him with ornaments (still on the tree) in his mouth.  Last Wednesday, Fergus was left alone with the toy-holding tree, and he seized his opportunity.  When I came home, I found Hunter, our oldest dog, with a pinecone that had previously been hanging from the tree.  By deductive reasoning, we assumed Fergus had pulled the ornaments off.  After finding four more pinecone skeletons in the backyard, we began to sadly put away the ornaments.  About five minutes later, we realized one little glass ornament was missing.  Using some more deductive reasoning, we came to the horrifying conclusion that Fergus had eaten the glass ornament.

The holidays are fraught with peril for pets of all kinds.  Tinsel on your tree will obstruct your cat or dog's intenstines as well as cutting the intestinal lining.  An ornament swallowed whole will most likely cause vomiting, but a glass ornament that is chewed and then swallowed will result in an emergency room visit.  This website has wonderful advice for pets of all kinds. http://www.animalliberationfront.com/Practical/Pets/PetsAtTheHolidays.htm

This was our worst fear for Fergus as we scoured the backyard for any sign that he hadn't eaten the ornament.  Upon finding no evidence, the vetrinarian was called and delivered the distressing news that if Fergus had indeed eaten the ornament whole, he would have been vomiting by that point.  She left us with the uplifting advice of watching his appetite, and if he seemed uninterested and lethargic, to bring him in right away.

Fergus is not the only pet who has ever tried to become involved in the holidays.  His brother, who lives in Georgia, pulled an entire branch off a Christmas tree.  Cats are notorious for eating tinsel.  This holiday, make your house pet friendly.  Candles, ornaments, garland and tinsel, and even holiday food can be harmful to your furry friend.  Make sure your pet is getting girfts on Christmas rather than becoming another Christmas casualty.

Fergus had apparently been playing with his ornament by batting it around on our deck with his paws.  Happily, he dropped it off the edge of the deck and couldn't get to it.  The relief that comes with knowing your friend is safe is indescriable.  Recently, Fergus has knocked over the upstairs Christmas tree for no apparent reason.

Deck the halls with boughs of dog-safe holly.

Missouri for the Dogs

Last month, Missouri passed legislation improving conditions of puppy mills.   Proposition B, as it is called, is a new measure requiring these large-scale, commercial breeding facilities to provide the necessaries of humane treatment such as food, water, shelter, and vetrinary care.  "An important step forward" Dr. Connie Meddling, a Humane Society vetrinarian called this new law, which, by the way, won't take effect until November 2011.

Puppy mills are the commerical breeding facilities that put profit above animal welfare.  These puppies are sold to places like pet stores, where shopppers might possibly be overcome by the cuteness of this "pedigree" puppy.  Breeding females are kept in cages too small to move in, and are continously bred.  There is no concern for the health of the dog.  There is no care for a dog's happiness.  There is only money.

This is no way for any animal to live.

Missouri, being the largest commercial dog breeding state, has begun to attack this practice, but its attack is a drop in a bucket.  First, the legislation will not come into effect until November 2011.  How many dogs will die in that time?  How many more will suffer through their bleak experience that can't be considered life?  The time for action is in the present, not in the future.  Even though this legislation is a year on the horizon, it could be deemed wonderful, except for its content.  Instead of putting strict limits on commercial breeding, Missouri has put generic guidelines down.  That's not to say that this isn't an amazing development, but it could use improvement.  Guidelines need to be set down for strict enforcement, because the law is useless if there is no enforcement.

But then, the act is specific and covers the basics of life.  I applaud the people who came together, the vetrinarians, the activists, and the people, to champion those who many times go ignored.  We as humans have a history of ruthlessly exploiting our environment and others.  Now, in the land of consumerism, we exploit these dogs who can't defend themselves.  Maybe we can redeem ourselves with this step- and hopefully subsequent steps- in the right direction.

Halloween Horrors

The other day, I went to my local (seasonal) Halloween store to get some highly appropriate Halloween junk.  I like Halloween as a holiday, where all the little kids dress up in cute little outfits and go door to door, getting candy.  I don't care for the gory, scary costumes that scare my dogs.  Those kids always get the bad candy when they pop up out of no where and scare one of my dogs out of their wits.  But, relating to women's roles in society, I was most disturbed this year by the decidedly revealing costumes found in abundance at the Halloween store.  Nurses, firefighters, Cleopatra, cheerleaders, and even bunnies have been degraded to this status.

These costumes don't help women achieve recognition for who they are or what they can do.  Instead, they call attention to what pop culture tells us the most important part of a woman is; her body.  I looked and looked and looked some more for a fun, non plus-sized costume that wasn't equivalent to a skimpy nightgown, but I couldn't find one.  In light of the fact that the women's movement has taken centuries to reach even realization, I think that any woman who puts on one of those outfits needs a good talking-to.  From her grandmother.  Have a little respect for yourselves, ladies.  There are children around.

However, the sheer number of these costumes suggests their popularity.  As with everything else that has changed for women, it's going to take time and talking to young girls about things like self respect and pride in not how one looks, but in who one is.  Until then, I'm beginning a boycott of the Halloween store.  It's much too scary.

In case you were wondering, these are my beautiful dogs.  Myles (left) is two, Fergus (middle) is 10 months, and Hunter (right) is 7

Of Spiders

Today, I got into my car, turned it on and realized there was a spider on my windshield.  I thought he would blow off in the wind, so I continued to drive away, happily.  But the spider refused to leave.

He really didn't bother me much until he started creeping towards me.  All of the sudden, I became unreasonably nervous.  He was kind of small, but he was hairy, or furry, or whatever spiders are.  In any event it was gross and it was coming toward my windshield.  When the spider reached the windshield, he decided to climb into the space between the hood and the windshield glass.  In that moment, I was convinced that at any second I was going to be confronted with eight shiny, somehow villainous eyes.  I considered pulling into a parking lot somewhere and removing the spider, but then he somehow reappeared (on the other side of the glass, thank goodness) and began crawling up the windshield.  Finally, I thought, he's right where I want him!  And so, in an effort to rid myself of this awful thing, I turned on the windshield wipers.

But somehow, the spider that ends up on my car is a genius and jumps onto the wipers and takes a ride.  Now it's personal.  I decide to try and lull the spider into a false sense of security by driving patiently home.  While I drove, trying not to look at the abomination on my windshield, I plotted its demise.  Simply flicking it off would not do.  No, now I needed its blood.  So I laid out a simple plan that would bring the spider to its end.  First, I would stop the car and walk over next to the windshield nonthreateningly.  Then, I would flick the spider onto the ground with a piece of paper, so I wouldn't have to touch it.  And finally, as the spider struggled to regain its multiple legged balance, I would stomp on it.

As I planned this, it occurred to me that I was playing something of a cliche.  Girl versus spider.  Spider is the victor.  When I realized that this battle is one of the stereotypes our society tells us about women, I forgot about the spider.  From a young age, television and other media feeds us the age-old scene of a woman screaming on a chair with a small, harmless spider on the floor.  If someone wanted to further the cause of gender equality, they might try attacking these old stereotypes that seem ingrained into our minds.  Instead of attacking politics or a society as a whole, one might look to themselves and see someone that conforms to societies norms and generalizations instead of being a case in point of individuality.

By labelling myself as a hypocrite, I gained enough confidence to confront the spider.  When I parked my car, I walked around to the front and tried to gently remove him.  How was I supposed to know he was attached?  What ensued was really a frenzy of waving the piece of paper I had used to nudge him around in the air, trying to get the little furry monster unstuck.  What happened next is not one of my prouder moments.  The spider landed on the front of my shirt and I screamed, frantically smacking my shirt.  I fell backward and hit the ground, the spider still on me, though the minute I was on the ground, he seemed to jump off and then scurried underneath a rock.

Well, gender equality and the destruction of stereotypes IS a work in progress.

For the Love of Eduardo

One of my friends decided to dye her hair blonde one day for no apparent reason.  I immediately had visions of orange.  In this day and age, girls' hair color seems to be another accessory, which they change every season as one color becomes fashionable and others leave the arena.

Now, many friend, I'll call her "Geraldine", gave no particular reason for wanting to change her hair color from her natural, honey color to beach blonde.  But I have my suspicions.  Around that time, Geraldine was interested in a certain boy (I'll call him Eduardo) and Eduardo wasn't interested.  Geraldine REALLY liked Eduardo and immediately assumed that if she changed her look from "Geraldine" to "Heidi Montag" Eduardo would become infatuated.  When Geraldine told me of her plan to change her look, I recognized we had two different visions of reality.  Geraldine, dye box in hand, saw herself becoming a beach babe.  I saw pumpkin colored hair that had often reared its head on other girls' manes throughout my teenage experience. 



Thankfully, mercifully, Geraldine's parents discovered her plan and stopped all talk of blonde hair.

Curious to know why girls continually changed their hair color, I decided to talk to a hair stylist.  She told me that when she asked teenaged girls why they wanted to dye their hair, their first response was to insult their own hair.  What the hair stylist gathered from further talking to the girls was the underlying need to be pretty, to be accepted and loved spurred girls to dye their hair.  Most of them said that their friends had all dyed their hair and now the other girls wanted the same color.  This is because, as teenage girls, if you stand out, you are targeted by nasty comments that you hear from other people talking about you.

Eduardo isn't worth it.  Beyond being extremely awful for your hair, dyeing it rips you of your personal identity.  In a world where girls are fed media-images, where self-esteem is so fragile, this popularity of the dye is another facet in the incompleteness of the women's equality movement.  In a brief overview of American society, one can see that the women's equality movement shouldn't be limited to third world countries and the eradication of religious fanaticism.  Our obsession with the way women look has led this society to be as much need of women's equality than ever.

Geraldine thought making her hair a different color would make Eduardo turn his head.  Thank goodness it didn't, because if it had, Geraldine would have been in a relationship with a man who only cared about the way she looked, not the kind of person she is.  But Geraldine's idea underlines an entire society of girls and women who desperately alter their appearance in an attempt to be beautiful.  This leads to low self-esteem and women who change everything about them, defeating the purpose of women's equality.

If you look closely, you will see that these women are, indeed, the same Heidi Monatg.  This is the result of societal pressure to be "beautiful", for men and for others' opinions.

Jeanne d'Arc

Joan of Arc is, essentially, a women's equality activist.  Don't remember her from your history class?  That's okay, because I do.

Joan was born into the Hundred Year's War.  This was a fight between France and England about the region of Normandy and it lasted not 100 years, but about 130. Joan, or Jeanne d'Arc, was French and was acquainted with war from an early age.  British soldiers attacked her village and mutilated it.  Only a young girl when the attack occured, Joan hid in a closet while her older sister tried to stop the English soldiers from coming in.  Unfortunately, one teenaged girl was nothing compared to the multiple men that descended.  From the closet, Joan watched as the soldiers first ran a spear through her older sister, sticking her onto the wall, and then ravaged her as she died.

It's no wonder Joan had anti-English sentiments.

Joan claimed to have had divinely-inspired visions, telling her how to defeat the English.  She was accused of being a heretic of all natures and a communer with the devil.  But, at the seige of Orleans, Joan charged at the city walls, pulling the French army with her.  As men, how could they let a teenaged girl ride to her death?  They won the city, and the French begrudgingly accepted her at war councils.

The French, being French, betrayed Joan and sold her to the English.  She was tried for heresy and found guilty because she was coerced into signing a confession.  She couldn't read, so she signed.  Joan was executed and her head was hung outside a city wall.

Even in light of her extraordinary skills as a strategist, Joan operated under the control of men.  Her life was in their hands, and they disposed of her.  Had she been alive today, can you imagine how the Maid of Orleans would have blossomed?  It is for her, and for every other woman of amazing talent that has lived her life on a man's whim that women now fight for full gender equality.  For too long have they been utensils of pleasure and vessels of childbearing.  Now, we must fight for our right to be in the world and be our own masters... well, mistresses.  Jeanne d'Arc is a perfect example of an extraordinary woman who fought for all the women to come and an inspiration to many women today.

Being a Princess

My favorite Disney Princess movie is Beauty and the Beast.  The one reason that makes me like Belle more than, say, Cinderella or Snow White, is that she is at least independent. The Cinderella and Snow White stories are, to my taste, kind of annoying.

Poor Cinderella, mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters.  She lives in a little attic with only the animals as her friends.  She's so good and sweet it's sickening.  Cinderella spends her life waiting on her abusers, refusing to stand up for them, happiness only coming from her dreams.  Then, the prince sends out invitations to his amazing ball.  Cinderella is, of course, not allowed to go.  She sobs as she realizes that her stepmother would never, ever let her go.  But Cinderella can't stay home!  So the fairy godmother shows up and makes her beautiful, with one condition; she must leave before midnight or all her pretty things will go back to being ugly.  Cinderella goes to the ball and the prince falls in love with her and she with him.  Now, how do two people, who didn't know the other existed until that night, fall in love with each other?  It's just not realistic.  But then, maybe Cinderella was Juliet's cousin.  However, the clock begins to strike midnight and Cinderella must go!  She races down the steps, losing a shoe in the process (how the woman managed to run with only one glass pump on is beyond me.  I don't think I could run with two) and leaving lover boy behind.  Now, because lover boy's a prince, he makes an all out search for Cinderella, bringing the shoe with him because she had feet the size of a ten-year old's feet.  Cinderella and the prince are reunited and live happily ever after.  The evil stepmother and stepsisters get what they deserve, and Cinderella escapes a bad situation.

In real life, girls aren't going to escape abusive situations and relationships by Prince Charming riding in on his white horse.  The beloved story doesn't tell young girls how to stand up for their rights as a human being.  Too many girls are in bad situations today to risk the Cinderella message.  Part of gender equality is realizing that the girl, not a prince on a white horse or the boyfriend who just hit her, is in control of what happens to her.  Only she can save herself.  No man can do that for you, and no man has the right to treat a woman like trash.  Most men have greater physical strength than women, that much is true, but no man is allowed to control women by force or intimidation.  If you or someone you know is in a situation like this, get help and get out.  Prince Charming will not come for you.  He was detained because his white horse broke his leg.  It's up to women to realize that if they ever want to change the status quo, they must speak out and let their abusers know that they will not be treated as if they were worthless, because they aren't worthless.  No one is.

Snow White is the reason they show those movies in elementary school about talking to strangers.  Her entire stereotype is pretty, feminine, and dumb.  Not to mention annoying.  Snow White doesn't really have any sort of ulterior message, but girls, if an old crone tries to give you an apple, first politely decline.  If she pushes the matter, hit her with the rolling pin you were using to make that gooseberry tart.  That oughta do it.

Belle in Beauty and the Beast isn't looking for a man to save her.  She doesn't need a man to make her whole.  In fact, she turns down the most eligible bachelor in town, because she doesn't like him.  Belle's strong, smart, and caring.  She's beautiful, but in no way does the movie center around her beauty or circumstances.  Belle is the heroine we all want to be.  Her true love loves her for her, not for her beauty after seeing her for the first time (Cinderella and Snow White alert).  Many woman wants to be self-sufficient and independent just like Belle is, in 18th century France.  If I could pick any one of the Disney princesses to be a spokesperson for women's equality, it would be Belle because I believe that she embodies the cause in her presence of mind and her refusal to sell herself short by marrying Gaston.

Labels. Which One Are You?

One day last week, I was sitting at lunch, longing for the weekend.  Knowing those around me would agree, I voiced my opinion, and we began to discuss what we like to do on Saturdays.  One girl said she likes to sleep in late and then play video games.  To my surprise, another girl exclaimed,

"Video games?  You're such a guy [insert name here]!  Were you playing, like, Halo?"

WAAAROOOO! WAAAAROOO! (That's my blog siren.  It goes off when I experience something blog-worthy.)

Let us, first, make a full, stereotyped girlie-girl before we move on to why these sorts of things are completely wrong and awful and horribly degrading and...

Actually, that would make us too much like the girl at my lunch table, laughing at another because of a video game.What makes humans so judgemental?  Before we can even begin to address female equality, the female gender has to realize that, in order to achieve the goal of gender equality, we must accept each other for who we are.  Not all of us were meant to be fashion models or artists or cheerleaders.  The hate and the judgement that is between the different groups (and no, it is not one-sided) is horrendous.  Here are a few stereotypes:

The sort-of preppie girl



Goth/emo (I know they're different, but for our purposes, this will have to do)



Sporty girl



Me.  I'm not a stereotype, just crushed by the world of labels.

How is this right?  No one actually completely fits these stereotypes, so why do we bother?  I think, for this coming week, we should all try and talk to someone we normally wouldn't.  Better yet, let's talk to someone that we've stereotyped automatically.  The only way to combat the cycle is to completely throw it away.  Each and every person has unique talents and insights, and the world of labels seeks to suppress that truth. 

Fashion Mags, Continued

Beyond the evils of airbrushed pictures, these fashion magazines have little else wrong with them, right?

Wrong.

There are two major issues I see with these pieces of fine literature, the first being the "self-help" sections.  These sections can tell a girl how to go from grungy to gorgeous in five easy hairdos, or ten easy exercises, or three essential makeup staples or...  Well, you get the picture.  These sections are just as harmful as the models, their underlying message extremely hurtful and oh-so-subtle.  So much so that most don't even realize that it's saying, "If you ever want to look better than THAT, you've got to take our advice".  How does that help girls see the value of themselves as a person?  It doesn't.  It can't.  Nobody is ever perfect concerning appearance, and as a result the race to the perfection promised in the magazines is a neverending one.  It is so easy to get caught up in consulting the magazines to make you look better, and pretty soon, it begins to resemble an addiction.  If you can't buy the magazine, you go to a friend's house before the dance and get hit after hit of fashion mag-ness.  The performance treadmill doesn't work.  It never has and it never will.  If all these girls who claim to be independent, free-willed women depend on a fashion  magazine for self-esteem, then the women's movement has utterly failed.



Isn't your mother proud.



Is that a super short dress or a long shirt?  What about a camisole?



Would it have killed you to get a jacket?



 I thought modesty was a virtue.  The covers above show a varying degree of IMmodesty.  Girls see this every day, this repulsing advertisement of female bodies.  It's disgusting, really.  None of the women above are better people for having dressed that way.  They only have more appeal.  With information like this flooding into the minds of young girls in our culture, it's no wonder popular clothing today has taken such a nasty turn.  I go out shopping and have to avoid the junior's section because all the clothes in their are definitely off limits.  I'm not saying turtlenecks and long skirts, but a little decency would be much, much appreciated.  Then maybe I could walk into Barnes and Noble without feeling like the only important thing about being female is cutting an appealing image.







Fashion Mags. The End of Women's Equality.

Auntie Mildred walked into Barnes and Noble today, intent on finding the classics rack.  They were having a Buy Two, Get the Third Free deal, and she needed her hit of classic literature.  But the moment Auntie Mildred walked through the door, (after holding it for an elderly lady with a cane), her eyes started bleeding.

Too.  Many.  Fashion.  Magazines.

When I was in seventh grade, our middle school had a magazine sale as a fundraiser and everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY, bought something.  There was a competition for the classroom that could sell the most magazine subscriptions and our homeroom wanted it, badly.  On the last day, our entire class pooled our cash and bought some subscriptions for the class as a whole, and one of these was Cosmogirl, a breed of magazine I had never seen before.  All the girls went insane looking at the pictures of the models when the issue would come in each time, almost taking notes on how the models did their hair and wore their clothes.  I remember looking at one of the magazines once and wondering how the girl got to be so pretty.

Well, she didn't.  The fashion industry airbrushes the life out of the real pictures, making the models slimmer, smoother, and shinier.  When they're done with the picture, the girl in it doesn't even exist.  In Barnes and Noble, there were rows and rows of magazines with non-real people smiling at me, and I had to escape.  So yes, I hid in the children's section at the little table.

The fashion industry is not helping anyone in America by making beautiful women even more beautiful.  It's deceitful, it's wrong, and it gives girls the wrong idea about what is really beautiful.  Even if they won't admit it, I'd bet my retirement fund that if someone asked girls what they'd change about themselves, most of them would mention something about beauty.

Women as a whole SHOULD boycott these magazines, protesting their airbrushing and photoshopping techniques, but sadly, I am not so delusional as to believe that will happen.  All people can do is continue to feed positive input into girls' minds, encouraging them to find their talents that make them quirky and utterly themselves. 


CLICK HERE


This is a video you MUST see.  Watch it and then tell me nothing's all that wrong with presenting that kind of face to our children.  I dare you.  All I could think after seeing it was, "After centuries of fighting for equal rights in all societies, THIS is what women have come to?"

Fool in Love

I know I'm supposed to be writing all about women, but this is too good to let lie.  Last night, I was lying in my bed and reading Wildwood Dancing when I realized I was in love, just like all those girls in the books we read.  Juliet, Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice, Fanny in Mansfield Park, and Jena in Wildwood Dancing.  These girls were all in love with their dashing knights and their tall and ominous lovers (and one with a man who had once been a frog), but I am in love with love stories.

Our entire culture is in love with love stories, hungering for the next time a good one dances across the screen or onto the charts.  But why?  A lot of these stories are completely shallow and unrealistic.  For example, the Twilight series has gripped an entire culture's heartstrings with the sad tale of two star-crossed lovers, creating a mob of Twi-fans waiting outside the movie theater every time a new movie comes out.  From a literary standpoint, this series isn't as well written as some other, less popular books.  But the public loves the books and movies, even if the entire plot is "Romeo and Juliet", vampire edition.  Don't get me wrong.  I loved reading them, for mind numbing entertainment that built off of the ageless play.  However, people love a good love story, especially with some sort of twist, even if the story is completely irrational (which makes it even better) or written with very little depth.

A couple years ago, teen country/pop sensation Taylor Swift came out with her new single "Love Story", and the world went berserk.  In it, if you haven't heard it, she rewrites the story of Romeo and Juliet, with a happy ending.  When it first came out, the radios seemed to play it nonstop, and all the girls were singing it when they were hooked together by their ear buds like Siamese twins.  Its intended audience swooned and fell in love, exactly as Juliet might have done after she realized she loved Romeo after knowing him for, let's say, an hour.  This song fed something deep inside teenage girls, with its line "Marry me Juliet... I love you and that's all I really know".  Why didn't Juliet say, "Romeo, I'm sorry, but I've always dreamed of going to college and becoming a world renowned mathematician.  I'd always promised myself that I'd wait until I had my education and could support myself to marry, so that I'd never have to need you just for money.  No offense.  Sorry." Romeo sobs.  "I SAID NO ROMEO!"  Well, for the obvious reason. Juliet needed to sell her song, have it top the charts, and have thirteen-year-old girls dream about the day when their Romeo would go against all odds to possess them.  Our entire culture holds this love story (especially with star crossed lovers) close to its bosom, and by brainwashing (or, you know, growing up in it) we all love them too.

Show me a song where a girl is singing "Goodbye Romeo!  Eighteen's too young!  I've got to go to college!" instead of "Let you put your hands on me, in my skin-tight jeans be your teenage dream tonight" (Katy Perry, "Teenage Dream").  No one could.  The love story, whether it is Romeo and Juliet or dancing all night, is much, much more attractive.  Neither "Love Story" nor "Teenage Dream" does any justice to the potential girls have or the realities of teenage love.  The sooner the world realizes that these songs aren't softly crooning love but are screeching "BUY ME!" will be all the better for the younger generations, who spend hours saturated in lies.  Girls, even subconsciously, are dreaming about Romeo rather than finding out what their talents are and what they love to spend their time doing.  Now I'm going to employ an old lady line: you've got your whole life ahead of you and all the opportunity in the world.  Don't waste it on some sixteen-year-old fool.  Live.  Be you.  Forget trying to make your life a love story and just let your life be your story, no matter how mundane you think it is, because it's better than it being someone else's life story.  And now, I wish to only be addressed as Auntie Mildred.

Continuing Women and God

Later, God gives Israel two laws that effectively protect women in the society of Israel.  The first is the test for the unfaithful wife, where the accusations are based merely on jealousy and suspicion.  The second is the proclamation of clarifying women's inheritance of their fathers' property if there is no son.

The first, the unfaithful wife test, is designed so that only the guilty women will bear any punishment, rather than unfairly punishing innocent women.  If a husband believed his wife to be unfaithful, he may bring her to the priest, where a ritual is performed, and the woman must drink "bitter water" to test her purity (Num. 4:24).  This water is complete with a curse that is activated by the woman's oath that agrees to the curse.  If she wasn't pure, the water will cause her to become infertile and become cursed.  This test is similar to many tests that were "lie detectors" in the ancient world, but the difference is that God's law was protecting the innocent women from deceptive or paranoid husbands, and mostly from unfair punishment.

A man died in Israel without any son's in Moses' time, and the daughters of the man, five in total.  They came before Moses and asked if they might inherit their father's estate, seeing as there were no male descendants (Num. 27: 3-4).  Moses, seeing the complexity of the situation, took the problem to God, who said that the daughters of a sonless man might divide the property of the father amongst them (Num. 27:8).  Later in the book of Numbers, the issue is returned to and clarified more by God saying that every daughter that inherits her father's land must marry within her father's tribe to keep the land in the tribe (Num. 36:6).  In enacting this law and protocol, God raised the social status of women in the society, much as he protected them with the unfaithful wife test.

The Laws of the Chosen People

Finally, God has begun a new phase of this metanarrative, opening up the Israel chapter.  In doing this, He sets up the rules by which He wants His people to live their lives by.  The most basic of these rules are the Ten Commandments, which were given directly to Moses from God, twice.  But in Leviticus, God elaborates, telling the Israelites exactly how He wants everything to be done, from burnt offerings to the kinds of food one can eat.  Many of these laws and ceremonies pertain to women and their social and political roles in the society that was to be a blessing of God's to all other nations.

In the Ten Commandments, the first commandment that came with a promise showed the importance of women, equal in God's eyes.  God told the Israelites to honor their fathers and mothers so that the entire community might live long and prosper in the land that God was about to give them (Ex. 20:12).  In this commandment, God does not simply mention fathers as the only ones to be respected, but also puts women in a higher social status because of the necessity of respecting them.  For the first time in human history, God records the very specific rule of remaining faithful to one's spouse (Ex 20:14).  God leaves this gender neutral, and in doing so shows that it is not only the women who need to faithful, but the men equally so.  Unfortunately, this is ignored in multiple later cultures where it was frowned upon for a man to commit such a sin, but women bore the brunt of the punishment.  Communities in Puritan New England sometimes fell into this trap, harshly punishing the women, but barely raising a finger to find the male offender.  The last commandment that speaks of God's view of the relationship between man and woman is the last, warning the Israelites against coveting anything that a neighbor owns (Ex. 20:17).  In the list of things that might be coveted, God includes a neighbor's wife, setting up the patriarchal society of Israel.  There is no doubt, therefore, that men were meant to be the heads of the household, although hardly superior.  The married couple was meant to be a team, but like any team, there must be a definite leader.  The man must, in God's view, be this leader, though he should realize that neither gender is meant to be dominant or superior.

In Leviticus, God goes into great depth in describing the different rituals expected of the Israelites and the different, specific rules all must follow.  There is a certain list of "don'ts" that has made Leviticus famous, and they all apply to man-woman relations.  By regulating these relations, God shows how much He loves women and puts these laws in place for the protection of the blameless.  It's as if God knows how oppressed women will end up being (which He does), with no power of their own.  These rules make men accountable for their actions, but they do not exempt women.  In fact, God is as clear as possible that anyone, and that means ANYONE who commits adultery will be put to death.  Side by side and equal the adulterers will be in death.  How does it feel to be fairly included ladies?  But remember, God does not condemn the blameless and does not punish the innocent, so this wrath can be avoided by keeping our eyes on Him and Him alone.

God's rules for Israel, His chosen people declare His very Heart for women, more specifically their role in the new society.  Women were meant to be men's partners, although men were to be the leaders of the relationship.  The many, intricate rules God presents in Leviticus protect women in Israel by making the men accountable to God.  But, at the same time, God promises that the punishment for committing adultery will be equal, not sparing either woman or man.  God loves His people, not only Israel, but the entire world that was to be blessed by Israel, and wishes only to have them love Him with the same abandon that He does them.  But to be near to God, we must follow all His commands, regardless of being emancipated females, working mothers, or girls of the twenty first century.

The Other Women

Between Leah and Rachel and the Mosaic Law, there are a few women mentioned that illustrate the view of women God holds.  Because He made us, His ideal for not only a godly woman, but also her role in society is extremely relevant to the way women live their lives.  There is Potiphar's wife, the very pinnacle of, the very opposite of what a woman should be.  And, in contrast, there is Miriam, the prophetess, a woman blessed by God, one to which the entire nation of Israel heard.

Potiphar's wife is immoral.  That much we know, although her immorality is never focused in Bible studies, where people tend to emphasize Joseph's morality rather than her part.  The Scriptures tell us that Joseph was not only a young man when enslaved, but also handsome and attractive (Gen. 39: 6).  Potiphar's wife remains unnamed, showing Potiphar's possession of her.  Perhaps possession is not exactly the correct word, because the reason she is called specifically Potiphar's wife is the intended emphasis of her immorality and her failure to fulfill the role for which she was in.  Potiphar's wife's actions illustrate how God DOESN'T want women to behave and conduct themselves. 

To combat the argument that God only intended to have women be the maids of the male species, we look to the case of Miriam, sister of Aaron.  Moses has brought the people of Israel out of captivity in Egypt, where they have been for four hundred years, and now, after wandering, they have come to Mount Sinai after their victory at the Red Sea.  Songs of praise are breaking out everywhere, and it seems as though Israel has had a poetic revolution.  Interestingly, after Moses' song, it is stated that Miriam too sang a song of praise.  She is called a prophetess, which is a woman of high standing.  If God didn't believe that women were good for anything other than cooking and cleaning, why would He bestow this great honor on her?

Between the two stories of Potiphar's wife and Miriam the prophetess, we see God's view of the "right" woman emerging.  Potiphar's wife was condemned because she was immoral and deceptive, but it went deeper than that.  She belonged to her husband and disrespected him by trying to violate their marriage bed.  But this is not to say that God believe man to be the slave driver of the relationship.  Rather, this illustrates that he believes marriage to be a union based on mutual respect, although the woman and the man do have gender specific roles to play in the marriage.  There is just something, something totally mysterious, about a woman that makes her capable of becoming a mother.  Men do not have this capability, and gender role emerge from this, along with others.  God's second, more positive half of His view, is Miriam, the prophetess.  She is the holy woman, righteous, though not sinless, one that has truly tried to become more and more like Him.  He has not withheld positions of honor and standing, showing that He does not oppose women being prominent in society.  Both of these examples have a deeper meaning beyond the Sunday school one. They are drenched in setting up proper women's roles that, if followed, would lead to a happier, more peaceful society.

Making Israel: The Founding Mothers

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are considered to be the three patriarchs of the nation of Israel, God's chosen people.  God made the Abrahamic covenant with Abraham, Isaac was the promised son, and Jacob was, in addition to being the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, was renamed, by God, Israel.  The latter two of the trio, Sarai/Sarah already having been discussed, had wives that were talked about in great detail in the Word, and mothers of the nation of Israel.

When it came time for Isaac to take a wife, Abraham sent a servant out to his homeland to find a suitable girl (Gen. 24:3-4).  This is extremely important, because it shows the importance of the "right" woman.  No woman from Canaan would be suitable for the job.  The servant did go to Abraham's homeland, and among his people began his search for the girl God had chosen.  The servant prayed to God, asking that whichever girl gave not only him a drink, but also his camels, from her jar would be the one.  Rebekah was the girl who fulfilled this request, although we don't know how many girls were actually asked.  In describing Rebekah, Moses (the human author of Genesis) shows God's standard for women.  Rebekah is "...beautiful, a virgin..." (Gen. 24: 16).  In this simple line, God shows the world that he viewed this girl as beautiful not because of her hair or figure, but because she had kept herself pure, pursuing self-control rather than pleasure.  The servant immediately made a proposal of marriage, which was accepted by Rebekah's father and older brother.  This seems very much like an arranged marriage, until Rebekah's relatives want her to stay at home for over a week.  She shows her feelings in the matter by telling them she wished to go when they asked her opinion (Gen. 24:55-57).  This occurrence is completely opposite our modern stereotypes of ancient Middle Eastern social life.  A woman being asked her opinion?  Unthinkable!

Rebekah and Isaac's son Jacob found not one but two wives in the land of his forefathers when he was running from his brother.  Unfortunately, after deception on the part of the girls' father, Jacob had to marry two sisters.  This caused a lifetime of tension, because the one sister, Rachel, was loved while Leah was not.  God saw this and Leah's despair and blessed Leah with a multitude of children, while Rachel remained barren (Gen. 29:31).  This wasn't a punishment on Rachel, for it wasn't her fault that Jacob couldn't conceal his favor for her.  But the moral of this story is not God's way of telling men not to date the sister of your former girlfriend.  This particular account demonstrates woman's acute need for her husband's love and acceptance.  All of the children's names, of Leah, Rachel, and their respective maidservants, had to do with Jacob loving or accepting them now that a child was born.  Around the world, a woman's worth is derived from both the love of her husband and her ability to produce sons.  Even in America, women are torn apart every day as they learn their husbands no longer love them.  Rachel and Leah's story shows the pitiful, simple existence of women after the fall.  These women did not have the satisfaction of dwelling in their husband's love as the one and only.  They had to share, and the affect was devastating.

Sarai: The Matriarch

I don't actually like Sarah.  She's not the kind of woman I would expect to be the matriarch of an entire, godly nation.  She's too human for that.  While in most Sunday school classes, little attention is paid to her story; it is a story that demonstrates the different roles of women in the ancient Middle East, as well as God's view of women.

The first account in which Sarah, then Sarai, plays a role is the story of Abram in Egypt, where he deceived the Pharaoh to ensure his safety.  Sarai was, apparently, beautiful.  Now Abram knew that the Pharaoh would covet Sarai because of this beauty and he hypothesized that Pharaoh would take her (Gen. 12:12).  This assumption speaks volumes about the perception of women in the ancient Middle East area, showing that men, much as they do today, look at women as something to be attained and desired rather than respected.  In the next part, Abram does not defy this line of thought, knowing that God would view it as unholy; rather, he chooses to sin, deceiving the Pharaoh by saying that Sarai was his sister (Gen. 12:13).  This was a half-truth, for Sarai was his half-sister, but the intent was to deceive, which is a sin.

Sarai and Abram had no children, although God had promised that multitudes would spring from the loins of Abram (Gen. 15:5).  Sarai grew impatient and finally gave Abram permission to sleep with her Egyptian maidservant to produce an heir (Gen. 16:2).  In this moment, it should be noted that Hagar had no room to refuse this use of her body as a surrogate mother.  She had neither voice nor choice in the matter, illustrating the point that although women such as Sarai had considerable freedom, maidservants and slaves had nothing.  Sarai did not have the opportunity to support herself as women do today, but she did have the opportunity to own servants that were specifically hers.  In fact, the Scriptures refer to Sarai as Hagar’s mistress, and Hagar as the servant of Sarai, not of Abraham (Gen 16:8-9).  Hagar, after learning that she was pregnant began to hate Sarai, although it is not stated clearly why.  It can be inferred that Hagar was unhappy about the situation, that her son would be considered one of Sarai’s.  Hagar’s situation is a perfect example of female subordination, so much so that she didn’t even have a feasible claim on her son.

Sarah seems an unlikely candidate to be a holy matriarch.  She was unfaithful of God, she was deceptive, and she was petty in her treatment of Hagar.  But her story, along with Hagar’s, illustrates the gender dynamics and freedoms of this early age, showing differences even within the same gender.

Eve's Story

I cannot separate my feelings for women's rights with that of my faith.  To do so would require me to throw away everything I have ever believed.  I do not and cannot believe, like some, that any view of God means the oppression of women.  Instead of arguing a secular point of view in this issue, I have decided to do a study of the Christian faith and the role of women in society and in eternity.  Unfortunately, many people do not agree with this stance, but I will not attempt to argue or defend what I believe wholeheartedly to be the Truth.  Simply put, I come to this discussion with a Christian worldview.  I am not associated with any particular sect or denomination of Christianity (in fact, my church is nondenominational), and all my evidence comes straight from the Word.  However, I am human, so I encourage anyone who reads this to look up anything and everything I say.

In the beginning, God made man.  That much is very, utterly simple.  Jokingly, I'm sure some would argue that life was better for Adam without Eve.  And yet, God determined that it wasn't good for this man to be alone (Gen. 2:18).  So, the book of Genesis tells us, God caused Adam to fall into a deep sleep and took part of his side to form his helper (Gen. 2:21-22).  Interestingly enough, the word helper is used.  The NET Bible, an online Bible that has been annotated by biblical professionals, tells us that the word used in the Hebrew text did not have the same connotations as the word “helper” is in English.  In fact, the Hebrew word is more of “indispensable companion” (NETBible.org).  This does not convey any of the subordination or oppression that many believe to be inherent in the foundations of the Christian faith.

It isn’t known how long Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, but the account of the fall of man is well documented.  God had told the man, in the very beginning that although he may eat from any tree in the Garden, the tree in the middle was forbidden (Gen.2: 16).  Eve was addressed by the “crafty” serpent, who tempted her with the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Interestingly, as well as a side note, the serpent never blatantly lied to Eve.  Eve didn’t die- right at that point.  From one perspective, all the serpent did was open the door to doubt, which flooded into Eve’s mind.  Now, before Eve is condemned as the sole perpetrator, the text does say that she gave the fruit to her husband, “who was with her” (Gen. 3:6).  Eve, however wrong, however weak, was not the only one.  The Scripture leaves no doubt that Adam, the man was with her, and it does not give the slightest implication that he was tricked into sinning.  The age-old argument that Eve was the only instrument in our fall is, in fact, wrong.

Following the first sin, the first evil, God cursed not only man and woman, but also the entire earth (Gen. 3:16-19).  But it is Eve’s curse that sets up the entirety of woman’s struggle.  God tells her that in addition to increased childbearing pains, she will desire to control her husband, but that he will dominate her (Gen 3:16).  In some texts, only the word desire is used, but because, again, the connotations of the word in English and Hebrew are different, theological scholars believe that control is meant rather than romantic desire, which doesn’t actually fit with the tone and purpose of the curse.  In this curse, God does not sanction struggle as holy or right.  Instead, he merely states that it will be, much as the curse of the ground will be.  In His intended creation, this conflict would not be present, but because of sin, the two sexes will continually be at odds over domination.

Eve’s story does not have the purpose of showing the sanctioned subordination of women.  In fact, her story is what makes this fight completely real.  Many feminists believe that women are, in fact, superior to men.  Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa wrote a book entitled The Superior Excellence of Women over Men.  This is not true.  No sex was meant to be superior to the other, and it is saddening that some believe the opposite to be true.  God did not whisper in Adam’s ear when Eve was made, “I still like you best though”.  Eve sets the stage for the fight that has lasted for all of human existence.