Woman As Owned Object

I've checked back a few times to read around in the blog I referenced earlier as displaying religious hate of women among Christian fundamentalist traditionalists. I was reminded again of an attitude among them, one that most women would not believe, because it is too chilling.

That belief, clearly held, is that women are the property of their husbands. Now, that may not sound chilling at all to some women, who are encouraged to romanticize it into a sort of Tarzan and Barbie kind of relationship. But, I'm not talking about being swept away by a big guy in a pirate shirt with long flowing blonde hair and bulging muscles, the kind on the cover of Romance fiction books. I'm not talking about that at all. I'm talking about men who regard females as literally having been created for males' use. And, in particular their use in reproduction.

These men see women as possessing wombs (they prefer "womb" to "uterus") that are there for men to use. A man gets a woman so he can use her uterus, which belongs to him for his use. That's what she's for, and what it's for.  It's for him to use to create children for his governance, as the subjects in his own personal kingdom.

They make no apology for it either, and do not want to be called "complementarians" or "traditionalists" because they regard themselves as "patriarchs" believing in the superiority of what they think of as the God ordained government model of patriarchy. And they define patriarchy as "father rule."

Fundamentalist Christian patriarchicalists aren't the only ones who regard women as wombs to be owned by males. Fundamentalist Mormons do too, as do males of certain other religious groups.

Womb As Tool

What happens to women who are basically reproducers, cows, if you will?

They are sequestered, because other men must not get access to the male owner's womb.
They are restricted, because they must be controlled by the male who owns their womb.
They are impregnated, whether they want to be or not, because the male owns rights to their womb.
They are victimized, because they are not regarded as whole people, but as womb carriers.
They are without voice, because their owners speak for them.
They are without power, because they are dependent on their owners.
They are abused, because they do not have ownership of their bodies, nor a way to protect themselves or their children.

They are regarded as objects:

By their husbands, because they are primarily providers of a service.
By their religious group, because they are owned by the males in the group.
By their government, because they are not whole people, they are providers of wombs for male use.
By their family, because if it is determined that an unapproved person might get access to their womb, they can be killed to protect the family's "honor." Or, they are simply the lesser parent, or the daughter who will be given over to someone else's ownership when she marries.

As owned property, they are in particular danger in time of war.

Comments

[Kathryn Hogan]

The Bayly blog is a nasty example of this kind of sinful thinking. The entry there, reported on Tellville, about a husband being the "steward" of his wife's womb is what I am referring to. When, O dear Lord, WHEN will these people submit to God and allow the Spirit to heal them from such supreme egotism?? Soon, I pray. They're turning people away from God and they're proud of the attitude that's the reason for it. God must weep.

[Jenna]

I wonder if we have to capacity to surprise God. When I see the beautiful things that humanity can create and do, I hope we do. However, posts like the BaylyBlog cause me to hope that we do not. If God has made us to be in His image, then I can only imagine Him learning instantaneously of this creation only to exclaim "Oh My Self" (because I think God has quite a saucy wit) and laugh sadly because what else can you do? (Of course, He could dole out a well-deserved butt rash or two, if so inclined, but thankfully God is merciful and doesn't listen much to my judgements.)

[Headless Unicorn Guy]

"Fundamentalist Christian patriarchicalists aren't the only ones who regard women as wombs to be owned by males. Fundamentalist Mormons do too, as do males of certain other religious groups."

Say it. Islam (especially its current crop of extreme versions), reflecting its origin in low-tech Arab tribal society, firewalled to extreme male-supremacy in the "fundamentalist" mania to return it to its (nostalgic-mythical) Original and Pure Form.

Don't get so tunnel-visioned on Christian male-supremacists that you ignore its historic rival and end up opening yourself up to a cutlure of FGM, burqas, and honor killings. (The phrase "Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend" originated among Middle Eastern tribal cultures, and a lot of activists practice it in tunnel-vision about their chosen enemy.)

P.S. I too prefer the term "womb" to "uterus". Sounds less medical/technical, and has secondary inferences of warmth and nurturing.