Mormons, how do you deal with the sexist comments?

Question

I've often gotten the comment we're sexist, being a feminist myself, this is a hard topic for me to deal with due to the fact you have to dig deeper than the surface to understand how we are not sexist, which takes too long to explain to someone who does not understand, and even the simple logic behind it often alludes a lot of people. Waht do you say when you get this comment? or do you say anythign?

Thanks for the earlier posted comments Delta Z. Good ideas/thoughts. I love controversy, maybe a bit too much.

Answer 1

I deal with the question of sexism this way. That is, we are have "roles" to perform, While some roles can be shared, others are gender specific. For women obviously, they can become pregnant and carry a child. And much as men may want to do that role, it is exclusively female.
Further, men are given the priesthood in LDS culture. There is a reason for that, in my humble opinion. The priesthood requires men to learn how to serve others, learn how to be compassionate, learn how to be kind and nurturing. I believe that women naturally do those things. Men do not "get it" and have to be taught how to, via their priesthood callings.

So, my short answer is that there are physical and natural roles as well as God granted roles, and it is simply a matter of learning to fulfill the responsibilities of each role.

Answer 2

Hi friend.

This is a response I recently gave to someone who made this same charge:

"I (and many others of my fellow Mormons who are women) would refute the charge of sexism. While it is true that women cannot be bishops specifically, they can and do serve in many leadership positions, even on the world-wide level. It's also true that there are callings in the church that men cannot hold. Every Sunday I hear a sermon (talk) by a female member of the congregation. I (a man) have even been in a calling where I reported directly to a female "superior" (if there were such a thing in the church)."

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I basically let people know that if they'd like to sit down for a discussion, I'd be more than happy to go into the deeper meanings of why we're not sexist.

Overall, I just say that I don't find my church sexist, and I'm perfectly happy with the way the Church has uplifted and exalted women. Plus, the Relief Society is the OLDEST and LARGEST women's orgnaization in the world. How cool is THAT?? :D

Answer 4

I think people mis-understand. Honestly, I know it's a typical answer, but it's true.

There are reasons for why only men hold the priesthood and the positions along with that. There are reasons, as well, why only women can be in the Relief Society.

Besides that, I do not see how we're sexist. People talk about how the women have to follow "orders" of their husbands. But women are their own people, we don't try to make them property and don't see them as such either.

Anyone who does not have a basic understanding of the church, but still wants to make claims like "you're sexist" or "you're racist" or something like that deserves to live in ignorance.

Answer 5

I accept that I belong to an organization that was designed for a temporal and spritual purpose. The designer was Heavenly Father. In this organization women have a larger role than even members. let alone non members understand. We participate in ward councils representing several auxilaries or committees. If we want to participate more actively in missionary work or temple work, we just do it.

The only thing 'withheld' is the authority to preside over the men. Instead we 'sustain' them. We encourage them to serve others, so that they will know how to serve their families.

Answer 6

Let me say that in the mormon church I saw tored women who could not handel having so many kids, in my church I go to, I see women with 8 to 12 kids (what am I back in the mormon church...LOL) who homeschool their kids and are giddy about doing so, I mean thrilled to no end about staying home and having nothing better to do but spend time with their kids, while I have my tubes tied, because if I have another kid, I will scream. (I work in the nursery with their kids, so I do get to see kids and play with the precious little ones) .
I think that is what the differance is...We have several assisstant pastor's wives parking places and a visitor thought this was all for one pastor and his WIVES, get it, he htought he was in the mormon church, LOL.

Answer 7

I often quote from D&C 121:34-46 - http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/121/34-46#34.

Also, I find articles and lessons on lds.org that talk about the divinity of womanhood, daughters of God, respect for women, etc.

For example:

"What It Means to Be a Daughter of God"
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=d13d6a4430c0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

"Respect for Womanhood" (Aaronic Priesthood lesson)
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ba805f74db46c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=2ec67befabc20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1

I also testify of the great respect that my husband has always shown for me. He was brought up LDS. I have met many other LDS men who have similar respect for women because they grew up in the Church, and were taught to have great respect for all women.

I think part of that respect stems from their commitment to sexual self-control. When men are taught to respect and value women for who they are (daughters of God), the women are not treated as sex-objects, but as beloved sisters.

Answer 8

Did you check back on my answer for your last question? I added more to address your inquires.

As for this, I'm not sure. I see sexism in all of christianity as well so again, its not just mormons.

I'd just simply point out all their sexist remarks that are in the bible.

Heres a list of them: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=At7PWMjqteQZDs6tEKdzJOnsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071221221547AAFVMxw&show=7#profile-info-m0FqXPv5aa