The Multifaceted Construction of Women

I am glad that this week's thread presents us with another opportunity to consider the gender codes, roles, and expectations that exist within our youth subcultures. It has become painstakingly obvious during the last few weeks that NLWC is a male dominated subculture. I have witnessed the young women serving refreshments, had Jordan befuddled when I asked to interview a female, and heard him make several sexist statements in our interview last Tuesday night. One of my questions to Jordan was about gender equality within NLWC and immediately he touched on the upcoming election, stating with a smirk, "God created woman to man, they are equal. But, there are different things that require some strength, you know, and different positions that, who knows, if Hillary Clinton gets elected who knows what’s going to happen." He later went on to state "Women are much, much better at personal counseling sessions and stuff like that. And they’re not as good in the top very, very high stressed situations." The notion that women cannot be seated in stressful, decision making positions, but rather in positions that require mostly consoling and nurturing was stressed in Jordan's response. Women fulfilling their domestic duties (probably sexual duties as well) was also mentioned in his response, "And yeah, so the same thing in the home. Men and women were created to be married and have children. And in the home, have different jobs that are able to cover for each other’s weaknesses."

Jordan's words illuminated what I had noticed over the last few weeks and I felt that glimmer of hope disappear. I was hoping that the members of NLWC were different from the other Christians that I have known, seeing gender inferiority as an erroneous notion. But I was wrong. Women still don't possess the "balls" that the males have in Madison's youth subculture and other male dominated subcultures. They think irrationally under stress and are better suited for mindless household duties. What is even more disheartening is that Jordan is the Pastor's son! I have already scanned the interview transcription a few times trying to distinguish his words from his father's (so difficult), but regardless, if these weren't his father's exact words, they were surely a reflection of his beliefs. Unfortunately, this means that the notion of gender inferiority is constantly being propelled, whether explicitly or subtlety, throughout the church. Sadly, Jordan's sexist remarks didn't stop at vocation. They also were made when discussing modesty, "You walk into church, you walk into anywhere with a mini-skirt, we preach about that. Do not." This disapproving statement was delivered in a harsh tone and all I could think about was what about muscular young men who wear tight shirts? Are they being modest? What about young men whose plaid boxers are almost entirely out of their pants? But Jordan obviously didn't think males had a problem with modesty, however, that common condemnation of mini-skirts was necessary to defend the animalistic inclinations of young males.

His responses to gender related questions reminded me of the Dove clip. Not in the sense of distorted beauty, but in how women are being manipulated and smothered within the church. As I have recently noticed and Jordan so eloquently pointed out, there are positions both in and outside of the church that are designated solely for women. There is also inappropriate attire for women and if they don't heed this warning, well then, they have brought it on themselves. So while NLWC is not transforming women cosmetically to appeal to men, they are making women docile and suitable for marriage. The construction might differ between the Dove clip and NLWC, but they share a common purpose: to produce women who are satisfying to men.