Thank you so much for this. My journey through feminism has been interesting. I grew up in a liberal Christian home and was taught “mainline” feminism, very well intentioned but missing a lot of key components . . . Notably, nothing about the glory and beauty of womanhood. So when I went to college and encountered conservative Christianity (ironically!) it was the beginning of uncovering the lies of feminism. So I went along with that for a while but still felt it was incomplete. In 2020 when everything slowed down, I discovered Christy Bauman (Theology of the Womb) and some other Catholic thinkers about womanhood (Genevieve Kineke, Gertrud von Le Fort etc) as well as Taking Charge of Your Fertility, then life got in the way and I started thinking about other things, and now here we are. I came to Substack just a couple months ago to share my writing (not specifically about feminism or womanhood), but have been very pleasantly surprised to discover all of this nuanced thinking on the topic. I work with girls at my church and gave birth to a daughter almost two years ago, so all this is keenly on my mind. Thank you very much for sharing this. I’m looking forward to the book club and hearing more about The Cycle Show.
You’re so welcome. Thank you for sharing your story! I love your openness and curiosity to keep searching. This a real topic right now—I’ve been thinking along these lines for years and have been (pleasantly) surprised to see that many others have too, and yes such nuance. It seems a revolution is underway and it’s really, truly exciting.
Also, The Eternal Woman (Gertrud Von Le Fort) is on my list! Did you read that one by her?
I’m just skimming back over it, not properly rereading, but now it strikes me as a kind of “mystification” of women. Like, she portrays this Platonic, ideal type/pattern—kind of woman as a symbol—rather than talking about the flesh-and-blood woman as a full human being with her own thoughts, feelings and experience. Which, the book was first published almost 100 years ago so I imagine it was probably very groundbreaking just to be talking about women in this way at all—a big step forward.
Just add Leah Libresco Sargeant and Mary Harrington (in addition to a bunch of wonderful fertility-awareness folks) in this post and it would literally be the power team who has influenced me the most in this area over the past few years. :')
And a few months ago the three of them shared more on this topic, leaning heavily into their conversion stories (Leah has also written a book called Arriving At Amen):
As for Mary Harrington, I haven't yet read her book, but it's often mentioned alongside Perry's, with overlapping readers. They were on a panel together with Jordan Peterson last fall:
Thank youuu for these links! Have you read Wholistic Feminism by Leah Jacobson? That book was my gateway into this world I think (other than my own thoughts and experience). Super good.
As with all labels, one “hears” more than just the word itself. I grew up with my mom’s stories of not being able to buy a house without a man, getting paid less- much less- than men doing exactly the same job- no recourse. As a young leader in business world I dealt with nonstop sexual harassment, seeing incompetent men promoted, pregnant woman shoved out of jobs, and much uglier stories than these. But…..my mom and her friends had a simple view- you are free to be and do and follow your choices- and please let us do the same.
Thank you so much for this. My journey through feminism has been interesting. I grew up in a liberal Christian home and was taught “mainline” feminism, very well intentioned but missing a lot of key components . . . Notably, nothing about the glory and beauty of womanhood. So when I went to college and encountered conservative Christianity (ironically!) it was the beginning of uncovering the lies of feminism. So I went along with that for a while but still felt it was incomplete. In 2020 when everything slowed down, I discovered Christy Bauman (Theology of the Womb) and some other Catholic thinkers about womanhood (Genevieve Kineke, Gertrud von Le Fort etc) as well as Taking Charge of Your Fertility, then life got in the way and I started thinking about other things, and now here we are. I came to Substack just a couple months ago to share my writing (not specifically about feminism or womanhood), but have been very pleasantly surprised to discover all of this nuanced thinking on the topic. I work with girls at my church and gave birth to a daughter almost two years ago, so all this is keenly on my mind. Thank you very much for sharing this. I’m looking forward to the book club and hearing more about The Cycle Show.
You’re so welcome. Thank you for sharing your story! I love your openness and curiosity to keep searching. This a real topic right now—I’ve been thinking along these lines for years and have been (pleasantly) surprised to see that many others have too, and yes such nuance. It seems a revolution is underway and it’s really, truly exciting.
Also, The Eternal Woman (Gertrud Von Le Fort) is on my list! Did you read that one by her?
I did! Looking back over it, I think it is definitely more anti-feminist, but still worth reading!
Depends on what we mean by feminist right?😎 Some things that some would label anti-feminist to me are the MOST feminist, ya know?
I’m just skimming back over it, not properly rereading, but now it strikes me as a kind of “mystification” of women. Like, she portrays this Platonic, ideal type/pattern—kind of woman as a symbol—rather than talking about the flesh-and-blood woman as a full human being with her own thoughts, feelings and experience. Which, the book was first published almost 100 years ago so I imagine it was probably very groundbreaking just to be talking about women in this way at all—a big step forward.
Screenshotting this comment for all the excellent book recommendations!
Christy Bauman especially is 🔥🔥🔥
Should we just go ahead and declare this post book rec central for this topic? Everyone, go! 😄😄
I'm right there with you.
Just add Leah Libresco Sargeant and Mary Harrington (in addition to a bunch of wonderful fertility-awareness folks) in this post and it would literally be the power team who has influenced me the most in this area over the past few years. :')
I’ve heard of both but haven’t read anything or much (maybe an article or two)! Specific recs?
Oooo! So, Leah Libresco was one of my first substack subscriptions years ago! She is basically one of the OGs in my mind:
https://www.otherfeminisms.com/
Favorite pieces published elsewhere:
https://comment.org/designing-woman/
https://www.plough.com/en/topics/justice/culture-of-life/dependence
https://www.plough.com/en/topics/justice/culture-of-life/let-the-body-testify
It was her sharing this panel that introduced me to both Favale and Bachiochi:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIX62lhRYfE&t=3020s
And a few months ago the three of them shared more on this topic, leaning heavily into their conversion stories (Leah has also written a book called Arriving At Amen):
https://ondemand.ewtn.com/free/Home/Play/en/_AR23011
As for Mary Harrington, I haven't yet read her book, but it's often mentioned alongside Perry's, with overlapping readers. They were on a panel together with Jordan Peterson last fall:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=873SGJYfp6s
and I've followed her writing here:
https://reactionaryfeminist.substack.com/
Thank youuu for these links! Have you read Wholistic Feminism by Leah Jacobson? That book was my gateway into this world I think (other than my own thoughts and experience). Super good.
I have it on my literal bookshelf, have not yet read! haha. We give to her Guiding Star Project and I looooove what they're doing with it.
You'd also probably love Bridget Busacker's podcast. I binged it over the course of a few months last year. I think she had her on:
https://www.managingyourfertility.com/podcast/
Ahh YAY! I’ll soon be an employee of Guiding Star! (They run The Cycle Show in the United States)
Ahhh yes! Exciting stuff. You'll be my go-to if I decide to go that route, too. ha
As with all labels, one “hears” more than just the word itself. I grew up with my mom’s stories of not being able to buy a house without a man, getting paid less- much less- than men doing exactly the same job- no recourse. As a young leader in business world I dealt with nonstop sexual harassment, seeing incompetent men promoted, pregnant woman shoved out of jobs, and much uglier stories than these. But…..my mom and her friends had a simple view- you are free to be and do and follow your choices- and please let us do the same.