Read our series of blog posts on by Mormon feminists across the spectrum of belief
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To Some It Is Given
by mraynes
I was introduced recently to the work of up-and-coming Tel Aviv street artist, Know Hope. I don't know that much about street art but I was deeply touched by his simple and profound messages of hope and love, especially in a city that knows so little of both. But it was his name that stopped me short; know and hope are two words that don't naturally fit together for me.
The verb "know" means to be certain of the truth or factuality of a subject. "Hope" means to desire with anticipation. Perhaps it is because of my Mormon education that...
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Guest Post: Polygamy or Priesthood for Women?
by Course Correction
Course Correction introduces herself in this way. "I'm a happily retired mother and teacher who lives in Bountiful, UT with my husband and a big, yellow dog. I read, write, garden and carry petitions for initiatives to improve state government."
Which would have a more devastating effect on LDS Church membership—restoring polygamy or admitting women to the priesthood? The Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, lost nearly 50% of their members when they extended the priesthood to women. Would half of devout Mormons find it impossible to obey the prophet if he had...
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Guest Post: I'm Not One of Those Women. I'm Just Thinking,...
by mValient
mValiant is a reformed-Exponent-lurker who lives with her husband in one of the bluest states in the union. She knows all the words to Saturday's Warrior, served a mission, and loves visiting teaching.
When I was growing up, I often heard a cautionary tale from my mother about what happens to women who want the priesthood. According to the story, a group in her old stake in the northeast had sat around and talked so much about how much they wanted the priesthood that they all became lesbians and left their husbands and their six children (each). This was back when...
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Feminist Choices, Feminist Baby Blessings
by guest poster Angela C.
My daughter is now almost six months old. And there has been no baby blessing.
I've had a hard time figuring out what the right way to approach this blessing is. Should I insist on standing next to my husband? Should I speak a blessing myself after my husband has spoken? Should I do a separate mother's blessing, surrounded by a circle of trusted women? In chewing over these questions for the past few months, I've come to realize that my dilemma mirrors a couple of different feminisms.
On the one hand, I could go the liberal...
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The Feminist Twelve Days of Christmas
by mraynes
On the first day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me:
The right to fight the patriarchy.
On the second day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me:
Suffrage for all
And the right to fight the patriarchy.
On the third day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me
Women's Property Laws,
Suffrage for all
And the right to fight the patriarchy.
On the fourth day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me:
Equality in marriage,
Women's property laws,
Suffrage for all
And the right to fight the patriarchy.
On the fifth day of Christmas
my fore-mothers gave to me:
The Feminine Mystique,
Equality in marriage,
Women's property rights,
Suffrage for all
And the right to fight...
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Woman Am I: A Blessingway Night
Author’s note: October 25, 2019. Over the last decade, I’ve learned a lot about cultural appropriation. Blessingway is a Navajo term, and given that I’m a white person living in a state and a country that has abused this nation and appropriated its customs, I now regret appropriating this ceremony. I have since attended other mother’s rituals and mother’s blessings that are careful not to be appropriative, and I am constantly looking to learn about and increase my respectfulness to minority cultures, and especially to listen to minority voices. When we know better, we do better. There are options...
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Punctus Contra Punctum
by mraynes
Point against point, this is the meaning of counterpoint. The term describes a musical tool where two or more voices are written in a way that is completely independent of one another but are harmonious when played next to each other. Indeed, it is the interdependence between the counterpoint lines that provides the interest and beauty to the music.
It was this metaphor that the Mormon Women's Forum looked towards when they inaugurated the Counterpoint Conference in 1993; a hope that both the church and Mormon feminists could each sing their unique song but still be harmonious with one...
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The Maybes of Parity
by mraynes
Yesterday, in an effort to conquer a melancholy mood and get a break from the endless toddler demands for my attention, I went to the gym and hopped on one of the fancy elliptical machines with an attached tv. In the course of my work out, I happened to see an interview with Marie C. Wilson on CNN. Wilson was president of the Ms. Foundation for Women and more recently founded The White House Project, an organization dedicated to advancing women's leadership in all sectors of American society.
At some point during the interview I was struck by an...
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Baby Blessing Dreams, Not Nightmares
by Alisa
I had my first dream about the baby boy I'm expecting last night. I dreamt that family was gathered in my large hospital room to celebrate the arrival of our baby. They were in their Sunday clothes, and I realized that the men were there to give my son his baby blessing and name. I sat holding our son as my husband and a few other men gathered around to give him his name. But I noticed that my dad and a few others in my immediate family didn't come up to the circle, as if my husband...
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Does Blogging Every day keep that nasty Feminine Mystique away?
by mraynes
Earlier this week I had the pleasure of reading through the Master's thesis of one of the bloggernacle's own. Michelle Glauser has had a steady presence in our community for a couple of years and she is currently living in Germany and finishing up her Master's degree in American Studies. Michelle was kind enough to allow me to link to her thesis.
The topic Michelle chose to write about is one that is dear to all of us...blogging. Her basic hypothesis is an audacious one:
The problem with no name which Betty Friedan wrote so famously about in The Feminine...
What is Exponent II?
Exponent II provides Mormon feminist forums for women and gender minorities across the Mormon spectrum to share their diverse life experiences in an atmosphere of trust and acceptance. Through these exchanges, we strive to create a community to better understand and support each other.
Exponent II was founded in 1974 by a group of Mormon women in Cambridge, Massachusetts. These women were inspired by the original periodical, “The Woman’s Exponent,” to create a forum “posed on the dual platforms of Mormonism and Feminism.”
For 50+ years, Exponent II has shared women’s voices in its quarterly magazine, and members of the community have convened at an annual retreat. Our reach has expanded as technology has advanced: the blog, founded in January 2006, has reached millions. As we look to the future, we are focused on growth and building a more inclusive community.
