Several weeks ago my good friend Barbara wrote a good post on her blog entitled
"Strong Women." It immediately brought to mind Anne Bradstreet, the first poet in America. (Note: Not the first
woman poet. The first poet.) My sister Mary did her graduate speech recital on Anne Bradstreet, which was my introduction to this great lady; in the past ten years I've been privileged to teach about her in American Literature class each year.
Anne Bradstreet has been the victim of a misunderstanding of the modern treatment of Puritanism. For example, "The New England Puritans, in spite of their orthodox views, were people of broad intellect." (I'm sorry, but I no longer have the source--Author unknown.) What a patronizing statement that is. And that is typical of the treatment of Puritans. Anyway - that is a separate topic - however, feminists would like to claim Anne Bradstreet as one of their own because of her independent ability to write and not be "just a housewife."
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"Anne Bradstreet was the kind of woman who modern feminists would love to claim as their own. She was intelligent. She was educated. She thought for herself. That makes her a feminist, right? That is to retro-read feminism back into her life and work. Anne Bradstreet was a committed Puritan woman devoted to her God. . .
"Anne Bradstreet simply does not fit into our contemporary categories. She was not a feminist in the modern sense, and neither was she an early unfeminist. She was an intelligent woman who objected to boorish behavior in men, and she also was averse to unscriptural criticisms of her work. But this must be set in the context of her unswerving commitment to the Scriptures and her lifelong happy devotion to the masculine--God the Father, Christ the Bridegroom, her earthly father, and her devoted husband. . .She objected to carping and gossip because they were unscriptural, not because she might have been anticipating her agreements with Gloria Steinem. . .
"Anne Bradstreet knew that men who preserve their authority by undervaluing the legitimate achievements of women were not masculine. In fact, they were exhibiting their insecurities, the antithesis of masculinity."
Quotations from Douglas Wilson,
Beyond Stateliest Marble - The Passionate Femininity of Anne Bradstreet.
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Anne Bradstreet was an intelligent writer who loved to express herself on a variety of subjects. Fortunately, she had a secure husband who supported her endeavors. She was secure in her abilities, but was not unhappy to claim her place as a wife and mother. That was her first responsibility; she knew that, and she acknowledged that, but without discarding her independent efforts.
After teaching about Anne Bradstreet's life, and her lovely and very readable poetry, the students have to do a writing assignment about a "strong woman." My dear friend helped me to come up with these questions the first year of teaching this. The new high school juniors complete this early in the school year, so the questions are a little heavy for them. But I think it is good to stretch their thinking.
The questions for the boys:
The Puritan Anne Bradstreet has been used as an example of a "strong" woman who still had great respect, love, and submission toward her husband.
--What is a "strong" woman? Does it necessarily mean a loud woman, or can a strong woman be quiet? Does the word "strong" have to include the word "godly"? Does it have to mean being a feminist, as defined today? Does strength mean a woman has to do the same things a man does--in other words, displace a man? How does this type of woman compare to the Proverbs 31 woman?
--What benefit would it be to a man to have a strong woman as his wife?
--Are you threatened by a strong woman? What characteristics of masculinity would a strong woman appreciate in a husband to whom she truly desires to honor and submit? In what ways would you--as a rising 21st century man--encourage your wife to develop her God-given talents?
The questions for the girls (the first two paragraphs are identical to the boys):
The Puritan Anne Bradstreet has been used as an example of a "strong" woman who still had great respect, love, and submission toward her husband.
--What is a "strong" woman? Does it necessarily mean a loud woman, or can a strong woman be quiet? Does the word "strong" have to include the word "godly"? Does it have to mean being a feminist, as defined today? Does strength mean a woman has to do the same things a man does--in other words, displace a man? How does this type of woman compare to the Proverbs 31 woman?
--How does a strong woman submit to her husband? Is it possible? What are some specific ways in which you would accomplish this? What characteristics would a husband desire to see in a strong wife, and what characteristics would a husband need to have, to help a strong wife be the best she can be?
--In what specific ways can you--a rising woman of the 21st century--be strong and yet still be a godly woman?
The assignment may not accomplish much. But perhaps it will cause young people to begin to give some thought to a very important subject as they approach adulthood.
