Issues, Etc. The Church of Feminism – Dr. Carrie Gress, 12/15/25 (3493)
Dec 15, 2025
Dr. Carrie Gress, a scholar at the Catholic University of America and author, critiques contemporary feminism. She argues that feminism pushes women to imitate men and identifies autonomy as its central idol. Gress describes how feminism resembles a shadow church with its own idols and commandments, while linking its promotion of abortion to declining birthrates. She emphasizes the need to reclaim womanhood focused on nurturing and calls for honest conversations about men's roles.
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Boston Globe Student Critique
- Gress recounts a Boston Globe op-ed by a Harvard student criticizing her work as 'too reasonable' and fearing gender fatalism.
- The op-ed also invoked alarmist claims like women losing the vote to discredit her arguments.
Feminism Mimics Church Structure
- Carrie Gress argues feminism mimics the structure of a church with idols, commandments, sacraments, and evangelism.
- That mimicry helps feminism meet emotional and communal needs, making it hard for women to leave.
Autonomy As The Central Idol
- Gress identifies autonomy as feminism's core object of worship that protects women from vulnerability.
- She says the movement pushes women toward independence from surrender and dependence on others.