211: Women Emerging from Patriarchy

In this wonderful episode, writer Stephanie G shares with Terri Petersen her experiences as a Latter-day Saint in a patriarchal system. Together, she and Terri mourn what was lost to them through the church's purity and modesty culture, leading to body image issues, irrational notions that they are in charge of men's thoughts, and more.

In another section, they discuss the frequent rhetoric from men about their needing women, but only for the service they provide, and never their ideas and self empowerment. They also talk about how many women feel "unsafe" in situations in which they are forced to counsel or be interviewed by men. A particularly poignant section is introduced by Stephanie G reading parts of an essay describing her feeling compelled to engage in a temple assignment while she was postpartum, with her body aching to be with her child, including having her breasts leak onto her body and through a temple shield. Her descriptions are powerful reminders about the war between what we think we must do and what women's bodies, their temples, are compelling them to care about.

They also talk about what advice they would give to their younger selves, focusing primarily on claiming God's grace and giving grace to themselves. They talk about messages they inherited from having to face the prospect of living polygamy and how it complicates for the church its messaging about Heavenly Mother. Stephanie G also shares ways that she imaginatively inserts the Mother God into scriptural and other stories that have left her out.

They close with a discussion about dealing with their anger over experiences stolen from them through their imbibing messages that support patriarchy and women's secondary importance in God's plan. How are they now trying to use that anger more productively as they continue to engage with Mormonism.

This is a rich and powerful episode! Don't miss it!