The Privilege of Not Being a Feminist
Alice von Hildebrand (born in Belgium in 1923) is an esteemed Catholic theologian who received her masters and doctoral degrees from Fordham University. She has authored many works including the book on which this article focuses,The Privilege of Being a Woman, a short but powerful argument against Feminism. She seeks to demonstrate the feminist agenda and its destructive consequences, and then argues why it is truly a privilege to be a woman.
She begins by stating the overt truth of men being elevated and women denigrated throughout history. The book labors to communicate this fact to the reader; Hildebrand is not naively stating that everything has always been fine and dandy between men and women. In fact, she provides an extensive list of famous men’s diatribes against femininity mentioning notable individuals like Luther, Shakespeare and Saint John Chrysostom.
Hildebrand’s first insight is that while Feminists are quick to cite these negative descriptions, they frequently fail to notice the positive ones. When Feminists are eventually forced to face the other side of the coin, Hildebrand says they write off the compliments because only the “virile” qualities in women are being praised. Hildebrand concludes this section arguing that the use of these descriptions is worthless. Even though Feminists have successfully used the malicious statements of men to rally support for their agendas, the descriptions come from individual men and refer to individual women, but this does not in anyway mean the writer speaks for all men or the subject stands for all women.
So what does Hildebrand claim the Feminist agenda to be? She says that, “[Feminists] foolishly want to alter inequality rather than to achieve truth or justice” (10). In recognizing their history of subordination, Feminists believe that they need “… to destroy the tyranny [by destroying] the womanhood” (8). Hildebrand points out that “unwittingly, the feminists acknowledge the superiority of the male sex by wishing to become like men” (10).
Hildebrand then considers why women have always been seen as the inferior sex. She recognizes the root in the “subverted hierarchy of values” found in the human race. Beyond affecting all of humanity by leading it astray, Hildebrand argues that this confusion is “particularly ominous for women”, because “power and dominance are idolized [while] humility and service are looked down upon”(23). With this mentality, it is almost a necessity that society would place men above women. Men,in general, are and always have been physically stronger than women, so of course, if power is prime, than men will logically be put first as well (26).
From here, Hildebrand goes on to acknowledge the sad consequences of disordered values, which have orchestrated the suffering of women for millennia. She adds however that Feminists, by seeking to be the powerful sex, are more pitiful because they promote the same values that lead to their subordination. To be blunt, if Feminists make equality a power struggle, they will never win. Hildebrand offers the true road to equality arguing the mission of women is “to swim against the tide” and “restore the proper hierarchy of values” (26-7). But how are women to do this? Hildebrand answers, “by living up to their calling” (26).
This seems an easy answer, but what is this calling? Hildebrand sees not the strength of women in the physical realm but in the moral realm. Their calling is to love, which most will agree they are far better at than men. Women have a capacity for compassion and self-sacrifice that reaches far beyond the nature of masculinity. In utilizing their natural dispensations they can attain equality and true respect. Many reading this might be appalled at the suggestion just proposed, but this is exactly the dilemma that Hildebrand is talking about. Many women hate being told that their true power is different than the power of men, but according to her, unless society can recover the value of service, humility and true charity, which in the grand scheme are much greater than any physical feat, women will not attain proper appreciation.
Where does the woman’s role come from? Hildebrand argues from her nature. Women have been given by nature the tools they need to fulfill their intrinsic duty— motherhood. A woman’s sexuality is her greatest gift. It embodies her nature of delicateness, creativity andcharity. Differently than men, a woman’s sexuality is veiled; her sexual organs are hidden from the world. Womanhood is to be respected and even protected (82). This is precisely why Feminism is so destructive for women; it urges them to take “control” of their bodies and submit themselves to the fancies of the world. In opposition to this flawed philosophy, women are called to stand fast in their role lovingly nurturing life.
Early in the book, Hildebrand talks about how hard it is to be a woman. “Who would choose to have a body that which, from the time of puberty on, can be burdensome, can cause discomfort and even severe pain?… Who would choose to give birth in agonizing pain?” (2). While women are forced to endure hardships that men will never understand, Hildebrand also mentions that women experience much greater joys. For example, “During pregnancy, [a woman] has the extraordinary privilege of carrying two souls in her body” (63). This observation is simply astounding and honestly unfathomable.
So you might be wondering why I am writing this article with a predominantly male audience. First, it is to provide Hildebrand’s message for women to recover their true power, but I also believe that men possess just as significant a role as women in combating the feminist agenda. Guys, respect all of the women in your lives: mothers, sisters, girlfriends, wives, professors or whomever. We must aid women in accomplishing their demanding duty, and somehow along the way help them to realize it is a privilege of being a woman.
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