Men's and Women's Movements

In the beginning of chapter three, I had a hard time identifying with the feminism movements. I have never considered myself to be a feminist but as I read on, I realized I am very thankful for the movements that occurred in our history, otherwise I would not be the woman I am today.I think the women's movement that I identify the most with is the Women's Rights Movement. This movement had one of the biggest impacts on our history. Like the textbook says, the women's rights movement engaged in activism aimed at enlarging women's political rights. The first big even in this movement was the demand of voting rights for women. When I stop and think about it, I cannot believe at one point, women did not have that right.I have had the opportunity to vote for presidency once, and I felt so proud to have done that. If the same laws were in place today, that were back in the day, I would be so offended and would feel less as an American. Because of the women, and few men who stood up for our rights, I can be even more proud, not only to be an American, and have that right, but also to be a woman and have that right. Not only did this movement focus on voting for women, it also focused on exclusion from  most forms of higher education, restrictions on employment, and property rights upon marriage. Again, if it weren't for this movement, I would not be where I am today. I would probably be at home raising six kids by now, instead of studying something I am so interested in and working at job I love.
Before reading chapter four, I didn't realize there were even such things as men's movements. As a women, its hard to say I identify with any of the men's movements, but if I had to choose one, I think it would be the Promise Keepers Movement. As a kid, I remember my dad and a few of his friends attending these meetings, and he would come back and seem a little changed. My dad was always an amazing husband to my mom, and great father to my brother and I but he would come back a stronger Christian, and I loved that. As the book states, Promise Keepers makes seven promises; 1. To honor Jesus Christ through worship, prayer, and obedience to God's word through the power of the Holy Spirit. 2. To pursue vital relationships with other men, understanding that they need brothers to help them keep their promises. 3. To practice spiritual, moral, ethical, and sexual purity. 4. To build strong marriages and families through love, protection, and biblical values. 5. To support the mission of his church by honoring and praying for his pastor and by actively giving his time and resources. 6. To reach beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity. 7. To influence his world for good, being obedient to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Some people have a problem with this movement because it talks about men being the head of the household. I don't see this as most people do. My parents were always very equal when it came to decisions in the household, but I can see why this movement pushes that a little more. I believe as a Christian, the husband should be the spiritual leader of the household. I don't believe this means the woman of the house is any less than he, but he should take charge when it comes to leading his family in the right direction. Because of this I feel when looking at the man I will someday marry, I want him to hold these values, as my own father did.