The Privilege of Being a Woman

Great read especially for times such as these

Dr. Alice von Hildebrand has a remarkable talent sharing her insights and wisdom culled from history, philosophy and theology across the centuries. The Privilege of Being a Woman is written with a mix of modern experience along with her sharp wit. This thin volume shows that true Christianity truly values women and recognizes their value, particularly in the complimentarity of men and women, the importance of procreation (pg. 47) and the "metaphysical bond between womanhood and life" which is "an honor indeed." (pg. 61) The only thing better is to hear her in person!

Alice von Hildebrand gives us authentic feminism in this explosive little book. Just as Marx's manifesto set Europe on edge, so this little book should set on edge those who have tied themselves to the false feminism of the sexual revolution. Von Hildebrand sees in the female body, with its hidden sexual organs, a sacredness and a mystery that make women the guardians of purity. This special mission to guard purity is the mission of women. And so von Hildebrand points out that for women to fail in that mission is a grievous self-injury, both physicial and spiritual. Her manifesto strikes at the heart of the false feminism that has wounded, and even destroyed, so many women in the West.

If you are frustrated with modern feminism's hatred of women, and looking for validation in the context of Christianity, then you need to read this book! In the beginning all the negative quotes about women were overwhelming, but by the end I felt very encouraged. I've been getting my mom and friends to read it, as well. Every Christian woman should!

Dr. Alice von Hildebrand, doctor of philosophy, talks about the priviledge of being a woman in light of Roman Catholic teaching. She says that when we look at the feminist rhetoric in the eyes of faith - the feminists eyes are far sighted. She looks at the actual Biblical stories and gives radical, positive intrepretations. She admits in history - women have been lacking from the scene. History has been "his story." Some examples she brings up are the lack of female Shakespeares and Beethoven. And even in areas that are tought to be women's domains, like cooking, men are ones noted for their work - chiefs, tailors, etc. She gives a critical view of past feminist thiking - everything from women hating their bodies, to the sexism within nature (pregnancy is harder on the women than it is on men).However, in the Bible, unlike some fundamentalists point out, she argues that women are always seen as the stronger sex - Mary Magdalene being the only follower who stayed and saw the first ressurection. Even the Church - at least in the eyes of Catholic teaching - is a woman in the apocalypic sense. She gives great examples of saints, and ends with meditations on meditations over Mary, the Christian form of femininity.In her eyes, she asks, "Who is doing morre good today, Mother Teresa or the U.S. Conference of Bishops?"A good read for anyone wanting to give a positive view of women in the Christian light.