Priesthood, Motherhood... Singlehood.

One of my friends shared this article and tagged me to read it. I'm not certain of her motivations. Maybe she just thought I'd find it interesting because it's about Mormonism being feminist. Maybe she wanted my thoughts. Maybe she wanted to throw me a "You're not one of those Priesthood-wanting feminists, are you?" I don't think it's that last one: I've been generally quite cautious about saying "Hey, I think women should have ordination, too" and only hinting at it obliquely.  I'd be a little surprised if anyone had solidly picked up on it up to this point, though my response may have added evidence.

Anyway, I have to say... I'm glad the author considers herself a feminist, I really do think that an eternal balance of male-female is needed (somehow, in some way shape or form, not necessarily tied to biological sex in this life) to activate the fullness of Priesthood power, and I really like the idea of balancing o

ut the purposes for there even to be males and females and balancing events in a way that truly is complementary. But.

But.

I cannot ignore that a worthy single man of 30 can participate in his Priesthood duties, while the very act of participating in biological mothering duties would render a single woman of 30 utterly unworthy, outcast, and likely excommunicated. Likewise, no worthy married man is denied the utilization of any Priesthood he possesses, when a married woman may be physically unable to bear children. Potential equality, symbolic equality, is not the same as actual equality.

My response to her:

Very interesting, well-written article. I really like the symbolic parallels that she draws. I love that she points out that culture often contradicts doctrine. The only (big) issue I have with the Motherhood=Priesthood line of thinking every time I run into it is that it leaves no room anywhere for unmarried-and-childless worthy women. Promises that it will be made up to us in the life to come sound lovely, but for this life it does nothing for us. No such promise is made to unmarried-and-childless worthy men, because it's not needed even though they too are not part of an eternal pairing. They can already otherwise administer and participate in their duties. Single women are the remainder left over when all the power or influence is divided up. Therefore I cannot agree that women and men are implicitly treated as equals, because I, myself, am that remainder and it hurts to go through life that way.
Other than that giant thorn in my side, very nice article and I otherwise really like the symmetry she presents, and I totally agree that Mormonism is the most eternally feminist Christian sect of which I'm aware. :) 

It does hurt.  "People" (the vaporous, vague, vast swath of faceless humanity who think these ways) expect us to get over it, to get married, or just deal.  There is no Prospective Wives class, no Prospective Mothers class available like there is for Prospective Elders.  There is no interview that concludes with "You've done well and faithfully.  You are worthy of and ready for marriage.  We'll seal you to a good man next Sunday after Sacrament meeting."  (Thankfully!)  A boy from the age of 12 begins to exercise authority and perform duties.  A girl from age 12 is being prepared for a marriage and family that may or may not come and taught not to bare her midriff, shoulders, or thighs.  (Also, I like kids, but I do not want to spend eternity in a bioliteral process of producing spirit babies.  Aren't intelligences supposed to be without beginning or end, anyway?)

I could get on board with Motherhood and Priesthood being the true complements if women had the same opportunity based on their biology to fulfill that role as men have the opportunity based on their life choices.  However, I still hold to the belief that women have their own divine Priestesshood that is the complement to male Priesthood and that it is the combination of these powers that results in the eternal power and authority of Godhood.  Or, at the very least, there is a Feminine/Priestess complement to the Masculine/Priest.  Whether that is truly reliant on biologically expressed sex or spiritually expressed gender, or any other configuration of the two, I do not know. And where does that leave intersex individuals?  They do exist, you know, and they are also children of God.  There must be a place and a way for them as well, to my way of thinking.

All these things--and more--come together and lead me to believe that the Ninth Article of Faith is an underappreciated doctrine.  How open are we to new information?  I know I've wondered that before.  After nearly 18 months since launching the Mother Fast, I still wonder.  It's kinda hard to believe it has been that long.  It seems like I just started.  Time does move on, and so far, little has changed beside the age at which women can serve a mission.  The good thing is... that was received with general rapture and enthusiasm.  There is hope for change, still.

Still, other than that... being a single Mormon woman sucks.