Beyond equality: The value of stay-at-home mothers rediscovered

I am a somewhat soft feminist, I think. I believe that women have all the rights a man also has. There is no reason why a woman is inferior to a man. Also in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this is very clear. In 'The Family: A Proclamation to the World' it states Fathers and mothers ... each other as equal partners.

Apostle M. Russell Ballard said the following on August 20, 2013:

Man and woman are equal in God's eyes and in the eyes of the church, but equal does not mean they are the same. The duties and divine gifts of man and woman are different in nature, but not in importance or influence. God does not consider either sex better or more important than the other.

I fully support the equality of man and woman, but I will not say they are the same. On the contrary, and fortunately so. We are complementary. I hope that, by the way, for everyone in any relationship. Let one plus one be more than two. For Latter-day Saints, that is a given fact in why God created us that way. So we will certainly not detract from that.

So I do not go along with this current society of equality between man and woman where every difference is frantically sought to be erased or ignored. Sometimes even against the will of the woman herself. Is that still feminism when new authorities start determining what women do and don't do? Sorry, then I really consider myself a better feminist.

I read this weekend another interview with a minister who considered the movement of tradwives a society in reverse: 'We cannot imagine that women themselves would want to return to the hearth.Can count as a free choice or as a straitjacket. Not so long ago, there were liberals and socialists who said that stay-at-home women should not receive any rights. They were almost called freeloaders of the system.

Reverence and respect for women

I have respect and reverence for women who work, out of necessity or out of their own free will. But I cannot stand it when women who make the courageous choice to put one of the most important tasks, namely raising children, first in their lives, are treated as pathetic, inferior creatures. They deserve applause and admiration for their sacrifice. They deserve respect because they take on such a heavy task.

I notice that religious women are finding it increasingly difficult to hold on to the role they believe in. For us, it is a sacred task to start a family and raise children. If equal partners they will be held accountable by God for fulfilling these obligations.

Can we finally enter a society where others stop dictating what a woman should do? There is no backward to mourn for those who choose traditional values such as caring for the family at home. They deserve a statue. I am sure that we would have far fewer snowflakes if children were more often raised in a family with two loving parents.

I dare to doubt that these women cost society money. The savings from steadfast adults are many times greater. There is the long-term and often underestimated importance of their contribution to the social and emotional development of the next generation. These women play a crucial role in shaping the values, behavior, and future ambitions of their children. By providing a stable and loving home environment, they lay the foundation for their children's well-being, resilience, and success. Furthermoretheir choice represents a form of economic and social investment that extends beyond the individual family, by contributing to a stronger, more cohesive society. Recognizing and valuing the commitment of these women is essential to ensure that all forms of work, both inside and outside the home, are seen as valuable and respectable.

Or, to put it in the words of prophets: ‘We call upon responsible citizens and government officials worldwide to promote measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.‘