Womanist Musings on the Value of Our Bodyselves

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you, (James 4:7, NIV)

In these times, it seems as if our politics are becoming increasingly binary. There are inclusivity goals on one end of the spectrum. those same goals are held in suspicion by people on the other end of the spectrum.

Those who appear to prioritize maintaining the status quo either advocate for keeping things as they are or returning them to a less inclusive time. It’s not unusual for us to be divided in our politics though the increase in violence is more than disconcerting. But I have started to wonder about something. Those who seek love, and its adherents of justice, equity, and inclusivity, are often trampled over with various illogical arguments and a ready acceptance of violence. (Think of the murder of Heather Heyer as one example.) Why does this appear that this violence is on the rise? According to the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, this is not merely a US phenomenon. Hate crimes are also on the rise in the UK.

I was astounded at the historic overthrowing of Roe v. Wade. But I was equally stunned at the lack of energy on the “left” in American politics. (That appears to be changing, and the US midterm elections were somewhat hopeful. But perhaps this is happening a bit too slowly for my personal taste.) While there were many voters which appeared to signal a turn away from those extremes in our mid-term elections, it seems there is more of an energy in reacting to divisive politics which are causing harm.

To be clear, I do not believe being “pro-life” is antithetical to being pro-choice. Being “pro-life” should mean being in favor of all life – the pregnant woman, the child that might be born, the person accused of crime, the people who want to gather safely for a concert – all of us.

One could argue, quite cogently, that forcing women to give birth is not truly a pro-life stance for the woman or the child – particularly when we refuse to house, clothe or feed the children of the poor. In this way, we fail to challenge the statement of “pro-life” which should instead be called “pro-birth.” (See this article by Nikesha Elise Williams, “Opinion: Pro-birth is Not the Same as Pro-Life,” 2022).

The “church girl” deep down within, tries to make sense of this world. I recall those sermons about the “devil” or the “demonic” who tempts us to prioritize those things which do not align with God’s love and grace. Using this hermeneutical lens, I see the misogynistic efforts to destroy women’s lives as not just “hard core” but demonic.

I choose my words here quite carefully, but I stand by them. I think that outright deciding that all women and girls who get pregnant must be refused any abortion care (including those who were raped, whose lives are in danger from pregnancy, and those whose babies have already died) – that is demonic, malevolent, impious and devoid of God’s grace. Under the guise of protecting the unborn, it seeks to destroy millions of women and the lives of many families. The history of abortion law in the US is worth considering with Roe v. Wade representing a compromise for many Americans.

I will admit that, in my own church, I never recall hearing a single sermon about abortions. My views were not handed down from a pulpit. I grew up with Roe v. Wade being the law of the land. For this reason, there were aspects of the woman’s health, regarding abortion care, about which I knew very little.

The assaults on the dignity of Black women comes in many forms. Helpful to the discussion is the video that comedian, Chris Rock, produced regarding the pain and racial trauma associated with hair for many US Black women. His video, “Good Hair,” chronicles the way shame regarding our very hair has been a stigmatizing force that still compels many Black women to spend inordinant amounts of money on creating a White aesthetic through their hair. Perhaps this is why so many Black women were disappointed that Rock appeared to deliberately “shame” Jada Pinkett Smith regarding her struggle with alopecia, a struggle that even people in the UK have heard her discuss. When Chris Rock’s brother, Tony, referenced Pinkett Smith the next day as a “B***,” it added to the lens through which many saw Rock’s joke as misogynistic.

If you are from a vulnerable community, leaving might be healthy. I do not mean to suggest that there is never a time when leaving is beneficial – and even healthy.

But I want to encourage you that there is a power in taking the fight to the very one who seeks your demise. Resist the Devil by taking the fight directly to his doorstep.

Introductory comments by Dr. CL Nash, Misogynoir to Mishpat Research Network 2023