As odd as it sounds I feel more comfortable and more free the more I'm covered up.
But I've gotten a lot of questions and comments since I've started, and I've come to expect that. So I decided to bust some misconceptions about women who cover.
Here are a list of misconceptions about women who cover.
1. They are Oppressed.
Oh yes, this is my LEAST favorite misconception.I can't tell you how much this statement winds me up! (I'm looking at you, FEMEN!) Somehow, even though I CHOOSE to cover my head and my body, I am oppressed. Because Modesty is a way for men to dominate women and their sexuality.
Here's the thing, people. If I CHOOSE to live this life style.....it's NOT oppression!
When I decided to practice head covering, everyone one in my life was surprised. I brought it up to my fiance. He was curious for my reasons why, but when I told him, he said to me:
"If this is what you feel lead to do by God, I can't stop you."
I had to ask my future husband because this was the man who was going to stand by my side and hold my hand in public. I had to know if he was okay with this.
He had no idea I was thinking about doing this. This was something God laid on my heart. And my future husband supports me.
2. They're legalistic.
Some of my Christian friends and even some family members were worried I was going to become legalistic. That this was a step away from only wearing skirt, wearing no make up (I hardly wear the stuff. Not because I think it's sinful. I'm just too lazy to put the garbage on in the mornings) not eating pork, praying for healing rather than go to a doctor, etc.
Yes, it's true, being modest, and even covering you head is in the Bible (Read 1st Corinthians) but it's not exactly a commandment. In those time, most, if not all women cover their heads. If you didn't, back in those times, you were seen as a prostitute. Some churches require women to cover their heads. In fact, up until the 1960's, Catholic women kept doilies in t he purses at all times because they never knew when they would attend church.
Some Christian women, mostly orthodox Greeks, cover their heads, but it's not a requirement.
I recently joined a facebook group of other veiled christian women and all of them feel the same as I do. This is a personal decision God placed on their hearts. They don't shove their beliefs down Antone's throats.
As I told my boss at work. I don't feel this is something every woman should do. This is just something I feel God wants from me.
3. They are ashamed of their bodies.
Whether it be because men of the church shame women and their bodies or the women are just fat, they have to be ashamed of their bodies, right? Why cover up of what they're proud of?
Again, this really winds me up.
I am so sick to death that every decision a woman makes, it is because her world revolves around men. Not just her husband who she loves with all her heart, but men in general. Because men think are bodies are lustful mind control products and thus it is our job to protect them from lusting after women. Or we don't have the perfect bodies and we're ashamed a man is never going to love us unless we cover up our fat rolls.
There's something I want to show you. This was me on my 21st birthday:
Still kind of modest compared to today's standards, right?
I CRINGE when I see this photo. Reminds me of days I rather wish to forget. days when I cared what boys thought of me. Wear a corset so they think your sexy. Put on a skirt that goes above your knees so they don't think you're a prude. Dance seductively so they don't think you're a stick in the mud.
The list goes on.
Anytime I wore short skirts, low cut tops, it was for men. I started wearing more layers for myself and for my God.
I'm not trying to say every woman wears tight, short clothing for men, but I've known too many who did. Sadly, I was one of them.
So when was I more oppressed? When I used to wear short skirts and fishnets, dancing like I was a monkey in a mating ritual? Or choosing to cover myself so the world can see my heart, my mind, my soul. To do what I feel God wants me to do. To feel happy and free.
I have chosen my path. We all walk one.
just not everyone's is the same.
No comments:
Post a Comment