Latter-day Faith

211: Women Emerging from Partiarchy


Listen Later

In this wonderful episode, writer Stephanie G shares with Terri Petersen her experiences as a Latter-day Saint in a patriarchal system. Together, she and Terri mourn what was lost to them through the church's purity and modesty culture, leading to body image issues, irrational notions that they are in charge of men's thoughts, and more.

In another section, they discuss the frequent rhetoric from men about their needing women, but only for the service they provide, and never their ideas and self empowerment. They also talk about how many women feel "unsafe" in situations in which they are forced to counsel or be interviewed by men. A particularly poignant section is introduced by Stephanie G reading parts of an essay describing her feeling compelled to engage in a temple assignment while she was postpartum, with her body aching to be with her child, including having her breasts leak onto her body and through a temple shield. Her descriptions are powerful reminders about the war between what we think we must do and what women's bodies, their temples, are compelling them to care about.

They also talk about what advice they would give to their younger selves, focusing primarily on claiming God's grace and giving grace to themselves. They talk about messages they inherited from having to face the prospect of living polygamy and how it complicates for the church its messaging about Heavenly Mother. Stephanie G also shares ways that she imaginatively inserts the Mother God into scriptural and other stories that have left her out.

They close with a discussion about dealing with their anger over experiences stolen from them through their imbibing messages that support patriarchy and women's secondary importance in God's plan. How are they now trying to use that anger more productively as they continue to engage with Mormonism.

This is a rich and powerful episode! Don't miss it!

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Latter-day FaithBy Dan Wotherspoon

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

128 ratings


More shows like Latter-day Faith

View all
RadioWest by KUER

RadioWest

784 Listeners

Mormon Discussions Podcasts – Full Lineup by Bill Reel

Mormon Discussions Podcasts – Full Lineup

631 Listeners

Maxwell Institute Podcast by Maxwell Institute Podcast

Maxwell Institute Podcast

815 Listeners

Leading Saints Podcast by Leading Saints

Leading Saints Podcast

1,234 Listeners

Mormon Land by The Salt Lake Tribune

Mormon Land

331 Listeners

Faith Matters by Faith Matters Foundation

Faith Matters

1,768 Listeners

Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler by Richard Ostler

Listen, Learn & Love Hosted by Richard Ostler

856 Listeners

Radio Free Mormon by Mormon Discussion Inc

Radio Free Mormon

1,322 Listeners

Conversations with Dr. Jennifer by Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife

Conversations with Dr. Jennifer

1,066 Listeners

All Out in the Open by All Out in the Open, Questions from the Closet

All Out in the Open

1,201 Listeners

At Last She Said It by Cynthia Winward, Susan Hinckley

At Last She Said It

1,049 Listeners

Breaking Down Patriarchy by Amy McPhie Allebest

Breaking Down Patriarchy

608 Listeners

Come Back Podcast by Ashly Stone

Come Back Podcast

1,584 Listeners

Latter Day Struggles by Valerie Hamaker

Latter Day Struggles

839 Listeners

Mormon.ish by Rebecca Bibliotheca and Landon Brophy

Mormon.ish

177 Listeners