SHORT COMMUNICATION 49.
The Cultural Importance of Women
By
Roger Behra
It is a fact that God loves all of us, the good as well as the bad, and that all are very important in his plan for us. But it seems in the cultural structure as it is; women play a more important roll and nave a greater cultural and spiritual importance to Him and therefore, mankind in general. Mom used to say, "The hands (women’s) that rock the cradles (baby’s) rule in the world." Well, it used to be that way. The importance is still there, but the effect has greatly been diminished in our modern counter-culture world. But the basics are still needed in the culture, and a great amount of attention must be given to them.
The basics are women are wifely helpmates to men, mothers to their children, and generally have a great deal to say in the moral and proper upbringing of the children. Women have great responsibilities and much to say in family every-day occur affairs. The basics are not strongly in effect like they were many years ago. The answer is quite simple. It started with the counter-culture movement of the early 1960's and their philosophy of "tune in and drop out, throw out the old and bring in life new, if it feels good do it, don’t trust any-one over 30, love, sex, rock 'n roll."
When that philosophy gained a foothold, the cultural importance and influence of women greatly diminished. Before the early 1960's women were a very strong and influential part of the; cultural fabric for the good and proper in areas of family life, self-discipline, spiritual development, social activities, and moral development in their own lives and the family members. They were mostly stay-at-home wives and mothers who were devoted to the complete success of the family. That has all mostly changed to what we have today-working mothers, less family time, high divorce rate, diminished spiritual emphasis, defiant, disruptive, and poorly disciplined children in the home AND SCHOOL. Our U.S.A. Culture has become very disappointing to say the least, and the influence of women toward a better culture has been terribly weakened, never to be regained, totally.
Aside from the culture of today and the basics being diminished, the secondary tragedy of it allies the small percentage of women who were raised properly (old-school philosophy) by their mothers (with grandmother's influence) are fighting an uphill battle as modern cultural influences are heavily against them. But the small percentages of women are doing their best inspite of the odds.
Very young women, however, can still take steps to better things. Those whose moral compasses are leading them in the correct direction and with intelligent thinking can take over to change the cultural direction for the better. Our culture will never be like it was (pre-1963), but any improvement for the better would be well accepted. And it can start with new young mothers and the newest generation of babies.
As mothers women are greatly influential in child development in the areas of mental, spiritual, and emotional progress. There is no substitute for a mother's constant attention in these areas. If the mother's moral compass and thinking is working well, all should go well in this regard. And the most important ingredient that permeates all the others in her efforts is her motherly love. That is an indispensible element.
In any culture the cultural importance of women as wives, mothers, and working persons cannot be underestimated or done without. The orderly and successful progress of any culture can and should be largely attributed to the influence and importance of their women.
R. B.