I’ve decided that I’m quite done with feminism.

I don’t just mean being pro-choice or pro-women-priests or even pro-women-working-outside-the-home. I’ve never been supportive of any of those.

I’m done with feminism invading my home, my thoughts, my actions. I’m done with feminism creeping into my spiritual life and feeding me lies about my femininity.

I would like to think that because I’m a Catholic homeschool mom that I’m not a feminist, yet–to be honest–I know the feminist culture has seeped into my life. Seeped into my marriage, my motherhood, and to the core of my identity as a woman.

So this lent I’m giving it up. Feminism.

How? I want to immerse myself into everything truly feminine. I want to learn from the Blessed Mother herself, as well as other traditional Catholic women whom I trust. And I want to study the feminine virtues and begin to practice them. I want to dress femininely and act femininely. I figure having four young children, one of which is a baby, should also help.

  1. Dress Femininely – I’m going to wear a dress or skirt every day and the dressier and prettier (yet practical to my tasks of that day) the better.
  2. Read Good Books about Femininity – I’m going to study Alice von Hildebrand and Gertrud von le Fort. I’m going to finish the entire The Summa Domestica. I will begin to master The Wife Desired. I basically want to take the journey toward my doctorate in real Femininity.
  3. Study Mary’s Virtue – I’m going to study Mary’s ten virtues and practice them by picking a different one to focus on each day. I need to imitate the most perfect woman–no one less.
  4. Focus on My Marriage – I’m going to pray for my husband daily and submit to him every opportunity that I can–even in little ways. I’ve learned a lot about this lately from Ask Your Husband (Phenomenal read!)
  5. Be Content with My Housework – I’m going to be happy doing my housework. Yes, this must be possible. Each meal. Each time I sweep the floor. Each piece of laundry I put away. Mary achieved this–so can I (or at least strive to!). I want to be joyful in serving my family in the most mediocre ways. Yes, helping my fourth grader with her math problems and nursing my baby also falls into this category. Little things: great love.

I’m Going to Accept My Supernatural and Essential Role

In her book, Man and Woman: A Divine Intervention, Alice von Hildebrand states:

“[F]eminism has had a disastrous effect on marriage, on the family, on society at large, and last, but not least, in the Holy Catholic Church. If woman had not been meant to play a crucial role in the Church, their betrayal would not have been so catastrophic. It is precisely because they play a supernatural and essential role that their defection en masse from their nature and role as women has been so wounding.”

I simply do not want feminism in my domestic church. I don’t want the negative effects on my marriage, my motherhood, and myself.

I want to become a saint. And I want my husband and each of my children to become saints. I know my family can’t do it alone. God placed me here to help them–and helping them is the way I will become a saint, too. I have a supernatural and essential role. I want to immerse myself in this role–no excuses.

I Want to Be Beautiful!

I want to wear beautiful dresses. Do my hair. Wear a chapel veil! I want to love nursing my baby. Cook a great meal. Kiss my husband! I want to be gentle and sweet. Be contented in my home. Offer my feminine heart to my King!

I want to be like Mary in Nazareth.

Feminism. It’s not for me. Instead, I choose to be a beautiful, feminine woman, dedicating herself to the imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.