The Adventures of a Middle Kid
  • Blog
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Extra! Extra!
    • The War Between the States--A Journal
    • Book List
  • The Bee Project

Thoughts on Reenactor Women

6/21/2017

2 Comments

 
To set the scene...I was standing there at the ironing board, not necessarily thinking of anything particular except for getting the wrinkle out of my shirt I'd just put in...when my brain drifted to a very minor, short conversation I had with a nice little lady at a recent event.

I had made some comment about not being able to move a particular way in my corset (which on later consideration, I wouldn't have done whatever it was even not in my corset because my back likes to go out of whack at particular angles and twists) and she pipes up along the lines of that's why she doesn't do a female impression. I was so tired I don't remember what, if anything, I said in response to that and let it slide...but it did get me thinking...

The stereotype that a corset is a strangulation device is hog-wash. It can be, sure...if you cinch it too tight like they like to do in the movies. I can run, dance, sing, play guitar, cook, sew, etc. while wearing mine without getting any extra-particularly out of breath. There is a minor degree of limited mobility--such as not being able to bend over as far at the waist as without one on, or even being able to twist the body around as far (but really, how often do we try to turn half-way around without moving our feet?) I bet you a girl could easily run a gun (cannon) in one of the things. I've fired blanks from a big-bore gun and a Gatling in mine. No hindrance. 

Anyway, the real point of this post is not to extol the virtues of the corset. It's to ask, "Why are so may girls so eager to get on the field, rather than to promote the stories of the women on the home front?" It certainly can't be any hotter in hoops and petticoats and corset and dress than it is in heavy pure-wool uniforms. So dears, nix that as your excuse. ;) 

I think it probably all boils down to the ingrained feministic teaching that even the Church propagates--women and men are equal. YES. We are--spiritual, morally (fallen), in the sight of Almighty God. However, equality of value does not add up to the same thing as equality of purpose or design. The Bible tells us distinctly that men are to be the heads of their households--defenders, protectors, etc. Women are to be the helpmeets to their husbands--keepers of the home (which ain't a job for the weak of spirit). This, when sought after by men and women striving to love God and men as taught in the Scripture, is the most beautiful lifestyle the world has ever seen. Strong men, protectors and providers--encouraged and backed by strong women who seek to instill Godly courage into their husbands, sons, and brothers. 

Recently, I've run into certain conversations concerning women in the 1860's that automatically assume that women (particularly Southern women), because they had no "voice" had no interest in politics until war hit. I had to laugh because these women--their fierce loyalty to justice and freedom ("political" notions if there ever were any)--literally, at times, kept their men on the field of battle defending their nation. Those kind of convictions don't happen overnight. 

So for the female reenactor who is out on the battlefield (and I do not deny there were a number of women who did disguise themselves and tread the field of battle with courage) --have you ever considered stepping from the men's sphere into the woman's? Have you ever stopped to think of the beauty you could bring to people's notion of the time--of the courage, the bravery, the loyal self-sacrifice of the women (both sides of the WBtS) by donning the dress, the corset, the hoop/petticoats and looking after "the house". Cooking for your men and their buddies...mending their rent clothing and so forth.

What is it that repels you from that? Why don't you want to be a woman in the sphere God ordained for you? A sphere that has such far flung influence...the saying that the "hand that rocks the cradle rules the world" has a mighty lot of truth to it. 

I encourage you therefore...seek to be a woman. Not a "female"--a woman. A woman who strives after the Lord--and consequently, justice, righteousness, courage, valour, faithfulness--in your ordained sphere. The home front. 
​Titus 3:1-8
"But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:
 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things--that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you."
In conclusion--this is not to bash the women and girls who take the field. I quite understand the draw. I'm a soldier's daughter and I love tactics and firearms and the roar of artillery. I know that I would enjoy play-acting a soldier. I simple refrain because I am trying to do two things: a) remain in my biblically ordained sphere and b) present a part of history often lost--that of the home front. 

The point of this post is mainly to encourage you to think beyond "the fun"...and to look in all seriousness at the proper role of women in both that time and this. Because God does not change, therefore neither do His standards.

      Racheal

2 Comments
Savannah
7/26/2017 09:50:06 am

Well-said, sister!

And especially the basic underlying reason: Because God doesn't change, his standards don't either....

I also really liked how you made a distinction between being "female" and being "woman" -- since that is something that is really lost on our society today with the loss of dignity and respect, as well as of shame. Feminism has ended up robbing womankind of their unique dignity in an effort to make us men, just as they have upended that unique dignity of men, as well, turning society worse than upside down, but inside out....

Reply
Savannah
7/26/2017 09:51:38 am

P.S. Ditto about the corsets. Especially if they fit. But well-fitted attire is another subject.... ;-)

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    New post on The Bee Project! 04/26/18
    Picture

    The Middle Kid

    I chose to title this blog "The Adventures of a Middle Kid" because that is exactly what I'll be detailing (mostly). I chose 'kid' over any other word, like 'girl' (I am the middle girl so it also would have worked) or 'child'
    (since I am no longer exactly a child).

    I am a middle kid and I will always be a middle kid--even when I'm 80!

    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013

    Follow
    Picture
    The anti-Christ will not overrun Christ’s church or kingdom.
    Christ will win. He is winning. He has won. --Joe Morecraft, III
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    1942 Truck Restoration
    Accidents
    Agriculture
    Authentic Christianity
    Books
    Caretaking
    Cats
    Cattle
    Chickens
    Church
    Confederates
    Conference
    Cooking
    Costumes
    Cow Cavalry
    Family
    Farmers Market
    Filmmaking
    Food
    Friends
    History
    Holidays
    Horse
    Knitting
    Lyme/Co Infections
    Lyme/Co-Infections
    Mechanics
    Movies
    Music
    Musings
    Musket Echos
    Nonesense
    Pictures
    Politics
    Reenacting
    Rodeo
    Sewing
    Shooting
    Theology/Philosophy
    Video
    War Between The States
    Weather
    Weddings
    Work
    Writing
    WWII

    Picture

    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture
    FREEDOM'S LIGHT FILMS
    Picture
    Picture
    Reformed Reviews
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    www.fold3.com
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    7 Lb.s of Bacon Mess Band
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.