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According to Wikipedia, “Complementarianism is a theological view in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam that men and women have different but complementary roles and responsibilities in marriage, family life, and religious leadership.” It’s a worldview with traditional gender norms and roles. In most complementarian American marriages, the husband is the head of the household. Today’s complementarianism is like the light beer of patriarchy: it’s got all of the spiritual authority, and none of the Bible‘s culturally awkward themes of domesticated slavery.
Back in undergrad, my theology professor summarized the complementarian position as “men and women are distinct but equal.” I crap you not. Those were the exact words. I raised my hand and asked, “I’m sorry, but was that statement laced with sarcasm that I missed?” He assured me there was no sarcasm and asked why I’d ask that. Bear in mind I was a history major. I replied, “Well, this is Georgia. ‘Distinct but equal’? It sounds disturbingly similar to ‘separate but equal.’ Guess I was hoping you were cracking a Plessy v. Ferguson joke.” No such luck.
The thing is, we’ve all read Genesis 3. It’s right there, clear as day, in the text. As part of the curse for Adam’s and Eve’s rebellion, God said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” Uh, guys? Contrary to popular belief in conservative circles, male authority over females was never a part of God’s created order. Scripture instead presents male authority over women as a freakin’ curse, not the original design. A curse not being a good or laudable condition.
Some might object and insist God made Eve to be Adam’s “helper.” I’ve extensively read on this subject. Conservative, moderate, and liberal theologians alike agree that’s a truly terrible modern English translation. It sounds like the oppressed Black housekeepers in 2011’s The Help. If you’re cringing? Good. You should. I don’t read ancient Hebrew, but apparently a much more accurate translation for that word in Genesis 2:18 is “partner.” Yup, theologically checks out. Patriarchy is a direct result of the fall, which the cross healed. Galatians 3:28 points to restored gender quality.
The original beatniks existed between the first wave of feminism that ended in the early-1920s and second-wave feminism began in the mid-1960s. This helps explain why, even more than their male counterparts, the women of the Beat Generation have been largely forgotten. However, it seems important not only to acknowledge the significant influence of figures like Carolyn Cassady and Joyce Johnson, but to note that the beatniks were radically ahead of their time in terms of gender equality. They culturally primed the pump for second-wave feminism.
