Feminism and the church

Saw Michelle Malkins post in which she refers to an article in which Rebekkah Walker wrote about the pain she experienced growing up as the daughter of feminist Alice Walker. I admit to having little knowledge of feminism but as I read the full article, I have a lot of mixed reactions.  A couple of quotes from the article:

The truth is that I very nearly missed out on becoming a mother  -  thanks to being brought up by a rabid feminist who thought motherhood was about the worst thing that could happen to a woman.

You see, my mum taught me that children enslave women. I grew up believing that children are millstones around your neck, and the idea that motherhood can make you blissfully happy is a complete fairytale.

I was raised to believe that women need men like a fish needs a bicycle.

It was drummed into me that being a mother, raising children and running a home were a form of slavery. Having a career, travelling the world and being independent were what really mattered according to her.

The ease with which people can get divorced these days doesn’t take into account the toll on children. That’s all part of the unfinished business of feminism.

Feminism has betrayed an entire generation of women into childlessness. It is devastating.

We just had a couple join our organization and one reason they were attracted to us is because of our belief that both husband and wife are accepted as missionaries in their own right.  Both are expected to be qualified and both are expected to learn the language and to be involved in ministry.  However, we do expect that during those years when the kids are young that most often it is the wife who has limited ministry due to her primary care giving role to the children.  I must admit that we have taken some flack for our policy of allowing women into leadership at every level of our organization.  I think it has been worth it.

While I appreciate hearing the other side of the story of feminism In reading what Rebekkah Walker has written, I am also aware that in many places church structures continue to exist that do not honor and respect women as fellow heirs of the grace of God.  If the church treated women as does Jesus and the New Testament, would not much of the drive and anger behind feminism be deflated?