“She supplies for him good things, not bad, all the days
of her life” (Proverbs 31:12).
This surprised me because I was unaware of the unequal expectations of the woman. It seems almost unfair. Yes, the man continues to provide for the family, but the way the text says that the woman provides for her husband every single day does not sit right with me. It seems her life is focused on serving him and making his life easier. This makes me wonder if the woman still has enough time and energy to do things for herself, like exercise, hobbies, and pursuing her own dreams. This passage showed me that gender roles have changed over time, and women have more freedom today to pursue their own desires.
“It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner” (Genesis 2:18)
Eve was described as Adam’s helper. This is very similar to the passage in Proverbs. The woman is described as inferior, and their purpose is to serve the man. This makes it seem as if a woman’s value depends on how well they can help men rather than being individuals with their own goals, aspirations, and identities. The term “helper” reminds me of “sidekick.” Both men and women have the ability to complete the same tasks and should be depicted as equals. Genesis shows that gender roles and equality have changed for the better over time. It is both very surprising and disappointing to read these passages.
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