First lady Jill Biden has been slammed across social media for awarding a biological man an award meant for women on International Women’s Day. The intent of the award is to honor international women who have made a difference in the world to build a brighter future for all people.
A barrage of posts are circulating online with women of all ages infuriated that biological men now believe they are better at being a woman than those who have experienced the triumphs and struggles of womanhood in our world today.
One Twitter user posted, “International Women’s Day: Not just for women anymore.”
International Women’s Day: Not just for women anymore.
— Andrea Katherine (@AndreaKatSTL) March 8, 2023
Another frustrated woman saying “women have officially been cancelled.”
Women have officially been cancelled. This is embarrassing, stupid and crazy. These people don’t work for America, Joe and Jill were placed in the WH to do Satan’s bidding. No words! https://t.co/o46rBMc6sJ
— AMABLACKPATRIOT (@DrShayPhD) March 9, 2023
I believe, as a woman myself, that there are an innumerable amount of bold, courageous and inspiring women throughout history who represent what it truly means to be a Spirit-filled unashamed woman of God. Let alone the rich history of women’s rights in our country.
Let me be clear, this article isn’t meant to bash those who identify as transgender. Taking the bait of Satan and perpetuating hate is never the answer.
In a world that is riddled with slavery, little children in labor camps and young girls forced into prostitution to this day, there are women who deserved to be honored for the work they are doing to bring freedom to the captives.
Here are some of the women throughout history who, if they were here today, deserve to be honored for the boldness and bravery.
On July 13, 1848 on a hot summer day in upstate New York, Elizabeth Cady Stanton gathered together with some of her girlfriends for some tea. They sat around a table talking about the staunch differences between men and women’s rights during that time.
Married women were legally dead in the eyes of the law. They weren’t allowed to vote or own property. Husbands had the legal power and responsibility over their wives and could imprison or beat them with impunity. Divorce and child custody laws favored men over women and most jobs didn’t allow women. If they allowed women employees, they were paid a fraction of what men were paid.
Those harsh realities fueled Stanton and her courageous friends to hold the world’s first Women’s Right Convention which was the start of a movement that led to the freedoms women hold in our country today. Women in America are now mothers and CEO’s of companies. Women can own property, vote and have the opportunity to fulfill their wildest dreams. Little did Stanton know at that time, their tea talk would change the world.
In the Bible there are numerous women who deserved to be honored. Miriam, the first female prophetess. Deborah was a prophetess and the only female judge. Queen Esther used her position of influence to save the Jewish people who were on the verge of being annihilated. She risked her life for them.
Throughout history we’ve also seen people like Amy Carmichael, who at 28 years old traveled to India from Ireland as a missionary. Shocked and deeply disturbed by the 5 and 6-year-old girls being forced into marriage and prostitution, she started to rescue them one by one. She became known as “mother” to more than 1,000 little girls. Amy ministered to the sinners and sufferers in India for 50 years without one single furlough.
Then you have Corrie and Betsie Ten Boom, the Dutch sisters who helped Jews escape the Holocaust. After hiding the Jews in their home they were discovered by the Nazi’s and thrown into concentration camps. Betsie died in the camps, but Corrie was released through a “clerical error” one week before everyone her age was sent to the gas chambers.
Harriet Tubman was born into slavery in Maryland. In 1849 she escaped to freedom and through the leading of the Holy Spirit directing and guiding her, she made 13 trips helping 300 slaves to freedom. Tubman later was a strong advocate for women’s right to vote.
Today, I choose not to become part of a cultural and political war, bashing Jill Biden. I simply choose to honor the women who have come before me that have deeply influenced my life and beliefs. They are the women I aspire to be.
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Shelby Bowen is an assistant editor for Charisma Media.
