Rise of the Stay-at-Home Daughters

Move over stay-at-home moms. Stay at home daughters are hot on your heels. Time magazine recently released a news article on the growing stay-at-home daughters movement among evangelical Christians. In times past, it was common for girls to remain home until marriage. A female was expected to trade her career for a career as a joyful homemaker. They couldn't vote or own property. Feminism forever changed the role of women in society. What is wrong with being a homemaker in a feminist world? Well, nothing, but the stay-at- home daughter movement surpasses "Leave it to Beaver" and "Father Knows Best" antics.

The Vision Forum, a Christian patriarchy group headed by Doug Philips is trying to turn back the clock. They are strong supporters of Christian patriarchy which teaches wifely submission and male leadership. The husband is authority over the household. This authority extends to the stay-at-home daughters. If any female disobeys the husband or father, they are said to be disobeying God. Pursuing outside interests and careers are viewed as anti-family and selfish. A daughter's ultimate goal is to be a wife and mother. The Vision Forum believes this is a woman's Biblical ordained role.

Daughters are forbidden to live independently according to a quote by Doug Philips. She cant' just pick anyone she wishes to marry. That has to be approved by the father. If she does marry, the father's authority over her is transferred to the husband. She prepares to be a happy keeper at home if no husband comes along. How does she pass time? She spends most of her time involved in approved activities and learning housekeeping skills. Some stay-at-home daughters have entered the world of blogging. A lucky few may go on mission trips or attend conferences.

The Vision Forum peddle material that promote rigid gender roles. It hosts many conferences. Two of its key speakers are the Botkins and Duggars. Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkins run a blog called Visionary Daughters and travel the country encouraging daughter to stay home. The Duggars star in "19 Kids and Counting" on TLC. Michelle Duggar has received Mother of the Year awards from the Vision Forum and hosts special teas. They follow the same patriarchal lifestyle as the Botkins.

The stay at home daughters live a very reclusive and oppressive lifestyle. She is taught all her life careers and college are wrong. While college isn't all that sometimes, it never hurts to have backup and expand your knowledge. If a female can't have careers, why do the Botkins make one out of telling other young women to stay home? They speak on the evils of college but neither of the have ever attended. Are the boys under their father's authority or is it just girls? If not, that is a double standard. How can girls be made to stay home and boys do what they please? I hear nothing about the requirements for boys. Girls seem to be inferior in this movement.

Her whole life is spent obeying Daddy and waiting on the transferal of authority. No mention is made of the mother. There is no harm in children admiring and obeying parents but this takes the father-daughter relationship to whole new level. The Bible says to obey your father and mother. It applies to both genders.
I don't know what 21st century woman would choose to live this way. Most of them in the stay-at- home daughter movement say they have choices but I highly doubt that . It is easy to make the choice when only one is presented. Females do not always need rescuing by the opposite gender. If her paths lead her to be a homemaker or a 'keeper at home', I have no problem with it. She needs choices in her life regardless of where paths lead. Claiming all females need an authoritative male all their lives is archaic