Let Me Be A Woman
By Elisabeth Elliot
Reviewed By: Ashley Davis
“If we have become so mature and open-minded and adaptable and liberated that the commands of Scripture directed to wives – ‘adapt,’ ‘submit,’ ‘subject’ – lose their meaning, if the word head no longer carries any connotation of authority, and hierarchy has come to mean tyranny, we have been drowned in the flood of liberation ideology” (132).
If I had to give this book another title, I would call it “The Christian Woman’s Anti-Feminist Manifesto.”
Today’s recommendation is what most would consider a little, tiny book of a mere 175 paperback bound pages. It fits as swiftly into the hands as any other mass-market paperback book would. Despite its diminutive size, it packs THE biggest punch. I think of all the books on my shelves, Bibles excluded, this one has the most notes and highlighting. I’ve read it twice, and as I consider this review, I’m itching to read it again. The primary themes of Let Me Be a Woman consider the questions of who we are as women and whose we are. In her direct, gut-punching style, Elisabeth Elliot weaves together Biblical truths of what it means to be a woman, the power we have in submission, the hard facts about marrying another sinner (yup – I just called us sinners too!), and the beauty and specificity of being designed as uniquely female and feminine.
This book is broken into 49 short chapters. I would recommend moving through Let Me Be a Woman slowly, if you can manage it. When I’ve read it, it’s been hard not to just keep reading and reading because there are a so many moments when I’m nearly jumping up hollering, “Yes!! That’s the TRUTH. Tell it!” like I’m wearing my Sunday best, hat included, at an old school tent revival. Somebody pass me a fan! But I digress, this book is easy to get through, but reading it slowly and with a pen in hand would best serve the reader. I also like to give this book to young women as they are starting out in the dating world or nearing engagement. It can really help shift perspective of what it means to be a woman in a world that’s got the design for our role so muddled and confused.
Elisabeth Elliot wrote this short book to her daughter, Valerie, and gave it to her on her wedding day; it was published in 1976. If you don’t already know, let me give you a quick overview of the life of Elisabeth Elliot. I believe it helps reads to better receive her when they know a bit of her story. Elisabeth Elliot, along with her husband Jim, were missionaries to an indigenous, savage tribe in Ecuador. On January 8, 1956, Elisabeth’s husband and four other missionaries were killed by the tribe they were trying to reach with the gospel. Later, Elisabeth returned to the tribe and led many of the men who killed her husband and fellow-missionaries to the knowledge of Christ. Elisabeth and her young daughter, who was only a toddler when Jim was killed, returned to the United States were Elisabeth became a well-known speaker and an author of over 25 books. She remarried twice after Jim’s death, which, in time, would make her a widow three times over. She was well acquainted with suffering and hardship, but one of the main themes of her life was rooted in finding everlasting peace, security, and joy in the God who holds all things perfectly in his hands.
Here are a few quotes I liked from Let Me Be A Woman
“In order to learn what it means to be a woman we must start with the One who made her” (4).
“But worship is not feeling. Worship is not an experience. Worship is an act, and this takes discipline. We are to worship ‘in spirit and in truth.’ Never mind about the feelings. We are to worship in spite of them” (5-6).
“We accept and thank God for what is given, not allowing the not-given to spoil it” (33).
“The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different kind of woman” (43).
“It was God who made us different, and He did it on purpose” (50).
“We've been cut to a certain size and shape to fulfill a certain function. It is this, not that. It is a woman's offering, not a man's, that we have to give” (55).
“It is a naive sort of feminism that insists that women prove their ability to do all the things that men do” (65).
“The words superior and inferior refer originally to position, not to intrinsic worth” (112).
Take this recommendation and review as our invitation for you to challenge how you’ve been viewing your God-given design. I hope you’ll read this book and proudly proclaim, “Let ME be a woman!”
Audience:
Women, young adults & older. A mature, older teen may be an appropriate audience for this book.
Usefulness Rating:
Let Me Be a Woman is useful for challenging our current cultural norms of what it means to be feminine and female. This book would certainly be controversial in some circles and bring up some tough conversations.
Entertainment Value:
If you like a good sucker-punch and saying “WOW!” every other paragraph, you’ll find this one entertaining.
Good for Groups:
This book could be good for groups, but it does not come with a guide or discussion questions common to many of the books we review at FT2.
To learn more about Elisabeth Elliot, you can visit her website at www.elisabethelliot.org
For more information about this book or other reading suggestions, feel free to contact me directly.
