Rant of the Week: Playing the Field

Today, I was browsing the net and reading random articles, which I do occasionally, when I found one about a young actor who has a reputation for "playing the field." All I could think as I was reading this was, "Do women look like a big grassy football field that guys just think they can run all over, catching balls, and making touchdowns on?"

Now I could go on ranting about how guys shouldn't treat women like that, or talk like that, or act like that but really whose to blame here? Are women giving into the game? Are they lowering their standards? Are they allowing themselves to be 'played'? Yup, they definitely are. I get it women have been disrespected and treated unequally and used for thousands of years, but we live in a society where we have a lot more power over that. We don't have to be played. We have opportunity, choice, and ability to live our own lives separate from cultural expectations.

Our culture lowers its expectations on women, making us appear lose and easy. They rejoice when women reveal a lot, exclaiming that they are comfortable, confident, and sexy. All the while giving props to the players. Young men are encouraged to be this way, to get out there, and try a lot of women out. Just another notch in a belt. Really? Encouraging young men to use women, and encouraging women to appear usable. All that's left is a lot of damaged people. Men who don't know how to really treat a lady, and women who don't know how to be one.

What happened to the days when hands were kissed, doors were opened, chairs were pulled out, and women were honored? Is that really old fashioned? To me, those are signs of value and respect.Women look at guys who do these things as weirdos. Thinking the guy is old fashioned or weak. What happened to ladies and gentlemen? In my estimation we are stuck as boys and girls who are playing a game that teaches neither respect or value to the opposite sex. How do we fight these backward cultural issues? How can we overcome these lies?

Well for one thing, we can teach our children. Being the mother of three boys, I realize the importance of teaching them that playing a field is all about a game with a ball and team mates. That treating a girl with respect is more important than looking at them as an object. One of the best things about being a youth pastor with my husband is watching the culture change. Is teaching students the value of respecting one another. Respecting the opposite sex. Watching them defend one another and protect their sisters and brothers. There is hope people! There is the opportunity for change. We must be active in the change, and see our culture transformed!