Feminism and Mormonism

Lately it seems there has been an increase in different outlets weighing feminist ideals and Mormonism. The New York Times recently wrote about women and the Church; I found it fairly similar to other pieces of coverage on the matter and it has me thinking about feminism and Mormonism.

One things troubles me a lot about the articles I've read: almost all of them paint the Church is a light of having men rule over women. This is also true of the Ordain Women group. Their frequently asked questions explains that women are not equals in the Church and that men preside over homes, suggesting that the Church teaches women to subordinate themselves to men. While the Church has doctrines that don't mesh well with all of feminism I don't understand why neither media coverage nor the Ordain Women group paint the full picture.

Firstly, the oldest and largest women's group in the world is: [drum roll] the Relief Society. It was organized in 1842; this is the time when married women were beginning to enjoy the right to own property, and the Church created a women's only organization that ran and still runs major social initiatives. This  organization is central to the Church's operations both locally and worldwide, even though it isn't the core leadership by itself.

Secondly, the Church provides mentors and support specifically for young women aged 12-18 - before 12 children are all in the same support system and around time young women turn 18 they transition the Relief Society. Between this organization and the primary (for children under 12) there are 3 women who are on the council for how to run each local congregation. All major decisions are supposed to be made on this council, and all are encouraged to offer their opinions.

Finally, Church leaders preach against any idea of a man ruling his home. In The Family: A Proclamation to the World we are taught that men and women are "obligated to help one another as equal partners." President Hinckley gave a beautiful talk on women and the Church: The Women in Our Lives. He points out numerous ways that The Lord has elevated women and asks: "Why is it that even though Jesus placed woman in a position of preeminence, so many men who profess His name fail to do so?" President Hinckley condemns all of the ideas that many social commentaries suggest the Church reinforces, and he's not alone; the Church has always condemned the subjugation of women.

I know that the members of the Church frequently fail to live up to its pure doctrines. I wish I could say I've never met a chauvinist Mormon, and that I know for sure that no Priesthood holder has ever abused his wife or children. Unfortunately, I know that isn't true, but I also know that those would be true if all men lived the doctrines they are taught, and that's precisely what I wish social commentaries would explicitly recognize.