The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth

Biblical femininity, or the idea that God created women to be obedient homemakers, devout mothers, and subservient spouses, is deeply ingrained in North American Christianity. This idea affects how evangelical women conduct their daily lives in a variety of ways, including profession decisions, positions in local churches, and interpersonal interactions. However, historian Beth Allison Barr of Baylor University asserts that biblical femininity isn't biblical. It emerged from a sequence of distinct historical situations.

In order to demonstrate that the idea of biblical femininity is not predetermined by divine decree but rather is a byproduct of human civilization that permeates the church, this book expands the discussion of biblical womanhood beyond Greek grammar and into the domains of ancient, mediaeval, and contemporary church history. Barr's historical observations advance the discussion by putting current teachings on women's roles in the church in perspective.

By combining her own account of being a Baptist pastor's wife with insights from the #ChurchToo movement and abuse scandals in Southern Baptist circles and the larger evangelical community, Barr helps readers see why biblical femininity is less about the teachings of Christ and more about human power systems.