Why do young women no longer feel proud of, or even comfortable with, expressing their desire for motherhood? And why is this exceedingly prevalent at a Christian university?
To answer the first question, Nadya Williams—a homeschool mom, writer, and editor—explains that it all started with the abortion movement, though not in the politically divisive sense. Williams says that the “choice to prioritize conversations about whether abortion is a form of healthcare, instead of directing further resources to support expecting mothers and their babies, is a dramatic statement about our society’s undervaluing of babies and mothers, regardless of where one stands on the political spectrum.” In other words, the healthcare system’s language surrounding pregnancies not only dehumanizes the child, but also ignores the woman, making her feel as though she is unhealthy and unfit for motherhood. The emphasis on choice in the context of motherhood immediately encourages the mother to feel diminished because of her “condition.”
Now it is easier to understand why women—particularly young women—feel that a call to motherhood is something to be embarrassed about. Society tells them that they are essentially hoping for a “condition” that will strain them mentally, physically, and emotionally.
It was through the birth of Isaac that she was given the joy and fulfillment she had longed for.
Of course, this completely ignores all the good that comes from creating life. Not to mention, the great fulfillment that women gain through becoming mothers. It is not a burden, it is something to celebrate. More than that, it is something to be proud about desiring. This is displayed in the Bible repeatedly. Genesis 21 tells the story of Sarah and Abraham. When Sarah finally gave birth to a son after decades of barrenness she exclaims, “‘God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.’ And she added, ‘Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.” (Genesis 21:6-7). Their son is named Isaac—which means laughter—because of the prophecy of Sarah’s pregnancy. Isaac’s birth brought Sarah so much joy, it reduced her to laughter. As she says in the verse, God brought her laughter in more than just that one moment. It was through the birth of Isaac that she was given the joy and fulfillment she had longed for. There are many other similar stories to this in the Bible, like that of Tamar, Hannah, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary.
The female students at Baylor University, many of whom have studied these stories in the Bible and understand the goodness of motherhood, have fallen prey to the message of the world that the desire for motherhood is detestable. I believe this is partially a result of Baylor’s recent push towards academics and research, which seems to have left the cultivation of faith behind.
In the last few years, Baylor has made major moves towards becoming and maintaining its status as an R1, or ‘Research 1’ university, which is “the highest ranking awarded by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The rankings are based on particular benchmarks in research activity, such as the number of research doctorates awarded and the amount of money allotted to research at an institution.” To put it simply, Baylor basically wants to become the Baptist version of the University of Notre Dame—both competitive schools that will not let go of their religious affiliations despite very evidently putting more time, money, and effort into academics. Surely, the role of the university is to focus on academics. But it is concerning, particularly for a school that has a clear mission to integrate academics and Christianity, that the focus seems to have shifted heavily towards presenting only its academic achievements to the world.
This brings us to the motherhood issue: female Baylor students feel as though their call to motherhood is less important than their career, a result that aligns with the unfortunate mainstream narrative and the pressure from academic glorification. It is one of several examples which show how students feel they must give all their attention to academic achievements as they relate to their own professional reputation and Baylor’s.
I was first clued in on the issue on Baylor’s campus through conversations that I had with other female students. At the start of the conversation, they automatically list all of their achievements, along with the many academic and career goals they have for themselves. On the one hand, their goals have shown me how amazingly driven and passionate women at Baylor are. However, these aspirations usually involve remaining in school for the better portion of the next decade of their lives or immediately getting swept into the corporate world after graduation.
Eventually they ask me what I would like to do once I graduate. If I’m feeling prepared to have a controversial discussion, I explain that the only job I really desire to have is to be a wife and a mother. Nine times out of ten, the girl will light up and immediately agree with my goals, saying that at the end of the day that’s all she really wants as well. It’s amazing to watch her get both more excited and more relaxed at the same time, as she feels comfortable discussing her innermost wishes. She can discuss those dreams without feeling the need to prove herself academically or professionally first.
Students who want to pursue callings that will not necessarily bring acclaim to themselves or the University, but rather solely bring glory to God, should be just as communally praised as those who do great things for the academic world.
These conversations have taught me that the gap between striving for academic excellence and pursuing one’s passions and vocation through faith must be reconciled at Baylor University. Students who want to pursue callings that will not necessarily bring acclaim to themselves or the University, but rather solely bring glory to God, should be just as communally praised as those who do great things for the academic world. Women who want an education as a step towards fulfilling their calling to motherhood should not be looked down upon as wasting time and money. Rather, they should be seen as boldly taking hold of the opportunities that the modern Christian university offers them.
