Betty
Friedan, yes, but the Shakers? 

We think of Friedan’s The Feminine
Mystique, in 1963, as the catalyst for the women’s movement.  Or, we may go back to the Suffragettes, from
the 1920s.  But, did you know the United
Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, better known as Shakers, set
an elegant model for feminism and women’s equality – almost 200 years before?

In 1747, this group, who
developed from the Quakers, came to New
York under the leadership of Ann Lee. They became
known, mockingly, as the Shakers, because their praying included dancing,
shouting, singing, and shaking.

Nineteen communal settlements
were established in New England and the
mid-west.   One of the largest, counting
over 300 members, was in Pleasant Hill,
Kentucky.  Today, few of the original Shaker buildings survive.  This one, outside of Lexington, has become a museum.

Now, I’m not writing a history of the Shakers; I just
want to share enough of their story to make my point about their setting a
model for women’s equality.   Shakers believed
in personal communication with a God who was both male and female.  Followers of Mother Ann came to believe  she embodied all the perfections of God in
female form. They dedicated their lives to pursuing perfection and eradicating
sin.   

This highly stoic and
religious woman was arrested several times for disturbing the peace with her
prayers (“shaking”) in an attempt to recruit new members.   She, like many women of the ‘60s, fought for
her beliefs, taking a public stand.  And,
she believed in hard work and keeping comfortably busy; every member learned a
craft and did chores – men and women: the early version of equal pay for equal
work.

Mother Ann Day is celebrated
on the first Sunday of August.  By
coincidence, Unique
Retreats for Women Ready for Change is being held at Pleasant Hill’s Shaker
Village two weeks
later.  Perhaps we will honor her early
message that women are equal to men and need to be treated as such.

During free time, UR
Participants can explore this large
restored settlement that has still has craftspeople carrying on the old
skills.  In fact, we will be sleeping in
their old quarters (modernized, of course). 
But, for those interested, the original outhouse still stands!

One part of Mother Ann Day’s
belief, though, we may not want to honor is celibacy.  Today, there are only 4 Shakers left.  But, back to the role model she set, perhaps
we will discuss is how women can take control of their bodies, their sex lives,
and the way they are treated (and respected) by men.

If you want more information
about Unique Retreats for Women Ready for Change, August 14-16, 2009, feel free
to contact me directly (513-542-0646) or check out the web site
(UniqueRetreatsForWomen.com/Elephant.aspx).