May 5, 2020
The title of this episode plays of the name of a new and
wonderful podcast, At Last She Said It, co-hosted by
Susan Hinckley and Cynthia
Winward and produced with help from their wonderful friend
Jeralee Renshaw. In it, Susan and Cynthia join LDF
host Dan Wotherspoon to talk about women's
experiences in the church and how they are often so very different
from those of men. It is a terrific discussion, often fun and
loaded with "aha's," but also moments that note great sadness and
difficulties many Latter-day Saint women encounter as they seek to
find and use their voice and, too often, even their place at all
within Mormonism.
The conversation rotates through topics such as the types of
situations in which women and men experience things quite
differently, from dynamics in Relief Society and other classes to
formal meetings and councils with men presiding and women having no
genuine authority to make decisions. It moves into spirituality and
thoughts on how men's and women's religious and spiritual lives are
affected by their standing within the organization and its many
extensions, including "Mormon culture." They discuss how might
women lead congregations and pastor their individual ward members
differently than do most men? Finally, the panel speaks of
obligations that can fall on those who see and can articulate their
particular situations within the church. Must they speak up, teach,
and help raise awarenesses that might lead to lasting changes,
especially ones that will assist the rising generations of women
who seem to be voting with their feet that current structures,
limits on influence, and gender dynamics must
change?
This is a rich discussion! Please listen in!