A Script Shift: Grown Edition
I wonder when a butterfly recognizes that it’s fully developed. Is it when it flutters its wings out in the open air? Or is it when it opens its eyes while still wrapped tightly in the cocoon?
That’s as near as I could get to describe the current phase of this adventure called life. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment where I felt grown; I just knew I felt different. Like new wine shouldn’t be placed into old wineskins, this recognition required the shedding of all things “childish” and a full embrace of what Author Brittney Cooper describes as a Grown Woman Theology (GWT) in her book, Eloquent Rage.
“What does it mean when our spiritual and theological systems impede healthy living? This is a question that Black women should begin to ask forthrightly. They should insist fervently on answers among themselves and from their spiritual leaders... Most Christian theology infantilizes women. It makes us think that because we are all children of God, God only ever sees us as children. And, as a result, we’ll be grown women afraid of embracing our sexuality. A liberatory theology for women cannot set us as war with the desires for touch, companionship, and connection that well up like deep springs in our souls...I am God’s child, as I think every human being is. But God knows I’m grown” (Eloquent Rage, pg. 134, 136, 140).
Because I’m grown, that means that God knows I’m grown too. Our viewpoints finally match. This also makes the situations, the perspectives, the likes/dislikes, and the dynamics shift too- and that’s healthy. It’s necessary. It’s vital.
A GWT pensively critiques and analyzes the root of all that encompasses her. Whether it is her mind, her thought patterns, her relationships, her dreams, her tolerance levels, and most of all, her sexuality. It is the exploration of her sexuality that helps develops a vital awareness about who she is entirely and who she is with another.
A GWT is not self-centered in a misaligned manner but is affirming, properly centering, and advocating for Black women to bring forth true liberation. A GWT carves out room for thoughts not yet fully developed, a faith desiring for a new language, and safety to explore the newfound liberties of being grown. It allows the Holy Spirit to truly enter hearts anew, showing that a GWT enables real intimacy within and with the Trinity. A GWT simply rejects a theological framework that limits Black women’s ability to be unapologetic.
For Black women, especially today, a GWT is essential to shift this script.
To you, what does a GWT mean and look like?
Deep words as usual Chich. I love these topics so much because they push people, women specifically to think of things that they may not have ever thought of before. We are so used to things being a certain way and being taught certain things, that we don't even ask any questions or know that things could be different. I know personally, I find myself trying to define so many things for myself. And having this kind of platform forces me to think even more. I can't really define GFT, but I do know that we have been very mislead and the way women are viewed in Christianity truly needs to be challenged. I hope for all women to make decisions about themselves for themselves, inspired by the word of God.