Ungodly Women: Gender and the First Wave of American Fundamentalism

by Betty A. Deberg

Since the rise of the Religious Right in the 1980s, analysis of American fundamentalism has neglected a large body of literature about gender roles and social conventions. In 1990, Betty A. DeBerg's groundbreaking study filled that important gap, analyzing the roots and character of fundamentalism in light of rapid changes and severe disruptions in gender-role ideology and actual social behavior in America between 1880 and 1930. Since then, Ungodly Women: Gender and the First Wave of American Fundamentalism has remained the standard source on the subject. Unlike other interpreters, DeBerg convincingly argues that these concerns were central to American fundamentalism.

Genres: Religion

184 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Anson Cassel Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is new edition of a revised dissertation first published by Augsburg/Fortress in 1990. DeBerg (b. 1953) has done extensive research in the primary sources, and the book, while unexciting reading, is more coherent than much of what passes for English prose in the academy. DeBerg believes that the rise of American fundamentalism is tied to male fear of losing dominant societal status, that even the fundamentalist emphasis on biblical inerrancy was "designed to promote and defend...[the] conventions of the Victorian separate-spheres ideology." (128)

DeBerg has collected a large number of anti-feminist quotations from various turn-of-the-century evangelicals, but her thesis is weakened both by a loose definition of fundamentalism and by her admission that fundamentalists "were not the only men who tried to reassert traditional notions of masculinity during this time of cultural and social stress" (151-52), providing as examples Social Gospel theologians, liberal ministers, and Catholics. Furthermore, her research ignores some influential fundamentalists of the period, including the evangelist Bob Jones, Sr. (1883-1968), who made quite a few radioactive statements about women before founding an eponymous college and naming as its dean a woman, one of the first female deans of an American co-educational institution.

[Hortensia]

This is one of my favorite books, and yet another that honestly changed my life. It's about how the fundamentalist movement (especially seen as the quest for Biblical literalism) sprang in part from contests over the feminization of the protestant churches. As New Women were liberating themselves from old constraints of marriage and sexuality and many other women were preaching on street corners and in religious organizations, men got scared. Wow. I will never see fundamentalism the same again. Totally recommend, even with all its problems (again, fails to discuss class).

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting interpretation of American religious gender relations and the shift to fundamentalism. Fascinating.

[JuliaInIA · Rating 5 out of 5]

A uniquely useful examination of social factors that contributed to the rise of fundamentalism in the early 20th century. Exhaustively documented.

[Maddy McAlexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really necessary analysis of early fundamentalist american culture through a gendered lens, although some claims are imo a bit exaggerated

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

borrowed from library, 1 Feb. 2014

db article 3442 is photocopies of front matter, table of contents, preface (vii-ix), p. 1-41. also contains copy of hand-written notes:

A. p. 43 (Ungodly Women) "Wanted - more mothers".. God designed women as the homemaker but somehow... Feb 1921 Homemaker didn't exist until the early factory system left women at home - agrarian life had no homemakers. This is making virtue of a necessity. The complaint is social lag which is parading as conservatism. i.e. masquerading as conservatism fortified by ignorance or amnesia.

B. p. viii Preface "Women were getting professional educations..." How many women were getting prof eds & what is a prof ed? ..."seeking divorces at a rate that alarmed those who paid attn to such things." rate? how many? those who paid attn - who were they? their ed? their marital status? do they come out of nowhere and start noticing stuff? i.e. they aspire to be God's antennae?

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really helped me understand WHY the church has formed the role they have made in North America for women. It helps me give grace to the many who truly believe that a women has a certain role in the home/church/society and that there is only one 'biblical' way. It helps me realize that our beliefs are always synchronized with our culture and history. As I give grace to others - it also helps me to remember that I need grace as well for the things I believe which have been influenced by my own systems I have been in.

[Elizabeth]

Checked out from Washington Co. Cooperative Library Services, early 2014.