The Nation puzzled by heartland America's 'harsh sexual morality' and its love for teen moms

We think The Nation ought to change its name to The Bubble or something because it sure doesn't know much about the actual nation. This tweet is almost a parody, but to the writer, it's a serious question. The church condemns premarital sex, and yet young mothers aren't shunned by the village. How is a brain supposed to process that?

The church in heartland America promotes a harsh sexual morality. But it sends a mixed message: Premarital sex is sinful, but teens who have babies are revered as mothers.https://t.co/AI9ImCxDF9

— The Nation (@thenation) August 31, 2023

Katha Pollitt writes:

From early childhood, women received the message—in Sunday school, church services, and religious social gatherings—that they were meant to be subservient “helpmeets” to men and should limit their aspirations, their education, and their ability to support themselves. If a mate was violent, drunken, irresponsible, it was the woman’s fault, and prayer was the answer. While the church promoted a harsh sexual morality—the ideal was early marriage, followed by babies, ASAP—it sent a mixed message: Premarital sex was sinful, but teens who had babies were revered as mothers. Evangelicalism thus ensured that many women would end up having kids before they were ready, going from one unstable relationship to the next. Thanks to the church’s disempowering teachings, they couldn’t imagine life without a man and couldn’t support themselves and their children on their own. “If you were to place a map of white evangelical Protestants over maps of women dying young and overdosing on drugs and going without jobs,” [Monica] Potts writes, “they’d line up.”

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Monica Potts "escaped" Clinton, Arkansas, but her friend was not so lucky.

So this is heartland America? No wonder they call it flyover country, right?

So what you're saying is teen mothers and their children are supported overwhelmingly by the Christian church?

Great point. And true.

— Sour Patch Lyds 🌺🐊 (@sourpatchlyds) August 31, 2023

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

— 𝕂𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕊𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕝𝕂 (@CallMeK1123) August 31, 2023

Correct.

If you've had a child out of wedlock and need help, the Church is your best resource.

You'll be loved, supported, advised, and encouraged.

Thanks for the endorsement @thenation

— Jaunty Thinker (@jaunty_thinker) August 31, 2023

Imagine being able to hold two ideas in your head at the same time

I know no one at The Nation can, but I’m asking you to try to imagine if you could

— Enguerrand VII de Coucy (@ingelramdecoucy) August 31, 2023

I genuinely hope someone sits down with you and explains this to you.

— Stig the White (@StigTheWhite) August 31, 2023

That isn't a mixed message. It's consistent, and accurate to morality.

— James Mark (@kJamesMarkk) August 31, 2023

Spend more time around us, and this will no longer seem like a mystery.

— Big Silly Dummy (@BigSillyDummy) August 31, 2023

The church's "harsh sexual reality" is that from which Potts escaped. Better to have your teen girl read explicit anal sex instructions in Teen Vogue, and if the man manages to sneak into her bonus hole, there's always abortion. That's the truly moral way.

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