In late 2020, a panel of Harvard intellectuals decided that not all people who give birth are women. Or, at least, not all claim to be women.
On Twitter these “experts” referred to women as “birthing people” and promoted “maternal justice” saying, “Globally, ethnic minority pregnant and birthing people suffer worse outcomes and experiences during and after pregnancy and childbirth.”
Not surprisingly, Twitter users mocked the panel. But rather than admit the absurdity of referring to mothers as “birthing people,” as if someone other than a woman could give birth, the panel doubled down. In subsequent comments and with a follow up tweet, they said, “The webinar panelists used the term ‘birthing person’ to include those who identify as non-binary or transgender because not all who give birth identify as ‘women’ or ‘girls’.”
They further added, “We understand the reactions to this terminology and in no way meant for it to erase or dehumanize women.”
Maybe not. But, it did. And still does.
A growing trend
The panel’s exercise in irrational semantics was not intended to define a woman, or a mother. It was intended to capitulate to the growing trend of identity woke politics in our culture.
They were siding with the ideology that claims a person can be a biological male but “identify” as a woman, and a woman can be a biological female but “identify” as a man. That means that some women living as “men” would, apparently, prefer not to be called “mothers.” Therefore, even the Harvard medical community is willing to adopt the notion that a biological female who identifies as a man is now a “birthing person.” That “man” is capable of giving birth.
So now everyone is pressured to accommodate this nonsense, and moms are pushed to refer to themselves as “birthing persons,” rather than mothers.
Pregnant people and emojis
In June 2021 the Biden Administration explained sections of its 2022 proposed budget would replace the word “mothers” with the phrase “birthing people” to refer to anyone who can biologically give birth, even if they identify as a man.
And media and government agencies are collaborating on this new terminology, rapidly erasing from mainstream language any reference to mothers and choosing instead to talk about “pregnant people.”
And it didn’t take long for this trend to worm its way from politics to your pocketbook. Apple’s iOS update for April 2022 includes a “pregnant man” emoji and thirty-five other “gender-neutral” cartoons and gifs. And it is not an option. If you own an iPhone, you get it whether you want it or not.
The assault on motherhood
It’s hard to fathom anything more absurd or demeaning than a culture that reduces moms to “birthing persons.” But rather than dismiss this trend as irrelevant nonsense, we need to look more closely at it from a biblical perspective.
And from a biblical perspective, the main problem is simple. Twist language all you like. Call yourself whatever you want. But it doesn’t change who God created you to be. And anytime a person intentionally denies who God created them to be, which includes their biological identity, they will live as less than God created them to be.
Where do we begin?
The starting point for human identity is God’s standard, found in Gen. 1:27:
“So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.”
There’s no way around it. The Bible teaches, assumes, and advances that human beings were created to be biologically and distinctively male and female. And with that, we can see three biblical reasons that we need to protect motherhood, refuse to call moms “birthing persons,” and insist that biological women, who are actually female, are the only candidates for being moms:
- God designed humanity
God made men and women biologically compatible to reflect His nature and to fulfill His purposes (Gen. 1:28). So, these biological traits are integrated into the created order. They are not about how you feel, but about what is objectively true. Men and women are biologically different, and biological men are not capable of giving birth.
Eve was not the first “birthing person.” She was the first woman and, the moment she became pregnant, she became the first mother. That made Adam the first earthly father.
The trend in our culture toward the denial of biological facts devalues all of humanity and insults God. A woman who “identifies as a man” and wishes to be called a “birthing person” has not changed this biological reality. Instead, she has rejected her Designer’s loving purpose.
- God defined women
Let’s be clear. A woman’s value as a person does not hinge on motherhood. She is first and foremost a human being created in God’s image. And being a loving parent who undertakes the care and responsibility of a child doesn’t require giving birth. Women were not created for the sole purpose of motherhood.
Even so, only biological women were created for the capacity of giving birth and, therefore, being mothers.
So, to claim that women who have babies are “birthing persons” just to pander to the culture devalues the significance of motherhood. The woman is reduced to nothing more than a task—giving birth. All the linguistic genuflecting to accommodate woke culture actually devalues women while claiming tolerance and inclusion.
- God defends motherhood
God advocates for the crucial place of motherhood in His design. From start to finish, the Bible assumes that the role of moms and the place of motherhood is critical for humanity. Postmodern culture diminishes motherhood, but the Bible consistently heralds moms for their role in families, in society, and in the church.
For instance, the Bible celebrates both Timothy’s mother and grandmother for their influence on him (2 Tim. 1:5). Hardworking moms are admired and appreciated for their impact on their families and their communities (Prov. 31:25-30). And though motherhood is not required for women to be complete, to be impactful, or to be blessed by God, it is celebrated as evidence of God’s favor on a woman and her household (Ps. 113:9, 127:3, Luke 1:46-48).
Along with dads, the Bible calls on children to respect their mothers and for their communities to honor them (Deut. 5:16, Prov. 1:8). In the ancient world such respect was nearly unheard of, but it was advocated in the biblical community of faith.
And most of all, God uses motherhood as an illustration of His love for us (Is. 66:13, 49:15). Motherhood gives us an even fuller picture of the nurturing nature of God’s love.
Women who are moms, and who seek to serve Him in their families, reflect a unique side of God’s loving nature. If we lose the true value of motherhood and the value of women as moms, these illustrations in the Bible will become meaningless, further weakening our grasp of who God is and how He loves us in Christ.
So, moms, we celebrate you. You are far more than a “birthing person.” And no one can replace you.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.
Prov. 31:28
AMEN
AMEN