Reflection: The 2024 Golden Globes

I think we can all agree that Jo Koy’s deliverance of the Golden Globe opening monologue was less than ideal. The crowd certainly wasn’t on his side for most of the jokes. However, I wanted to counteract a couple responses floating around to his disastrous performance.

Doesn’t matter if you agree with the concept of the Barbie movie or not, it shouldn’t have been downgraded like that right next to Oppenheimer. A crass phrase intended to be comical fell flat. The temptation here is to be outraged — how dare a man turn something as monumental as a movie about feminine regime into nothing less than a jab at female anatomy. How crucial it seems to stand up and defend women, to call out against the patriarchy, and to point fingers at all those who oppose feminism.

These edits and clips from the Golden Globes have been like tiny birds fluttering in the back of my mind. No matter how many other things I try to fill it with I just keep coming back to them. One woman said, “This is exactly why we had the Barbie movie in the first place. Did he even watch it?” And this causes me to wonder — is a movie really going to answer this age-old struggle of power and rights? What does the Lord have to say on these topics? How should I tackle the ever so popular idea of the patriarchy and its poison? How do we shine light in the darkness?

So I invite you to keep reading, no matter your gender. The truth will set us free.

And the truth? God made men and women different. On purpose. So throw the idea that we can do absolutely anything a man can do right out the window, because you’re missing the point. The fact is, men are often better at cutting through the emotional angst and making a decision — hence their role as leaders in the home. And women are often better at nurture and creating warmth — hence their role as helpmates. I don’t mean to say women are silly and at the mercy of their emotional whims. My tendency is to be overly logical in my decisions and ignore the feelings of others, while guys certainly have emotions and deep feelings too. It’s just that modern day feminism doesn’t want us to think this way. Everyone should be totally equal, totally gender-neutralized, and totally blind to the fact that our differences are what make us strong.

Being told I can be just as successful as a man is oddly terrifying. What pressure to perform and compete against them! Seeing women get accolades for being the first woman to do X, Y, Z is both encouraging and disheartening. Will I be a success if I never make some miraculous achievement at work? Will I still earn respect if I tend a home?

I thank God for my mother, who has consistently shown me the beauty in raising children and keeping a home. She is educated, smart, and talented. She has a degree to her name and a voice that is strong and kind. And she will be the first to tell you that while her current occupation in our home is the last thing she expected to be doing, it has been the most rewarding and fulfilling thing she has ever done. When I see her, I do not see a woman trodden upon by male patriarchy. I see beauty, grace, and wisdom. She is a constant encouragement and help to my dad, always praising him in front of us and caring for him before herself. I can truly say that there is no one I would rather be than my mom.

Surrounded as I am at university by competent, brilliant women, there is just something so reassuring about knowing my dream of becoming a mother does not have to be hidden. That something so beautiful as bringing life into this world is a God-ordained thing.

The truth is, i do not have to be pulled to one side or the other. Pursuing my academic dreams in hope of a career is exactly where God wants me right now and when His timing is right, I will begin a second passion in my own home one day.

Jo March said it best: “Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition, and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty.” God gave us brains just as much as a womb and I intend to use both for his purposes. There is no glory in belittling men or disrespecting their accomplishments, for they are serving the Lord’s purpose just as much as we are. Rather, let us look to each other for strength and find dignity in our differences.

[I do not own the rights to any pictures]