Do you think the Amish are sexist?

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In terms of their society and roles?

I watched the channel 4 programme that was on last week and it never occurred to me but a post in another thread made me wonder about it.

Not sure if anyone watched it - it is on Youtube now

D'you think that they use C17 hair dyes?

And also, I"m getting interested in spite of myself - the dyes they use in their clothes - is this modern stuff or old?

And also fabrics - are they allowed to use modern fabrics or just the old natural ones?

I need to go and read a book about the Amish don't I. But I can't be arsed because I'm not that interested, I'm just a bit curious and would like to know these things if anyone knows.

On the previous series one of the Amish girls was asked if she dyed her hair and she seemed surprised and said why would she want hair a different colour to what God had given her.

I suppose it's easier to value your role, if all work you are doing is for God. I can see that the work you do being considered valuable by the rest of your society, would definitely make you happier. And that thing of not having to change bits of yourself, because God had made you the way he wanted you - that would work too.

Interesting that you can approach it in two different ways:

"I can't dye my hair, because god forbids it."

"God gave me perfectly good hair. Why would I ever want to change it?"

Who's living a constrained life, and who's living a contented one?

the hutterites def don't dye their hair or shave their legs. and everyone's role is valued becuase literally everything done is for the good and wellbeing of the community as a whole... but the entire society is divided along gender lines. and the fabrics are all modern, but deeply hideous but chosen each year by the elders. each family unit is allowed a specific amount of the fabric according to the number and size of the women within the unit to fashion their clothes according to the approved pattern.

i need to read up on the amish, now.

Are the elders male?

(Quakers have had women elders for centuries - possibly from the beginning? - but they are very different in a lot of ways.)

Quakers never had any connection to the Amish or other Germano-Swiss Christian communities, apart from adopting 'plain dress' during part of the 19th century and sharing testimonies on peace and simplicity/conservation. Other than that, their origins, faith, practice and traditions are very different, so you really can't compare.

The Amish are more like ultra orthodox jews in terms of observing faith traditions, including styles of dress, speaking their own language to each other and living separately from the wider community, at least to a degree.

hutterite elders are always male.

yes

Not sure if anyone watched the second episode ....

One of the Amish girls from the last series was in this one. She said that women were the queen of the home, women are created to be submissive, women should serve with love and cheerfulness and men are more capable!

Interesting to see an English girl and an Amish girl discussing gender roles so openly.