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Ms. Understood: Rebuilding the Feminine Equation
Throughout time, women have been identified in many conflicting ways. Sometimes goddesses, slaves, or seductresses, but always misunderstood―by themselves and others. Jen Hatmaker uses examples from the five women named in Jesus’ lineage to help identify who a daughter of Christ is. From the woman who acted like a prostitute to the woman who was one, the widow to the adulteress to the mother, each has something to pass on.
224 pages, Paperback
First published May 9, 2008
19 people are currently reading
978 people want to read
About the author
Jen Hatmaker
49 books3,204 followersJEN HATMAKER is the New York Times bestselling author of For the Love and Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire, along with twelve other books. She hosts the award-winning For the Love podcast, is the delighted curator of the Jen Hatmaker Book Club, and leader of a tightly knit online community where she reaches millions of people each week. Jen is a co-founder of Legacy Collective, a giving organization that grants millions of dollars toward sustainable projects around the world. She is a mom to five kids and lives happily just outside Austin, Texas.
To learn more about Jen, visit www.jenhatmaker.com.
To learn more about Jen, visit www.jenhatmaker.com.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 7, 2018
This author. Can’t say enough how much I connect with her. A woman, a Christian, a feminist. Yes, mam! Love her perspective on scripture and being a female in a world that has its own ideas of Christianity.
I love what Hatmaker says about
Grace
Forgiveness
Love
Marriage
Feminist powers and goals
And most of all her quotes on Jesus’ ways of using broken, tainted, and imperfect people to exemplify His love.
“ whatever you did for the least and lost people, you did for me”
I love what Hatmaker says about
Grace
Forgiveness
Love
Marriage
Feminist powers and goals
And most of all her quotes on Jesus’ ways of using broken, tainted, and imperfect people to exemplify His love.
“ whatever you did for the least and lost people, you did for me”
April 22, 2020
I hoped this would be more innovative or progressive than it was. I didn’t realize quite how traditional it would be- I knew it was dated, but I was interested in reading this because of the topic, and I like Jen Hatmaker. Also, I’m the age now that she was when she wrote this book, and my kids are around the same age hers were at the time of publication, too.
Maybe people who, like Jen, grew up in the Southern Baptist culture would appreciate this more than I did. This book felt very old-fashioned and unhelpful to me. I couldn’t relate to any of it and didn’t appreciate her very broad generalities about men and women. There was no acknowledgement of people who don’t fit her preconceived molds based on tired stereotypes.
Nearly everything she wrote about men doesn’t apply to my husband, and thank goodness- some of the men she referred to did not impress me at all, but she seemed to make a lot of excuses for their poor behavior. If your husband and the father of your children isn’t doing anything to support you or care for his kids, don’t you realize it’s likely because you haven’t apologized for not asking him in the exact, perfect way? You need to very nicely and meekly ask if he would help you because he’s the one you need and the only one who can save you. Excuse me, what? How about he grows up and acts like the mature, adult man that he is and acknowledges his role and responsibilities?
I just found her views disappointing- I feel like she blamed women a lot, and was very negative about feminism. I don’t get that impression from her more recent works, so I think this must have been written before she became more authentic and transparent in her updated, modern beliefs. Thank goodness she’s had a change of heart!
Maybe people who, like Jen, grew up in the Southern Baptist culture would appreciate this more than I did. This book felt very old-fashioned and unhelpful to me. I couldn’t relate to any of it and didn’t appreciate her very broad generalities about men and women. There was no acknowledgement of people who don’t fit her preconceived molds based on tired stereotypes.
Nearly everything she wrote about men doesn’t apply to my husband, and thank goodness- some of the men she referred to did not impress me at all, but she seemed to make a lot of excuses for their poor behavior. If your husband and the father of your children isn’t doing anything to support you or care for his kids, don’t you realize it’s likely because you haven’t apologized for not asking him in the exact, perfect way? You need to very nicely and meekly ask if he would help you because he’s the one you need and the only one who can save you. Excuse me, what? How about he grows up and acts like the mature, adult man that he is and acknowledges his role and responsibilities?
I just found her views disappointing- I feel like she blamed women a lot, and was very negative about feminism. I don’t get that impression from her more recent works, so I think this must have been written before she became more authentic and transparent in her updated, modern beliefs. Thank goodness she’s had a change of heart!
March 9, 2013
I love everything Jen Hatmaker writes, but this book was amazing and totally made me rethink biblical womanhood. It addresses 5 myths commonly believed about what it means to be a christian woman. So refreshing and liberating and Christ-centered.
Favorite quote: "If you are already delivered from the toxic sins that ailed you, you have two mandates: One, never, never, not for a moment forget where you came from. A growing faith tempts us to shift the credit from a sacrificial Savior to our diligent efforts. Grace becomes fuzzy, a piece of our spiritual history that lost its significance. Stunningly, the staples of forgiveness, freedom, mercy, and redemption grow stale when outpaced by legalism. Two, never, never, not for a moment become disgusted or apathetic about those who haven't found their spiritual footing. Your love for them doesn't turn into a sin endorsement. It is unnecessary to stay aloof on principle. The only statement believers make when they remain insulated is that they are judgmental elitists who prefer condemnation over love. Think I'm being harsh? Ask anyone on the receiving end of that behavior.
Love is the magic bullet that lifts broken people out of their pits – the love of their Creator, the love of their Savior, and the love of His people. Discipleship, reform, repentance – those will come. But we can't expect a prostitute to get a grip on holiness before she experiences forgiveness. Through our proximity and compassion, we represent Jesus accurately. It's a daunting notion that unbelievers equate God's voice with the Christians they hear. What are they hearing from you?"
Amen!
Favorite quote: "If you are already delivered from the toxic sins that ailed you, you have two mandates: One, never, never, not for a moment forget where you came from. A growing faith tempts us to shift the credit from a sacrificial Savior to our diligent efforts. Grace becomes fuzzy, a piece of our spiritual history that lost its significance. Stunningly, the staples of forgiveness, freedom, mercy, and redemption grow stale when outpaced by legalism. Two, never, never, not for a moment become disgusted or apathetic about those who haven't found their spiritual footing. Your love for them doesn't turn into a sin endorsement. It is unnecessary to stay aloof on principle. The only statement believers make when they remain insulated is that they are judgmental elitists who prefer condemnation over love. Think I'm being harsh? Ask anyone on the receiving end of that behavior.
Love is the magic bullet that lifts broken people out of their pits – the love of their Creator, the love of their Savior, and the love of His people. Discipleship, reform, repentance – those will come. But we can't expect a prostitute to get a grip on holiness before she experiences forgiveness. Through our proximity and compassion, we represent Jesus accurately. It's a daunting notion that unbelievers equate God's voice with the Christians they hear. What are they hearing from you?"
Amen!
April 23, 2014
This was one really funny, fascinating, educational, interesting and great book I will totally recommend for all women no matter what age, if your a teen or an adult. This book is perfect for all women. This book has strong words of god from the bible and a strong feminine background and how we are rebuilding the feminine equation. The part that really inspired me and influenced me to end the struggles I'm going through. That person who harmed you, physically/mentally abused you, you want revenge from them, it keeps you tied to that person forever.
Forgiveness, out of all answers this is the most misunderstood.Forgiveness ends the suffering, because it ends the wish for repayment that is never forthcoming and makes your heart sick because your hope is deferred. Cut it loose through forgiveness and you will be free. Trust me, it will get rid of the negativeness towards that person and fills you up with relief and happiness that you don't have to deal with that iron chain that tethers you to a sinking ship. Just next time, guard your heart so you won't suffer what you did and not get hurt as you did before .
In my opinion,this book really inspired and influenced me to have a positive attitude and be brave under whichever circumstances. I extremely recommend this Christian feminine book to ya'll
Forgiveness, out of all answers this is the most misunderstood.Forgiveness ends the suffering, because it ends the wish for repayment that is never forthcoming and makes your heart sick because your hope is deferred. Cut it loose through forgiveness and you will be free. Trust me, it will get rid of the negativeness towards that person and fills you up with relief and happiness that you don't have to deal with that iron chain that tethers you to a sinking ship. Just next time, guard your heart so you won't suffer what you did and not get hurt as you did before .
In my opinion,this book really inspired and influenced me to have a positive attitude and be brave under whichever circumstances. I extremely recommend this Christian feminine book to ya'll
July 10, 2017
The beginning of the book was hard to get through. It started out by either jumping wildly from anecdotal story to anecdotal story, or by explaining that men disliked women Bc women had made themselves hard and guys don't like being around women who can do for themselves.
By the middle of the book I was committed to getting through it. It was full of familiar bible stories that just... I'm not saying she told the story wrong. It just felt a bit like she liberally applied her own ability to jump from thought to thought and then called it a logical line to Truth. The end of the book didn't really feel like she had a conclusion in mind, despite her adamantly stated opinions in the beginning. However it was regularly studded with her own disbelief that God wanted her to write a book. (To which I bitchingly want to inquire: but didn't God want you to use an editor? Or even a friend who could keep you on a logic path or a train of thought?)
The end of the book is full of stories of women who are doing great acts of charity... but there really isn't a line drawn from point a (women shouldn't be so strong acting) through points b (look at these women who got dragged through the much through no fault of their own, they were men's (and God's) pawns to the end of point c (look at these strong women doing all this stuff!
As someone who has fallen out of love w the Christian faith, it reaffirmed my decision to save myself by leaving. It may reaffirm a strong Christian woman in what she is doing.
I'm not sure anyone else would enjoy or get anything out of it.
By the middle of the book I was committed to getting through it. It was full of familiar bible stories that just... I'm not saying she told the story wrong. It just felt a bit like she liberally applied her own ability to jump from thought to thought and then called it a logical line to Truth. The end of the book didn't really feel like she had a conclusion in mind, despite her adamantly stated opinions in the beginning. However it was regularly studded with her own disbelief that God wanted her to write a book. (To which I bitchingly want to inquire: but didn't God want you to use an editor? Or even a friend who could keep you on a logic path or a train of thought?)
The end of the book is full of stories of women who are doing great acts of charity... but there really isn't a line drawn from point a (women shouldn't be so strong acting) through points b (look at these women who got dragged through the much through no fault of their own, they were men's (and God's) pawns to the end of point c (look at these strong women doing all this stuff!
As someone who has fallen out of love w the Christian faith, it reaffirmed my decision to save myself by leaving. It may reaffirm a strong Christian woman in what she is doing.
I'm not sure anyone else would enjoy or get anything out of it.
July 4, 2019
I love Jen Hatmaker, I appreciate her perspective and like her writing, but this one missed the mark for me. Her personal anecdotes didn’t always connect with the Bible stories she put them with and honestly, she was a little too male-apologist for me. I think she made some good points about God’s true love for women, but too often it was tempered with something about “men don’t like strong women because they don’t have anyone to fight for anymore.” That’s a paraphrase, but that was the feeling I got sprinkled throughout the book. I did enjoy the stories of the women she knows at the end, but other than that, this didn’t do a lot for me. This has certainly not turned me off of Hatmaker, but I don’t think I’ll keep or necessarily recommend this one.
May 2, 2021
I don't know, this is a tough one for me. There were lots of good things, like this gem of a passage, "God is not American. Nor is He Republican." I want to scream that from the rooftops.
But, I don't think I mesh well with 2008 Jen Hatmaker. I'm confident she meant well, but there's still a lot of traditional gender roles being touted in this book that give me pause. To be clear, if that's your thing, by all means, but the idea that you have to subscribe to that thinking or you are losing your ability to be powerful in the kingdom of God is...yeesh.
But, I don't think I mesh well with 2008 Jen Hatmaker. I'm confident she meant well, but there's still a lot of traditional gender roles being touted in this book that give me pause. To be clear, if that's your thing, by all means, but the idea that you have to subscribe to that thinking or you are losing your ability to be powerful in the kingdom of God is...yeesh.
January 5, 2019
Just perfect! 💗
February 6, 2017
Sigh. Ok, I get it. Hatmaker writes like a blogger and seems super relatable to a lot of women. Thats cool. HOWEVER, when you are writing about how women need to not be so judgmental and literally two pages later call the fellow girls at softball camp "man-girls" how am I supposed to take you seriously? I get that you are human and say things that are inappropriate that you don't mean hurtful, but still it seemed in bad taste. Go through the editing process and clean it up a little.
Also her real-life examples seemed randomly thrown in and not directly connected to the bible story she is telling. I didn't really have any major beefs with her interpretations that stuck out to me as being erronous or anything, but I won't go on the record and say she "She's right absolutely!"
Also her real-life examples seemed randomly thrown in and not directly connected to the bible story she is telling. I didn't really have any major beefs with her interpretations that stuck out to me as being erronous or anything, but I won't go on the record and say she "She's right absolutely!"
August 14, 2015
Is there such a thing as a bad Jen Hatmaker book?
Jen Hatmaker once again uses her humor and brilliant sarcasm to remind women that God designed us to be feminine, and we should not be ashamed of being female. She uses the examples of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary to show us that God can use anyone in any situation to serve Him and bring Him glory.
Jen Hatmaker once again uses her humor and brilliant sarcasm to remind women that God designed us to be feminine, and we should not be ashamed of being female. She uses the examples of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary to show us that God can use anyone in any situation to serve Him and bring Him glory.
Read
February 24, 2023Love Jen, love the premise of the book, but I think this sounds and feels very much like a western voice speaking into cultures that are not and ultimately causes harm. Wish there had been more research into this, I think it would have offered more empowerment and insight to women and the heart of God.
April 23, 2009
This chick is hilarious! Such a feminist, but hilarious!
Read
July 23, 2013Loved it! It gives a different perspective on females in the bible, humorous as well.
January 12, 2015
I really thought this book was great, funny and uplifting. Check out the full review on my blog : http://libraryeducated.blogspot.com/2...
June 9, 2014
I just love Jen Hatmaker! Her words, her wisdom, and her love of God.
February 16, 2015
Another great choice by my favorite Christian author. Love her funny way of getting her point across!
March 29, 2015
Hilarious but truthful & thought provoking book. I am a Jen Hatmaker fan!!!
November 19, 2015
LOVED THIS BOOK. I'm tempted to buy a copy for every woman I know, it's that good.
October 5, 2016
Classic Jen Hatmaker...thoughtful, deep, and hilarious. Loved it.
April 2, 2015
What a great book!! Loved reading how God used women in the Bible.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews