9 Reasons the Duggar Family Is BAD for Women

Behind the professed Christian purity and strict “no kissing before marriage” rules, a sinister secret has lurked – until now. 19 Kids and Counting star Josh Duggar, 27, has been exposed as a sex criminal, abusing at least five girls between the ages of five and 12 when he was still a minor. Some of these girls are alleged to have been his sisters. The series is now on hold.

In the wake of this, we look at some reasons why the Duggars' lifestyle and “morals” are damaging to women. 

9. The abuse scandal 

Josh Duggar, like his siblings, was essentially taught that women are to submit to men, that men feel sexual desire and women don't... It doesn't excuse what he did one jot, but it goes some way towards explaining it. 

8. Nineteen kids????

Asking a woman to give birth to 19 kids, in an environment where women are expected to be subservient to men, is tantamount to abuse. Can you imagine what her body has been through? 

7. Sex is considered a man's right

“Anyone can fix him lunch,” Michelle Duggar told Today, “but only one person can meet that physical need of love that he has, and you always need to be available when he calls.” That explains the 19 kids then… Also, there's a word for sex that you don't really want and it begins with "R." 

6. The “courtship” ritual  

Everything about this is incredibly sexist. The man asking the woman's father for permission to “court” her. Jill Duggar saying “We couldn't hold hands before we got engaged because men can get aroused by that.” Jim Bob Duggar saying “I'm sure Jill's looking forward to the wedding ceremony and all that, and I'm sure Derrick's looking forward to after the wedding.” Urgh. 

5. Rampant homophobia 

Not exclusively damaging to women, but hell, of course we had to mention this one. The Duggars have an impressive roster of anti-LGBT gestures and statements racked up between them. The most face-palm of all of these comes from Josh, who during his time as executive director of FRC Action (the lobbying arm of the Family Research Council) actually pedalled the idea that there was a link between homosexuality and child abuse. Oh, the irony… 

4. Abortion is a “baby holocaust”

The Duggars are vehemently anti-abortion, with Michelle Duggar going as far as describing abortion as a “baby holocaust” at a pro-life rally. 

3. Older daughter forced to be stand-in mother

“It’s absolutely ridiculous how much the family makes Jana and the older siblings do,” a source close to the family told Radar. “Jim Bob and Michelle have totally transitioned a lot of their parental responsibilities… [Jana] looks so tired and worn down sometimes. You can’t help but feel bad for her, having to take on all that responsibility at a young age. It’s like she’s been a parent ever since she was 13!”

2. Strange affiliations 

The Duggars are firm disciples of Bill Gothard, head of the Institute for Basic Life Principles and the Advanced Training Institute (which provides a home schooling program), who believes that Cabbage Patch Kids and troll dolls are evil and tampons steal virginity. The irony just keeps on coming, as Gothard was forced to resign from his position last year because of abuse allegations. Despite this, the Duggars continue to use the ATI program. 

1. Daughters encouraged into housewifery – or “suitable” jobs

Mostly the Duggar girls are pushed into marriage and caring for their man, but  Jana and Jill have been permitted to pursue careers in midwifery. How very, very, very apt. Oh dear. 

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