By Julia Bubp, Staff Writer
The Wheaton College history department hosted husband-and-wife scholars Nadya Williams and Daniel Williams for a Sept. 24 conversation on “Christianity, Motherhood and the Uniqueness of Women,” one of multiple campus events focused on gender roles this fall. The talk, delivered to an audience of approximately 120 students, staff, faculty and community members, incorporated historical and political perspectives on motherhood and feminism.
Nadya Williams, a classicist and writer who leads Ashland University’s M.F.A. in creative writing program, explored these topics in her 2024 book “Mothers, Children and the Body Politic: Ancient Christianity and the Recovery of Human Dignity.” She said she believes that Christianity has created an emphasis on the dignity and value of human life that was not widespread in pre-Christian societies.
“For Christians, there is this unique idea that God created both male and female bodies and said, ‘These are really good,’” she said. “It was Christianity that first recognized the goodness of both of those roles that the ancient world and the post-Christian world both diminished.”
“Christianity, Motherhood and the Uniqueness of Women” followed a Sept. 21 campus lecture on Christian masculinity by author Zachary Wagner, with Amy Peeler, Wheaton professor of biblical and theological studies, and Todd Wilson, director of the M.A. in leadership program, serving as panelists. Wheaton will also hold its fourth annual Women in Leadership gathering on Oct. 15, as part of an ongoing campus dialogue on faith and gender.
The Williamses structured their talk as a conversation rather than a lecture, trading questions about their journeys to Christianity, academic careers and research on issues of gender and motherhood before ending with an audience question-and-answer time. Both speakers also drew on their personal experiences as parents.
Nadya Williams said that becoming a mother reshaped her study of history, causing her to focus on the lack of social value placed on women and children in antiquity. She explained her research and writing on the similarities between pre-Christian and modern views of motherhood.
“What’s striking is that our modern society keeps repeating some of those lies,” she said. “We are re-paganizing: reiterating in our modern society the same arguments about how worthless motherhood is that pre-Christian writers had.”
Daniel Williams, a professor of history at Ashland University, discussed the cultural transition that led to what he believes is a devaluing of motherhood in modern America. He said these changes began in the early 20th century and continue to impact America today.
“There was a shift in public consciousness,” he said. “Americans began to see marriage and parenting as optional stages of life, and if they’re optional stages, it becomes less important for society to support them in the same way.”
Jon Farrell, a sophomore psychology and Bible and theology major, said he found Daniel Williams’ perspective on how changes in the surrounding culture have impacted Christian thinking helpful. He added that the talk helped him consider the ideals that American culture values more than motherhood.
“It was interesting to hear his thoughts on why motherhood is less valued,” said Farrell. “That it’s in part because we value other things like beauty more, which we think is being damaged by motherhood.”
Lucy Boyd, a junior studio art major, said she felt surprised by how much the conversation focused on abortion and female bodies. She shared concern during the question-and-answer time that the discussion reduced the role of a mother to nothing more than her body.
“That’s a little dangerous, because first of all, not every female person can bear children or wants to have children,” Boyd said in an interview after the talk, “and it’s also a question of dehumanization: when you focus too much on the body, you’re not seeing the whole person.”
Boyd said she appreciated Nadya Williams’ contributions during the conversation and had hoped to hear more during the question-and-answer time, but noted that Daniel Williams responded to the majority of audience questions, many of which were asked by men.
“I felt a little uncomfortable about that,” said Boyd. “If we’re talking about motherhood, and especially if there is a woman at the podium who’s a mother herself, why is she not answering the questions?”
Abby Simmons, a junior English literature and classical languages major, said she was encouraged by the way that a Christian worldview has impacted the Williamses’ scholarship. Simmons serves as vice president of Wheaton’s pro-life club, Voice for Life.
“I appreciated the perspective they come from of Christians who are trying to do scholarship faithfully,” said Simmons. “They’re also willing to say what they think is true and good and beautiful without feeling like they need to compromise because they’re in the world of scholarship.”
For Boyd, it’s important to listen to voices with varying perspectives on issues of gender, faith and scholarship. She said that she hopes Wheaton students will approach conversations on sensitive topics that they disagree on with both kindness and truth.
“At Wheaton, people don’t talk about controversial topics enough, especially women’s bodies,” said Boyd. “But there’s definitely progress, and we’re having more conversations and representation of women.”
