Spring Break
Lilith, the original feminist
During women's history month, women should reflect on the first woman to stand up for herself
By: Tracey Wallace
Issue date: 3/2/09 Section: Opinion
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As related by the Sumerian creation story found in the book of Genesis, man and woman were created together, equally. Lilith, Adam's fabled first wife, enforced treatment of equality. She wanted to share in the search for food, talking to God, the naming of animals. But most importantly, she wanted to share roles in sexual positions, thus refusing missionary.
To Lilith, sex was the physical interpretation of oneness and within that, of pure equality. Adam argued with her that it was God's command for her to be on bottom, but Lilith insisted time and time again that since they were made from the same dust, their equality must be matched in sexual relations just as it was in everyday life.
Adam never relented on God's commandment of submission for woman and Lilith eventually took off, leaving Eden behind forever. One might say this was the first divorce.
Adam was devastated and begged God to force her to come back and obey his commandments. So God sent three angels out to find her and bring her back. Lilith refused.
The angels, upon finding her in the Red Sea, explained that if she didn't go back to the garden, she would have 100 of her children killed every day.
Her response, paraphrased: That's better than forced submission.
Alas, the angels killed all her sons and she swore hatred on all of mankind, that they would feel the pain of child loss just as she had.
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