The Misogyny Surrounding Michelle Duggar

Mny of us have heard of the Duggar family. The Duggars are adherants of the Quiverfull Movement, which, in a nutshell, believes that limiting how many children you conceive and give birth to to be denying gifts from God, thus they have many children and do not practice any form of birth control. The Duggars are arguably the most prominant Quiverfull family there is after their Discovery Show “The Duggar’s Big Family Album.” In total they have seventeen children, and Michelle Duggar is currently pregnant with number 18, due on New Years Day 2009.
Many reactions have been had in response to the massive family that are the Duggars. Most complain of the welfare they must be using (The Duggars are self-sufficient, and are debt-free). Some merely say “To each their own.” Some rail against the religious ‘brainwashing’ Michelle and the children must have undergone. Others find Michelle’s character and body fair game for insults.

One of the most insulting things I’ve seen in regards to Michelle Duggar is a popular macro floating around on the internet, comprised of a photo of the Duggar family with the caption “VAGINA: Not a Clown Car.” A lot of insults regarding the possible state of Michelle’s genitalia have been tossed around, mostly regarding how stretched it must be, and more crude remarks have been made about how the babies must just ‘fall out’ by now.
This is Michelle’s choice to have many children. We could argue that she didn’t have a choice due to religious beliefs, but ultimately it was her choice, and no one has a right to make such crude remarks about Michelle’s body. By no means is her body, or her personal beliefs, subject to public judgement. Such judgement is not passed on other less-visible large families. Such hate is not unloaded on others who believe multiple children are a blessing they choose to accept.
And yet Michelle Duggar becomes the icon upon which the world unloads their judgement, for daring to be public.
I commend her for taking it with grace. SHe continues on with her lifestyle as of no one in the world had cast her a wary eye.
No matter what her lifestyle may be, no woman deserves to be treated like trash, a vagina on legs, and this includes Michelle Duggar.