Throughout the ages, women reading have often been the subject of paintings. This simple act of showing women engaging in a leisure activity often has had deeper connotations than what we might realize today: In the past and at different historical eras, education was reserved for only women of wealthier classes, seen as preparation for marriage, and viewed as dangerous.
Paintings of women reading — often painted by men, and sometimes by women — give the viewer varying ranges of ability to gaze upon the subjects during private moments where a woman has a book in her hands, sometimes with the woman looking back at the subject, sometimes with her turning away and sometimes with her oblivious to the viewer at all. Through these viewpoints, artists make a variety of statements, offering their commentary on the appropriateness and purpose of the task.
In light of these layers of meaning, let’s not forget that women’s opportunities and abilities to read freely in the current moment — and our ability to dismiss images of women reading as mundane — have been hard-won by those who have lived before us; let’s exercise our right to read remembering that still today, many women around the world are not able to read, accounting for ⅔ of approximately 781 million people who are illiterate globally, according to the National Literacy Institute.
Here, we recreate the painting “Mädchen mit Liebesroman,” by Johann Baptist Reiter, c. 1800s by reimagining it in the present day. May this photo help us to reflect on the ways we read now and how that has changed throughout the decades, and inspire us to continue to take up this privilege to think, to enjoy, to connect, making the world and ourselves better through the free and open exchange of ideas and perspectives.
Tell us about your relationship with reading.
As a child, I read all of the time. I was constantly getting the free personal pan pizzas at Pizza Hut for the Book It program. All of the adults who grew up in the 1990s know exactly what I’m talking about! (Come on, somebody!) But the older I got, the busier I became, and reading fell by the wayside. As an adult, I try to read more frequently, but now, my reading typically is done on my phone. I am usually looking up quotes, song lyrics, devotions or articles online. I also read from my Bible App daily, as well. The only physical book I consistently read is my Bible.
Why do you read? What do you read most often?
Well, one of the main reasons I read is to learn. Before my PaPa passed away, we spent multiple days a week at his home visiting. Oftentimes, we would come to a topic we didn’t have much information on. Without skipping a beat, he would say, “Let’s check the book!” The book was never one specific book, but referred to whichever of his books from his mini library he determined would have the answer to the questions we had. I learned so much sitting in his living room every Sunday after church.
I did a ministry internship at my church while in my 20s, and one of my pastors said to us, “Leaders are readers,” and I’ve taken that seriously. And so regardless if it’s a news article or my daily Bible reading, I’m wanting to learn.
Also, I assist with leading worship in different avenues and ministries. Music has always been a huge thing in my life. It’s a way I honor and remember my momma who passed away. Growing up, I did competitive singing, and my mother would always tell me, “Think about what you’re singing, and sing it like you mean it.” To me, music isn’t always just singing the words of the song. It is trying to relay the message the artist intended. Oftentimes, I will read the lyrics to a song I am singing, whether it’s for myself or for a worship service, and then I spend time really chewing and processing those words.
Most often, I am reading my Bible. I have to continue to meditate and process and learn from The Word of God daily in order to keep me refreshed and filled up and my mind renewed. By doing this, it helps me to be a Godly wife to my amazing husband Shawn. It helps me to be a better friend, family member and coworker. It helps me to become more effective in my ministry. It makes a complete difference in my life and how I live.
What is a text that has impacted your life or the way you view the world, and how has it changed you?
There are two passages of Scripture that truly come to mind with this. The first is Matthew 6:31-34 (NLT) which states, “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” A supporting item for that is from a song my momma used to sing, which stated, “His eye is on the sparrow, so I know he watches me.”
Sometimes I tend to put the horse in front of the cart. I am a planner and a bit of a control freak at times, and I like to have an idea about what’s going to happen tomorrow and the next day and so forth. This passage of Scripture is a daily reminder for me that God already has it figured out, and he is truly in control. My action item in this is to seek him above and before anything else and to live righteously and as he instructs, and he’ll handle everything else.
The second passage is John 16:33 (NLT): “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on Earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” This verse is such a good reminder that God gives us his Word so we can have peace; not just basic, generic peace, but peace only found in Christ alone. Peace that subdues. Peace that quiets the storm and the waves. Peace that silences that internal and external turmoil. All of the mess happening in the world today does not have to overtake us and get us wound up and upset. Jesus has already won the battle over the world.
What are three pieces of writing you recommend to others?
No. 1 for me is obviously the Bible. No. 2 is “Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out and Lonely” by Lysa TerKeurst. No. 3 is “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins.
What is your favorite line from a book?
OK, one is from the Bible, and one is from a song: “And blessed [spiritually fortunate and favored by God] is she who believed and confidently trusted that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were spoken to her from the Lord,” from Luke 1:45 (AMP). And, “With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.”
