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I grow weary of the facile pleading of bearded influencers, for whom a woman’s alleged feminism is more problematic than a brother being engaged in major sins.

The brother — always, always — must be given his seventy excuses and the benefit of the doubt, but the feminist sister must immediately be condemned, undermined and slandered all over.

Precisely what makes her a feminist, of course, is never defined. It’s a convenient catch-all, which conjures up a multitude of images in the mind of the audience.

Since the influencer himself is forever referencing third-wave feminism, the audience is led to believe he is talking about that. But, no, the sisters he is referring to are generally just educated women, who know their religion.

Accepting that the door of repentance is wide open to all, and everyone has the capacity to change and reform, she nevertheless has every right to challenge problematic ideas.

It is her right to denounce and distance herself from strongly articulated notions now being associated with her faith. Indeed, if these influencers themselves won’t use their platform to do so, then she rightly must.

If those with influence will not stand up to condemn what is clearly wrong, as defined by the Book which they claim to be true, then it falls upon those without influence to stand up to defend their faith from the onslaught of these new ideas.

Her stance is not unique or unusual. In fact, it is representative of sentiments clearly articulated by the central text of the religion we profess. Within its pages we encounter brave women, strong in character, granted wisdom and great resolve. Role models, if we care to engage with them, for our times.