Christy Sheats shot and killed her two daughters on June 24. The following Wednesday, Sheats' husband, Jason, released a statement saying that Sheats spared his life in order to make him suffer. Jason Sheats also stated that, earlier, he had gotten into an argument with his wife because she wanted to ground her 22-year-old daughter, Taylor, for wanting to marry her boyfriend. Sheats stated he did not think it was appropriate to ground someone of Taylor’s age, and Taylor was hurt.

Christy Sheats had been hospitalized for mental illness three separate times. Family and friends have stated that she had begun to spiral over the death of loved ones, and her struggle with mental health had been a long one.

Now, what does this mother’s brutal murder of her own daughters say about feminism?

This is an anti-feminist act.

Sheats shot both her daughters in order to blame her husband.

She wanted her husband to suffer, and when she made that choice, she broke her bonds of motherhood. Jason Sheats stated that he thought she called a family meeting in order to ask for a divorce. Sheats wanted more than that. She wanted her husband to feel the pain that she has lived with and slaughtered her own children to do so. The marital issues between the Sheats is what caused this outburst of rage, and Sheats shot her daughters without considering to kill the source of her problems -- her husband. Sheats did not treat her husband as an equal, because she had all the power.

The power to control a daughter's choice.

The instability Sheats possessed had a lot to do with her mental illnesses, but she also had a thirst for power. Sheats’ desire to shoot her children, stemmed from an earlier argument she had with her husband. The eldest daughter wanted to get married to her boyfriend. Taylor Sheats was making an adult decision, and Sheats was trying to stifle that choice.

The mental health system failed.

Sheats was hospitalized three different times for dealing with various mental issues. After 20 years of marriage, it came to an end due to Sheats extreme act of shooting her daughters. Throughout the marriage, Sheats lost several family members and it took a toll on her.

These hospitals did not help Sheats move on, and make progress in her

life. Sheats did not improve, and decided that she had the power to dictate whom her daughter should marry. Women should be allowed to decide who they marry. You would never see this kind of thing happen to a son.

The majority of men do not have parents that would choose who they date or marry, but a daughter is put in the spotlight and pressured to find, “the guy.” There are movies, such as "Why Him?" that are about trying to control a daughter's choice to marry a guy whom she loves. There are stereotypes of a dad sitting on the front porch with a shotgun, waiting for his daughter to come home from a date. It is time that young women are taught the responsibility they will need to have as adults.

Christy Sheats wanted complete control over her daughters’ life choices, which resulted in the anti-feminist act of shooting her own children. If a parent stifles a child’s adult decision, and dictates who they should choose, this is an arranged marriage. An arranged marriage contributes to several mental implication, even if it is wanted. Sheats’ act of shooting her daughters cost her a strong marriage, and her daughter’s trust, because Sheats did not receive the help she needed to become rational.

Christy Sheats' act of manipulating, controlling and shooting her daughters was the opposite of a feminist deed. However, it brings to light some underlying issues in the world having to do with the feminist ideal.

Think of a cheating boyfriend. The girl that gets cheated on doesn’t hate the boyfriend, she hates the mistress. Sheats did not hate her daughter for choosing to marry the “wrong guy,” she hated her husband for supporting that decision, and shot her own daughters in order to cause her husband pain. This is an act of anti-feminism, because she did not treat her husband as her equal. Sheats had power.

Sheats did not allow her daughter to make the choice of who to marry. This is not often a tactic used with men. Men are often allowed to date and marry whoever they choose, without much say from the parents. For women it is the opposite. Sheats' control over her daughter’s engagement in common, and an anti-feminist practice.

The mental healthcare system failed Sheats, because she did not recover from her ailments. Her irrational thinking it what led to the shooting of her daughters, but also to the desire for power inside Sheats. Sheats wanted to dictate her daughter’s life, and would not ever allow her to marry the “wrong guy.” Instead, she shoots her daughter and blames her harsh actions on her husband.

Sheats is an example of anti-feminism, but in her heinous act, she illuminated a lot of problems women face today.

Christy Sheats died after being shot by an officer for refusing to put down her weapon.