Barr uses the story of a rude complementarian male student to overrule Russell Moore's distinction between pagan patriarchy and biblical complementarianism.

A theologically conservative male student suggested Barr clear her university teaching material with her husband (pp. 16-17). When Russell Moore argued that complementarianism is not patriarchy — that wifely submission is a 'voluntary attitude of recognition toward godly leadership' — Barr responded 'Nice try. Tell that to my conservative male student.' She argues both pagan patriarchy and Christian complementarianism place power in men's hands and take it from women.