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Cheryl writes:
“If giving out information makes one in authority over another person, then look out because a woman cannot give directions to a man who is lost.”

John Piper writes:
“…it is simply impossible that from time to time a woman not be
put in a position of influencing or guiding men. For example, a housewife in her backyard may be asked by a man how to get to the freeway. At that point she is giving a kind of leadership. She has superior knowledge that the man needs and he submits
himself to her guidance. But we all know that there is a way for that housewife to direct the man that neither of them feels their mature femininity or masculinity compromised. It is not a contradiction to speak of certain kinds of influence coming from women to men in ways that affirm the responsibility of men to provide a pattern of strength and initiative.” (pg 42 Recovering Biblical Manhood & Womanhood)

I am new to this subject matter, so I am shocked that giving directions to anyone puts you in leadership over them. I call it being friendly, helpful, and the right thing to do, if you have the information to help someone out. The idea of having to run such ordinary occurences through a gender filter so as to not “compromise femininity or masculinity” is exhausting and impractical. I can understand being congenial, polite, clear and concise in giving directions, but what is the practical outworking of a housewife giving directions to a male stranger in a way “that affirm[s] the responsibility of men to provide a pattern of strength and initiative.” ????