Phyllis Schlafly Knows What's Wrong with Society...Dem Wimminz.

Phyllis Schlafly is an 84 year old anti-feminist who just wrote an article for Time magazine blaming all of marriage failings (ok, not all, just 95% on feminism, %5 on gay people.) Here is a quote from the article:


"The feminist movement is not about success for women. It is about treating women as victims and about telling women that you can’t succeed because society is unfair to you, and I think that’s a very unfortunate idea to put in the minds of young women because I believe women can do whatever they want. Feminists don’t honor successful women."

Um, what? Honestly, what? As a feminist, I am nothing but THRILLED to find strong successful women I can look up to. They are called 'mentors.' And treating women like victims...I don't know what she is getting out here. If she is describing the fact feminists look at domestic violence, lack of child support, unequal pay for women and say, the sexualization of women's bodies and the rape culture and say "There is some bulls**t going on here." then yeah. The definition of victim is someone upon whom wrong has been enacted. That definetely fits. But is that the end? Does she think feminist say, "women are victims and so just lay there passively and take it?!" Hell to the no.

As a feminist, I have donated my time to domestic violence shelters, getting women legal support (divorces, child support, custody orders). I have counselled my clients to be strong, keep going, go back to school, look to the future. Because, while they and I are victims of a patriarchal system which sees us as less, we do not see ourselves as less. We see ourselves as just as entitled to happiness, success, good will and love as the next person (read: man).

As a feminist, I have written articles in the local paper denouncing sexism against national politicians, even those whose views differ drastically from mine. Did I write, "women politicians are victims of system which sees them first as sex objects and second as people" and then advise these politicians to give up and go home? No, that would be you, Phyllis. I advised a change in the system and how we see woman and proposed we celebrate women's ability to lead just as much as we celebrate a man's.

As a feminist, I have volunteered as a legal researcher for a non-profit bringing test cases to the Supreme Court, resulting in more equal division of assets for women at the breakdown of a marriage. In my legal research, I did not advocate that women whose husbands hid assets from them during the course of the marriage learn to live with less. I advocated an equal division, based on contributions throughout the marriage.

What bothers me the most about this s**t is that it isn't even based on a real critique of feminism. I can criticize feminism: that it has focused on advancing the rights of middle-class white women over minorities, that is it blind to its own privelege when it comes to how minority women see the world. My kind of feminist, third wave feminism, is an improvement on the old model. It is more about the intersection of gendered oppression with other issues: family life, the environment, sexuality, local, national and international politics, the police state. It is about EVERYTHING and everyone.

It is even about men: creating a society which allows men to grow up free of the oppression of the macho man stereotype, so a man can pursue whatever profession, sport, artistry or life event that bests suits him without ridicule.

So, Ms. Schlafly, if you are going to criticize our efforts, please take the time to make an actual real criticism. Accusing feminist (activists who advance safety, health and human rights) of not caring about women is just...beyond belief stupid.

Please try harder. Ktxbye.