I've been thinking about choice feminism a lot lately. Thank you for a very nuanced contribution to the topic, like always.
I wholeheartedly agree that feminism is not what is standing between women and a path of domesticity or family life. Feminism is what enables this kind of life to be a choice, and not a trap.
I met Betty Friedan at a reception many years ago. She put into writing what many of us were thinking as we looked around at our parents’ generation and saw the frustrations and the self-destructive behaviors of women who knew they were not all that they could be or could have been had they not been told what they could not do or should not do and believed it. Later, I met my in-laws who were very much of the school that women are of a lower order than God and man and relegated to home and hearth and motherhood and obedience. We did not get on as I did not conform to their view of a suitable wife. Fortunately, their son had other beliefs and we have been married for over 40 years at this point. He has been my partner at work and my partner at home through all the years we’ve been together. I made choices. I could do so. Others can make other choices. But they should be choices, not the dictates of others or “society” or anything else.
"But they should be choices, not the dictates of others or “society” or anything else."
Kinda think that the issue is, at least in part, the rather circumscribed set of choices that are available. Which is often not anything that any society has much if any control over, but simply in the nature of the beast.
Agreed in part but people can expand the choices available with some support. And society can, if it chooses, expand or contract the choices available generally or to particular groups. When Jews were denied admission to the clubs where business was done, they set up their own clubs and excluded Jewish women from joining. The women so excluded found other forums and places to network and do business. And when the clubs generally opened up to a broader membership for their own financial reasons, they could not attract the formerly excluded who had created their own associations.
I would send this to every woman in my life if they weren't, for the most part, already psychologically, emotionally and/or physically destroyed by men. Wonderful writing.
Did y'all see the photo Katie Miller, she of MAGA fame, posted where she's nuzzling her newborn and writing, "I don't understand why anyone would call this oppression." The comments I saw were very similar to this, but they were just comments. I'm glad I read this, Prof Meredith. You articulated and explained feminism wonderfully.
Professor Meredith: "Feminists have long argued that choice is not meaningful unless we also talk about power, law, money, culture, violence, sexuality, race, class, and the social consequences attached to refusing the role assigned to you."
Reminds me of an old joke about there being many a woman -- and probably no few men -- who have kept the wolf from the door by letting him -- or her or it -- in. The grim meat-hook realities of life as some author of pot-boilers -- "John D. MacDonald"? -- once put it. Or, as I think Kafka said about Vienna, "little mother with claws".
Nature of the beast -- don't think feminism is really ready yet to consider those brute facts.
I've been thinking about choice feminism a lot lately. Thank you for a very nuanced contribution to the topic, like always.
I wholeheartedly agree that feminism is not what is standing between women and a path of domesticity or family life. Feminism is what enables this kind of life to be a choice, and not a trap.
I met Betty Friedan at a reception many years ago. She put into writing what many of us were thinking as we looked around at our parents’ generation and saw the frustrations and the self-destructive behaviors of women who knew they were not all that they could be or could have been had they not been told what they could not do or should not do and believed it. Later, I met my in-laws who were very much of the school that women are of a lower order than God and man and relegated to home and hearth and motherhood and obedience. We did not get on as I did not conform to their view of a suitable wife. Fortunately, their son had other beliefs and we have been married for over 40 years at this point. He has been my partner at work and my partner at home through all the years we’ve been together. I made choices. I could do so. Others can make other choices. But they should be choices, not the dictates of others or “society” or anything else.
"But they should be choices, not the dictates of others or “society” or anything else."
Kinda think that the issue is, at least in part, the rather circumscribed set of choices that are available. Which is often not anything that any society has much if any control over, but simply in the nature of the beast.
Often not quite a Hobson's choice, but close:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobson%27s_choice
Agreed in part but people can expand the choices available with some support. And society can, if it chooses, expand or contract the choices available generally or to particular groups. When Jews were denied admission to the clubs where business was done, they set up their own clubs and excluded Jewish women from joining. The women so excluded found other forums and places to network and do business. And when the clubs generally opened up to a broader membership for their own financial reasons, they could not attract the formerly excluded who had created their own associations.
Well, that was a lot. I appreciate your ability to slog through this. Thank you for your mature analysis. We'll done.
I would send this to every woman in my life if they weren't, for the most part, already psychologically, emotionally and/or physically destroyed by men. Wonderful writing.
Great article. Wrote a long response, my phone ate it
The common denominator for all women is that their government does not consider us ‘persons' under the 14th amendment.
Equal Rights Amendment first. Then we can hash out the rest.
Are women persons or property?
Equal Rights Amendment now.
Well said overall.
Did y'all see the photo Katie Miller, she of MAGA fame, posted where she's nuzzling her newborn and writing, "I don't understand why anyone would call this oppression." The comments I saw were very similar to this, but they were just comments. I'm glad I read this, Prof Meredith. You articulated and explained feminism wonderfully.
I’m at a total loss for words… other than ‘wow’, ‘brilliant’ and thank you from the bottom of my heart.
🙏🙏🙏
Humbly, Em
Professor Meredith: "Feminists have long argued that choice is not meaningful unless we also talk about power, law, money, culture, violence, sexuality, race, class, and the social consequences attached to refusing the role assigned to you."
Reminds me of an old joke about there being many a woman -- and probably no few men -- who have kept the wolf from the door by letting him -- or her or it -- in. The grim meat-hook realities of life as some author of pot-boilers -- "John D. MacDonald"? -- once put it. Or, as I think Kafka said about Vienna, "little mother with claws".
Nature of the beast -- don't think feminism is really ready yet to consider those brute facts.
It's where we started in the 60s. Christofascists have ended teaching children about hippies and counter-revolution against the nuclear family.
Only Reagan saved them, ushering in neoliberalism and religious intrusions into government.
Slavery is slavery
It's where we started in the 60s. Christofascists have ended teaching children about hippies and counter-revolution against the nuclear family.
Only Reagan saved them, ushering in neoliberalism and religious intrusions into government.
It's where we started in the 60s. Christofascists have ended teaching children about hippies and counter-revolution against the nuclear family.
Only Reagan saved them, ushering in neoliberalism and religious intrusions into government.