The author of one of the provocative blockbusters of '70s feminism thinks the feminist movement has been a great success. I mostly agree. I am puzzled by what she cites as evidence, though: the high divorce rate. She reads divorce as due to women heroically accepting hardship rather than acquiescing in servility. Some divorces, no doubt, fulfill this claim - much more so then than now. Still, I think she is way out of date on what drives most women to seek divorce today.
If divorce and feminism are importantly connected today, I think it is more that our high divorce rate shows the acquiescence of feminism in a false view of women and men as most fulfilled when they are most autonomous.
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3 comments:
I agree. Bet you don't get 44 comments on this one.
Unless divorces are covered in the new health plan! Probly are.
Presumably, she also celebrates the heroic independence expressed by men who obtain a divorce because they are "tired" of being married, or their wives have gotten fat, or they simply want a new start in life. Wouldn't that be fair-minded?
I also note that she makes absolutely no mention of the fact that children of divorced parents often suffer, both economically and psychologically, as a result.
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