Wednesday, March 05, 2008

dear feminism...

...the patriarchy wants its pawns back. Here is an example of one of the most disappointing & problematic pieces of journalism I've read in a long time.

What a lovely treat for us all to enjoy on day five of Women's History Month.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I asked this at another blog I read, but did you also see the similar article by Lori Gottlieb? It's in a similar vein and awful altogether.

Suldog said...

I agree, it's a pretty sad article. However...

Not to be overly patronizing, but the article was written by a woman, so suggesting that it is an example of the patriarchy trying to swallow up women's individuality isn't quite correct. Anyway, you'll have true equality when there's no such thing as Women's History Month and the history of all of us is just plain history (or even herstory - I don't give a damn either way) rather than a segmented bunch of tales pertaining to subsets of the whole.

Kitty said...

Thanks for stopping by, Suldog.

To clarify: I'm not merely suggesting that this writer's attitude, or the fact her editor would find this column fit to print, is a function of patriarchy. I'm pointing it out as a prime example of it. Women undermining themselves and other women is one of the most insidious and effective ways that patriarchy keeps the status quo intact.

Even if we do wind up with equality of which you speak someday, I don't think it will make it any easier to be both mother and career woman.

Enough pondering, the issue! My eggs are drying up and I've got babies to make!

Suldog said...

Well said.

(Upon reflection, I was afraid I might have come across a bit more belligerent than intended. I'm glad you didn't see it that way.)

Unknown said...

bravo kitty. what crap.
-alys

Anonymous said...

Is my feeble female brain not capable of figuring this out or is the link to the article down? (btw, twg, the Atlantic article is very interesting, in a sad and disappointing way)

Anonymous said...

It is my feeble brain...though more likely due to lack of sleep than my second X chromosone. The link works fine. And I'm not even blonde. : )