Today I read an article that burned me up. It denigrated women who don’t support the President’s current choice for SCOTUS. It did so indirectly, insidiously, by attacking us for wanting fairness for the so-called fairer sex.
Referring to the SCOTUS candidate, the author states, “Half of her resume consists of behavior the leftists who control feminism constantly attack as anti-woman: big-time motherhood and big-time religion.”
Please understand that my remarks here are about the blasphemous use of the word “feminism.” This blog post is only tangentially about the prospective SCOTUS justice, and it in no way addresses the topic of abortion, which is outside the scope of my comments.
The SCOTUS article presumes that feminists are lemmings, blindly following deep-left demagogues off a philosophically treacherous cliff. The article flings around the word “feminism” as a profanity, accusing its proponents of opposing the jurist because she has several children and is a godly woman.
Hogwash! That verbiage is designed to color anyone who believes in gender equality as a red-tailed demon, eating our children and burning down religious institutions. You’d think feminists hate their own gender. It’s fear mongering, intended to deter women from speaking out against other women with whom they disagree politically, in fear of being labeled “feminists.”
Neither leftists nor rightists control the definition of feminism:
“A person who supports the belief that women should have the same rights and opportunities as men.”
Oxford Dictionary definition of “feminist”
Feminists would be better titled equal-opportunity-ists, everybody-ists. By its very definition, feminism swings both ways; if women are equal in the eyes of the law and in their rights to make their own choices, so are men. So it isn’t just about women, but all the he’s, she’s, and they’s.
RB Ginsberg knew that and fought for true equal opportunity. In her law practice, she defended men so that they, too, could have rights such as balanced custody laws and time off with their newborns. Years ago, one of my girlfriends was the negative recipient of that equality, having to pay her ex-husband alimony when he left her. That’s equal opportunity.
Feminists believe that people should be allowed to choose their own life paths, unrelated to gender. Men can be nurses; women can be truck drivers. Fathers can be stay-at-home dads; mothers can be primary breadwinners. Or not. And we can be religiously faithful, or not.
What we feminists don’t like is someone bad-mouthing us to be the ones to stay home with our children or demanding that our spouses must be the ones who go to a job, or vice versa. Many of the women and men I know have had to flip flop between those roles as life interrupted plans. And it’s always been that way. Men went off to war. Poorer mothers worked in the fields, factories, and laundry rooms.
As for the SCOTUS candidate, I admire her and her husband for being able to successfully juggle two stressful careers and a large family. But admiration doesn’t mean that their choices should dictate mine or yours. Or that mothers and fathers, stay-at-home or otherwise, are somehow more worthy than those who aren’t parents.
Listen up, you who think feminism is a dirty word. Here’s a real ugly word – sexism. And if you’re not a feminist, then you are the very definition a sexist:
“Characterized by or showing prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.
Oxford Dictionary definition of “sexist”
Feminists stand for equal rights, equal opportunity. Students of the US Constitution might recognize that promise. Those who truly think women need being taken care of just because they are women are sexist. Those who feel men should have more choices, higher pay, and more powerful positions are sexists. Those are definitions, not opinions.
By the way, the author lauds the potential justice for holding an important job and also making good use of her uterus by having a houseful of kids. “And,” I quote, “She looks great while she does it.” Well, ain’t that just dandy? Also, irrelevant and sexist.
America-before-feminism forced both men and women into tiny boxes, often brainwashing, belittling, or beating them into staying there. The author of the SCOTUS article uses similar tactics by implying that feminists must be brainless, numbly following “radicals” who have hypnotized us with their liberal lyrics.
What is radical or leftist about living a life without bearing children? What is right about having a big family? Or attending temple/ church/mosque every Friday/Saturday/Sunday? Many would argue that our world would be safer and healthier with fewer humans and less rancorous religiosity.
Choosing your own path is called “freedom,” not right or wrong, not left or right, not Democrat or Republican. Each of us is free to choose but not to force our choices on the rest. That’s called “bullying,” “tyranny,” and other dirty words.
As for me, label me a proud “feminist.”
Twists and Turns 