Well over 100 years after Charlotte Perkins Gilman published “The Yellow Wallpaper”, and nearly half a century after Betty Friedan first published “The Feminine Mystique”, women, dependent on their geographic location and economic status, now find themselves able to pursue careers in any field, entitled to the same rights and freedoms as their male counterparts. Many younger women shun the word feminist as something anachronistic, an archaic term that no longer bears relevance in a postmodern, post feminist society, where women run successful businesses, raise children and “have it all”. The question that needs to be asked is, by pursuing both successful careers and motherhood, as well as striving to meet society’s brutal expectations of women’s appearance and conduct, are women really “having it all “? Has the quality of life for women in the wealthy west honestly improved since second wave feminism? Though the assertion is highly controversial, there is an argument to be made that if we are measuring quality of life by overall health and happiness, women have actually experienced a reduction in quality of life as a result of some, not all, of the sweeping cultural changes that manifested as a direct result of second wave feminism. Make no mistake-I do not seek to discredit the hard won rights to suffrage, equal pay, and equal academic and professional access; instead, I question the now celebrated cultural myth of the “Do It All” woman, and whether society has in fact handicapped women further by imposing unrealistic expectations of success and worth rooted in the ability to both excel professionally and run their household affairs. This juggle of demands has never been asked or expected of men-woman have implicitly agreed to shoulder far greater burdens in exchange for their “right” to “have it all”.
In her new book Dutch Women Don’t Get Depressed, psychologist Ellen de Bruin examines the difference in cultural expectations for Dutch women when compared to the expectations of other wealthy, first world nations, and broaches the possibility that not all has come up roses for women as a result of the paradigm shift brought on by the latter 20th century women’s movement2. In her article “Rematerializing Feminism”, Teresa L. Ebert examines contemporary feminism through the lens of class and labor, and in doing so exposes several fallacies with the primary foci of mainstream feminism, and how many women, mostly lower-middle to low income, have been left behind1. Through careful examination of medical data, economic data, media/cultural commentary, and scholarly articles related to similar studies, I will seek to determine if there is enough evidence to support the assertion that the overall quality of life for women in the US and other western nations has actually declined over the last 40 years as a result of dramatic cultural shifts that are directly attributable to second wave feminism.
It is important to stress the point that this assertion only pertains to women living in the more female-friendly western industrialized world. The majority of the women the world over are still subject to unacceptable sexism, misogyny, and violence. In Saudi Arabia, for example, a powerful and wealthy United States ally, women are still forbidden to drive or vote3. Clearly the strides made by feminism in the West in these areas are to be heralded, not dismissed, and I in no way seek to minimize the relevance of this progress. Rather, in conjunction with our assertion, I would argue that 2nd and 3rd wave feminism focused so much on access and opportunity that to some extent they’ve neglected the areas of sexual violence, institutionalized economic disparity, and the challenges faced overall by low income women. 3rd wave feminists, so concerned with individuality, seem to miss the forest for the trees. Focusing instead on issues like reclaiming the word “slut” in an attempt to call attention to the misperceptions surrounding women that are victims of sexual violence, many of these women lack the motivation or see the necessity to take action beyond spectacle4. Perhaps this subgroup of women is better referred to as “fem-me-nists”, concerned more with personal freedom and advancement than the plight of women as a whole. Worse still, the trend of girl on girl bullying, especially cyber bullying, continues to grow rather than subside, and it usually is due to fighting over a young man, an indicator that young women still see their real power as coming from their ability to “get the guy”. 15 This is no doubt fed by our hyper sexualized “empowered” culture that again reinforces that a women’s sexuality is her greatest strength. It is in these disconnects plaguing both second and third wavers that we see “feminism” become an undesirable term to many women, especially young women, despite the fact that they agree with and identify with many feminist ideologies5. Additionally, many younger women feel that to some extent the ideologies and sweeping changes of feminism have left them with some negative baggage. Society at large has also been left with some lingering negative misperception, which is then capitalized on by the great political machine of Washington, and this has allowed for some very anti-woman policy and legislation to gain support and even passage-all signs we are clearly taking women in the wrong direction. Conservative legislatures have introduced more than 1,000 pieces of anti-choice legislature since January6. Brutal cuts to education, Medicaid, Head Start programs, WIC and other programs that benefit women and mothers have occurred with ferocity since the start of the Great Recession. This type of anti-woman legislation is now so common, it necessitates novel terminology, one that reflects the motives and impetus behind such action: misogyslation. Misogylsation is policy making aimed at undermining women and the issues that affect them most. So now we have a society that tells men, “Hey, women can do it on their own, it’s okay to shirk responsibility”, and yet we take tools and resources from them that enable them to do it on their own, leaving many women trapped between a rock and a hard place.
Before we can fully discuss what all of this means for contemporary western women, how we got here, and what to do next, we need to briefly look back at where we’ve been. First Wave feminism, also frequently referred to as the suffrage movement, primarily concerned itself with winning the right to vote. Women fought long and hard-they were beaten, imprisoned, and demonized by some in their communities. They persisted despite this and with the passage of the 19th amendment in 1920; women earned the right to vote. Following on the coattails of this progress, women like Margaret Sanger advocating for birth control rights and information, and with the advent of WWII, the icon of Rosie the Riveter became synonymous with the modern working woman supporting the war effort by working our factories here at home. When the war ended and the men returned, they wanted those jobs back, so there was a strong push within society to redirect women back into the domestic sphere, and we see this emphasized by the film and television programs of this era. Shows like “Leave it to Beaver” and “The Donna Reed Show” reinforce the domestic ideals. Second wave feminism was born out of many women’s frustration at being forced back into the kitchen and out of the work place. This time around, the movement was far more personal-as exemplified by the rally cry “The personal is political”. Betty Friedan is credited with helping the movement gain steam and support with the publication of her book “The Feminine Mystique”, which lamented the neglect of female intellect and empowerment, and focuses on a series of interviews conducted by Friedan, which showed that a great majority of American housewives were unhappy with their current limited situation. Many women artists reclaimed the studio, artists like Judy Chicago, who used their work as a means of conveying their feminist message. The famed Woman’s Building in downtown L.A. was a hotbed for this feminist art7. This is the so-called “bra-burning” era of feminism that has come to define feminism in the collective American psyche, and that has left so many with a negative perception of it as archaic and extreme. The feminists of this era focused on equal pay, equal access, and “body politics”-reproductive rights, freedom from sexual violence, and worked against the hypersexualiztion of the female form in film and media.5 These were all noble, valid pursuits that paved the way for Title IX funding, affirmative action, and other policies that clearly benefitted women.
What is not so clear is how the cultural mindset surrounding this paradigm shift regarding women in the workplace and beyond clearly benefitted women. Women fought hard for independence and autonomy, but what society took from that hasn’t always manifested as a positive. Many opponents of welfare argue that even women with small children “should go out and get a job to support themselves” Many younger men feel like it’s only fair for their female partner to pull half the financial weight, though very rarely do they do half the domestic labor at home, even when children are involved. This shift has placed a disproportionate burden on women-expected both to financially provide and maintain all the affairs of home and parenting as well. Some would argue this is a small price to pay for our current level and access and freedom, but I question why there has to be that compromise. Could we not have that same level of freedom and access while acknowledging that for many, the quality of life is better when one parent can stay home and dedicate themselves primarily to affairs of the home and family? Most women now work outside the home out of economic necessity rather than simple desire or drive. Is this really a choice then? Frankly, this is a clear example of how feminism has been stolen from women and co-opted for economic and political gain by the groups least interested in women’s welfare. Which brings us to the current state of feminism, 3rd wave or post feminism, which Maria Morelli says, “explicitly embraces hybridism, contradiction, and multiple identies.”8 This translates to some into a movement that is confused, without a clear mission or guiding voice. As a result, many women now choose not to identify with feminism, despite their clear desire for equal pay, reproductive rights, and many of the other things feminism has made possible for them. In her essay “Adventures in Conservative Feminism” Angela Dillard argues that social reform needed to happen in a more slow and cautious manner and to “recognize the circumstances under which change is likely to produce unintended consequences that make matters worse rather than better.”9 While I disagree with much of the article, I feel that there is ample wisdom to be found in this statement. In our mad dash to “have it all” we created some hefty unintended consequences that are unfairly shouldered by middle and lower income women.
We cannot address this issue without speaking to some extent about the state of men. There has been much hype and ado recently especially in the literary and Blogosphere worlds about the “Decline of Men”, and the overall trend of extended male immaturity and failure to “man up.”13 Numerous books have been written about it, and recently there was a live NPR debate titled “The End of Men?”, in which the historical male dominance society was speculated to have ended, and ended badly.
Some authors, like Guy Garcia and Kathleen Parker, place the blame squarely on the back of the women’s movement, saying feminism has left men without a clear place and role in society.12 To some extent this is true. This is not say that women’s success is at fault, or that equality is the problem, more that men haven’t been empowered to be both supportive of women’s rights and still remain our men, who nurture, protect and care for their families-and you can do both. Three inarguable facts certainly play a role in the sweeping cultural changes we’ve seen take place with men’s roles in society and the family structure: the decline of marriage-the marriage rate is half of what it was in 1969, the decline of education-34% of women aged 25-34 have earned degrees, compared to 27% of men (and it’s steadily dropping), and a lack of clearly defined roles, or positive role models for that matter.14 The playboy, skirt-chasing, pro-athlete/hip-hop mogul persona does not make for quality role models, nor does the weak-willed wimpy artsy permanent student that still lives with roommates and goes to the bar every night. This all is not to say that extreme’s are accurate either; there is very conservative school of thought that sees feminism as a threat to men and the family16-that is ridiculous. Feminism has just failed to provide men the tools to still be men in a changing world.
There is a personal reason I decided to choose this topic. I am a 30 yr old married mother of 3 small children that works and goes to school fulltime. Like many women my age, I am exceptionally burnt out and overwhelmed. In my personal circle of female friends and colleagues, I see women struggling to afford and find quality childcare, shouldering most of the household and childrearing burdens, and more often than not, the women are the primary if not sole breadwinner in their relationship. As a result, most women I know are on either antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs, and most are unhappy with their relationships and circumstances. Though it may not be popular to say out loud, the reality is that most have privately admitted that they wish their spouse or partner would step up and be the primary breadwinner, or take on much more responsibility within the home. Polls, studies, and other data all back up my observations. A 2009 Gallup poll indication that women were 25% more likely than men to be depressed, and the lower the income level, the more significant the rate of depression.10 A telling survey from 2000 indicates that 26% of women are most worried about money and economic issues, versus only 4% that were most concerned about equality and equal rights.11 This is evidence we are doing something wrong. Some will argue that men just need to catch up, that this is a problem of men not steeping up to the plate, but it goes deeper than that. It’s about a detrimental socio-cultural mindset that says that this is the price woman must pay if they want to be “equal.” But it’s not equal; it’s grossly unequal in terms of distribution of labor and burden. Adding insult to injury is that women still, in 2011, earn $.76 for every $1.00 earned by men.
So, 40 years after second Wave feminism took hold, here we are. Women earn more degrees than men now, women have entered the corporate and political sphere in great numbers, and we’re starting to see serious female contenders for presidential office. All of these are undoubtedly resounding positives. However, we also see skyrocketing depression, divorce, and an increase of female headed households below the poverty line. Third wave feminism needs to clearly organize itself around these issues, and start getting the message out that liberation doesn’t translate into being required to do it all or face scrutiny, judgment and poverty. They need to educate an entire generation of men that women’s stepping up doesn’t mean that they get to step down. These are the causes feminists need to rally around now: balance, fairness, and choice. Looking forward, the stability and progress of our world centers on striking the right balance, not just for Western women, but for women the world over.
Works Cited
1.Bruin, Ellen De. Dutch Women Don't Get Depressed: Hoe Komen Die Vrouwen Zo Stoer? Amsterdam: Uitgeverij Contact, 2007. Print
2. Ebert, Teresa L. "Rematerializing Feminism." Science & Society 69.1 (2005): 33-55. Print
3. Morgan, Robin. "Keys to the Kingdom." Ms. Summer 2011: 20-21. Print
4. Thompson, Christie. "Taking Slut for a Walk." Ms. Summer 2011: 14. Print.
5. Edelstein, Jean. "Why Second-wave Feminism Has Gone Soft." Public Policy Research 14.3 (2007): 164-67. Print
6. Chamlee, Virginia. "The States War on Women." Ms. Summer 2011: 12-13. Print.
7. Kort, Michele. "When Feminist Art Went Public." Ms. Summer 2011: 40-43. Print
8. Morelli, Maria. "Feminism in the Twenty-First Century: Does It Need (Re)Branding?" Feminisms: The Evolution 4.1 (2011): 12-25. Print
9. Dillard, Angela D. "Adventures in Conservative Feminism." Society 42.3 (2005): 25-27. Print
10. Pelham, Brett. "About One in Six Americans Report History of Depression." Gallup.Com - Daily News, Polls, Public Opinion on Government, Politics, Economics, Management. Oct. 2009. Web. 08 Sept. 2011. <http://www.gallup.com/poll/123821/One-Six-Americans-Report-History-Depression.aspx
11. Newport, Frank. "The Challenges Women Face." Gallup. Gallup Polls, 14 Apr. 2000. Web. 8 Sept. 2011. <http://www.gallup.com/poll/2998/Challenges-Women-Face-their-Daily-Lives.aspx>.
12. Delaney, Tim. "Men to Boys: The Making of Modern Immaturity/The Decline of Men: How the American Male Is Tuning Out, Giving Up and Flipping off His Future." Rev. of Men to Boys: The Making of Modern Immaturity/The Decline of Men: How the American Male Is Tuning Out, Giving Up and Flipping off His Future. Library Journal 133.15 (2008): 77-78. Print.
13. Morris, Sophie. "The Decline of Men, or Just a Spot of Man Flu." The Independent (2008): 36. Print.
14. Selbert, Roger. "The Crisis of Modern Male Immaturity." Growth Strategies 1038 (2011): 3-5. Print.
15. Timson, Judith. "Feminism in the Web Era: It Ain't Pretty." The Globe and Mail (2009): L1. Print.
16. Tuttle, Kate. "Immaturity of Today's Male Tied to Rise in Feminism." Boston Globe 18 Mar. 2011. Web. 30 Sept. 2011
Neologisms
As, stated in my paper, not since the Roe vs. Wade ruling in 1970’s have women’s rights been in more jeopardy from a policy perspective than they are now. In the last year alone, states have introduced over 1,000 pieces of legislation seeking to limit or all but eliminate a woman’s right to choose. An increasing number of states, especially states with large rural populations with limited access, are passing legislation that allows pharmacists to refuse to fill a patient’s prescription on the basis of moral objection. Popular former vice-presidential candidate and infamous proponent of anti-woman legislation, went so far as to sign a law into being in her home state of Alaska that requires women that are alleged victims to pay for their own rape kits unless the case results in conviction. Women are under attack, and by other women, in greater and greater numbers. The amount of policy being introduced that directly threatens women’s rights continues to grow exponentially, such that there needs to be a succinct one-word term that accurately describes the bulk of this legislation.
This brings us to the prefect word to fill this semantic void- misogyslation. Misogyslation can be defined as any law, policy or legislation that is inherently anti-woman and anti-choice. This word is a great tool to quickly sum up the nature of a particular bill or agenda. It’s a media-friendly buzz word, and since I’ve posted it on my FB, the feedback has been phenomenal. This is very relevant to my paper, as I discuss the current political atmosphere, and how it seeks to further limit and burden women. This word enhances the paper and the overall lexicon of contemporary political punditry.
Also, discussed at length in my paper, another phenomena on the rise within the feminist community over the last decade or so is the “individualizing” of feminism, which I my opinion has led to a lack of unity, message, and activism in the feminist community. In fact, many young women, despite identifying with feminist issues, refuse to identify with the feminist label. Everything to this generation is personal-it about individual advancement and access, and not so much about the global community of women o the whole. I think we need a new term for this type of feminist, one that reflects the self-absorbed focus and nature of said individuals.
The word I propose is fem-me-nist, clearly isolating and putting the emphasis on the phonetic “me”, thus establishing the true motive behind their concern and actions. This is extremely relevant to my paper, as I am discussing where feminism went wrong, and clearly this is one of the areas where feminism failed. This word will be important going forward, because it seeks to isolate the individuality driven feminists from the community and globally minded feminists. Though I do not seek to create schism within an already fragile community, there is a clear and distinct difference, and perhaps in this acknowledgment, we can compel more women to be feminists, and not fem-me-
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