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The word
femil)ism
is defined
by Webster as
"l.
the theory of
the political, economic, and social
equality of the sexes, and 2. orga–
ni zed activity on beha l f o f
women's rights and in terests."
In this sense the words
femi–
nism andfeminist
have been used
since the 1890s. But sociologist
Alice Rossi traces the philosophi–
cal roots of feminism back to
Abigail Adams' famous entreaty
to her husband in 1771, "Re–
member the ladies, and be more
generous and favorable to them
than your ancestors."
From there Alice Rossi traces
the movement through a "whole
host of like-minded women
who ... preceded [our] genera–
tion "
(The Feminist Papers,
pub–
lished in 1973) .
The list of names seems end–
less- M a r y Woll s t o necra ft ,
Emma Hart Willard, Catherine
Beecher, Elizabeth Blackwell ,
Susan Anthony, Elizabeth Cady
S tanton , among many others.
There were hundreds of women
in American history who worked
and struggled for rights and free–
doms that women now take for
granted-equal education for fe–
males, the constitutional right to
vote, professional opportunities
for women and coeducational uni–
versities.
Contemporary feminist writers
are quick to associate their goals ·
and obstacles with the struggles
of these earlier women. They
create in etrect an historical "sis–
terhood" with all women who
wish to improve themselvcs and
society.
There is, however, a ditference
between these women in the 18th
and 19th centuries and the " new"
femi nists of the 20th. Eleanor
Flexner in her preface to
Century
of Struggle
bluntly comments:
"The first •wave' of feminists
insis ted that women cou ld be
mothers, housewives, activists
a nd full -time paid workers as
well; today's 'lib' questions
whether a mother ... need be
tied down by child care. The
earlier militants claimed that ac–
t ivities and responsibilities out-
32
side the borne had no harmful
effects on their femininity; today
the question is asked, what is
femininity?"
And there are other d iffer–
ences. In the same piece Miss
Flexner later states:
" Other widely held aims are:
overhauling the institutións of
marriage and the family , chal–
lenging traditional roles for both
men and women and conventional
altitudes toward the rearing of
children, and advocating birth
control and abortion whenéver
the woman desi res it. Even tradi–
tional sexuality is under fire;
homosexuality has many propo–
nents, not just for its legality, but
as an acceptable alternate life
style."
Earlier femini s ts would be
shocked to awaken a nd find
their names listed in a modern
"sisterhood" that advocates the
right to homosexual female mar–
ri age, gove rnment-supported
child care, free abortion and fur–
ther disintegration of the "old"
morali ty.
But aside from the specific
issues involved there is a marked
dissimilarity in
motivation
be–
tween the "old': and " new" fem–
inists. Earlier proponents of
women's rights sought the free–
doro to improve their contribu–
tion to society. They envisioned
their efforts leading to happier
and more productive families.
They saw themselves as filling
needs within the free enterprise
society which their men were
unable to fill because of time
limitations. This is in striking
contrast to present-day emphasis
on ending "sexist" oppression,
promoting "personal fulfillment,"
" economic independence" and
the " power over one's own body."
These aims reflect no acknowl–
edgment of responsibility to fami–
ly or society.
Rather the state's role in the
rights and needs of the individual
appears to be the main thrust.
T ake, for examp le, the U.S.
National Women's Agenda, a
document formulated by the Na–
t ional Women's Política) Caucus
and claiming support by sorne 92
organizations. The followi ng is
tbe Preamble:
"In creating the first National
Women's Agenda, we are maki ng
explicit demands on our govern–
ment, and on the prívate sector as
well. Firm policies and programs
must be developed and imple–
mented at all levels....
It
is
imperative that women be inte–
grated into national life now."
76 Demands
Following the Preamble are listed
76 " demands." They include:
• Election of legislators who
support the principies set forth in
the U .S. Nationa l W om e n 's
Agenda.
• Elimination of sex role, racial
and cultural s tereotyping at every
leve) of the educational system
and in educat ional materials.
• Economic and legal recogni–
tion of homemakers' work.
• Creation of compre hensive
systein of child care.
• Jmplementation of the legal
right of women to control the ir
own reprod uctive systems.
• End stereotyped por trayals of
women and girls in all media.
• Protection of the right to pri–
vacy of relat ionships between
consenting adults.
• Extension of all civil rights
legislation to prohibit discrimina–
tion based on atfectional or sexual
preference.
These d emands, many of
which are already being imple–
mented , run counter to principies
upon which the United States was
founded- reverence for Divine
Law, free enterprise, fami ly au–
tonomy and minimal government
interference in economic and so–
cial spheres.
So what exactly is their goal?
Let's let them express it in their
own words:
"The c hanges necessary to
bring about equality ... are very
revolut ionary indeed. They in–
volve a sex-role revolution for
men and women which will re–
struc ture all our institutions:
chil.,drearing, education, marriage,
the family, medicine, work, poli-
The
PLAIN TRUTH