In another idiotic article by Fox News, Suzanne Venker continues to argue that feminism is a scary, evil monster destroying the American familial institution and all the happiness in the world. Discussing feminism’s role in the destruction of pre-1970s perfect marriages, she says, “Feminism didn’t result in equality between the sexes—it resulted in mass confusion. Today, men and women have no idea who’s supposed to do what.” Personally, I have been terribly confused ever since I had to learn how to navigate outside of the kitchen!
She argues that women adhere to a cultural script devaluing the differences between men and women by declaring them to be equal. One of her most horrifying arguments is that women deserve life more than men. Her example is that 103 of the 1,450 lives lost on the Titanic were women and that the lack of a “women and children first” policy during last year’s Concordia wreck resulted in a loss of more female lives than necessary…and it’s all feminism’s fault.
Venker is perplexed by the idea by that women may have more of a role to play than resident baby-maker, and refutes any notion of social construction. However, she doesn’t realize that Victorian ideas of gender roles were societal. I haven’t researched extensively, but last time I checked humans weren’t born with marriage. It is a social institution. Furthermore, I can’t understand why women would deserve life more than men, but maybe that’s just my scary, feminist mind.
Humans are complicated creatures and marriage is hard, but it’s a hell of a lot easier when two people share the load and love each other as equals.
Images via blogs.sfweekly.com and livingonaslipperyslope.com
