The Decline of Western Civilization as Engineered by Betty Friedan

The Arts and Letters Daily ran a story on Betty Friedan’s Feminine Mystique this week, in which Friedan’s impact on liberal feminism, and mainstream America is both applauded and criticized. The article is well written and interesting, and of course, I think all applause should be a accompanied by a bit of criticism. However, some hyperbolic dimwit, aptly named ‘Tim Bitts’, decided to share his views about modern feminism with the whole internet community. It’s pretty good for a laugh:

Submitted by Tim Bitts, Sep 22, 2008 12:18

“Feminism will destroy itself, in the end. That’s what the number say. Abortion and birth control, brought in by feminists, are reducing the populations of all advanced democracies. That’s why Europe, for example, will have a majority Muslim population by the end of this century, according to writer Mark Steyn. Countries where feminist ideas dominate are seeing their populations cut by 50% ever 40 years. In the long run, such societies will not last. They will be destroyed by feminist ideas, and be taken over by patriarchal societies where women are treated like second class citiizens. Since feminists decided not to produce enough children for the next generation, all advanced countries have decided they need immigration, so that there will be workers to pay the bills, for the children we aborted. These immigrants come from mainly Muslim countries, and that’s why Europe and eventually North America will be Muslim. And in the end, feminists will find themselves vastly outnumbered, and oppressed, back in an even more brutal patriarchy, and wondering what happened. And with the majority population in the world’s advanced democries soon to be Muslim, it’s doubtful the liberal ideas behind Western Civilization will survive a Muslim majority population. Thanks for destroying Western Civilization, Betty Friedan.”

That’s right, Betty Friedan. Thank you.

In praise of Symposia

I have resolved to watch Hedwig and the Angry Inch again. This particular compulsion struck me during a beer-battered conversation about Plato’s Symposium. The subject of Aristophanes’ speech on Love was raised, and my friend instantly mentioned the Hedwig animation of the “Origin of Love”. So, of course, I have become obsessed with it once again; this obsession of mine rears it’s beautiful Hed every couple of years or so, and cannot be laid to rest until I have gleefully re-watched the film. Here is a tiny wee taste of the awesomeness of Hedwig:

As I watched every last snippet of this movie that I could find on Youtube, the thought came to me that Hedwig always looks like she’s reveling in femininity. She bathes in it, twists it round her tongue and pops it back out tied in a silky, cherry-red bow. Why don’t I enjoy my femininity that much? In that instant, the need to tart myself up suddenly overwhelmed me. Femininity is something put on. You wear it, you have to make it up and wrap it around you. Fortunately, it’s also something you can strip off, and leave abandoned on the bathroom floor. Some women* never take it off, like those 1950’s housewives who wear mascara to bed and wake up halfway through the night to reapply.

Now, I know that I could never be one of those- it just simply is not in me. However, I have decided to set aside one day this summer to squeeze myself into a gown (something I will have to willfully acquire from a nearby Salvation Army, for I have woefully never been a bride’s maid), strap myself into a pair of patent-leather stiletto heels, lather my face in colourful creams and powders, spritz slightly too smelly flowery perfume over my body, paint my nails – those on toes included- and tease my hair up into some ungodly configuration held up by putty, hairspray and a miracle. I’m getting tired already, just thinking about all it takes to perform this type of hyper-femininity. Phew – methinks it will take the better part of the day to assemble all the pieces.

Um….. on second thought, maybe I won’t.

*by women, I mean anyone who either identifies as or dresses up as one every once in a while (and not just on Halloween

When Idiots Speak

‘Pat Robertson has described feminism as a “socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians.” ‘-Wikipedia

I guess he’s afraid of having to cook his own meals, and this:

Goals of Feminism:

1: Strike fear into the hearts of idiots. CHECK.

2: Attain gender equality.

Remember, ladies, we might have won the battle, but we still have to win the war.

Women should be seen and not heard?

Holy shit.

I don’t know how else to acurately express my reaction to this article.

Excerpt:

“Couples where the man talks more are happier than one where the woman is more talkative, according to the latest research by a team of behavioural scientists from Green Mountain College and University of Texas at Austin.”…”Martha, who is a mother of two, also has a similar opinion about the matter.

“I’ve always played the role of silent partner. When we talk too much, men lose the confidence about their power and the position they have in the family. It can lead to fights in the family,” she said. “It’s always healthy to stay rather silent than creating troubles.”

It was not published in 1940 – oh no, it was published Aug. 20th, 2007. This year. Whoever thinks ‘all is fine’ for women, needs a reality check.

All things converge on one societal norm: the silencing of women’s voice in society is best for the society. Is this article just expressing the cultural normative values of the day?  What next: studies that show that parliament runs better when women do not participate? Supreme court judges make better decisions if there are no women on the panel? Buses are more environmentally friendly if they are not driven by women? What The Fuck.

Everytime I look around at this society, I lose clarity on all things except one: This world is FUBAR (fucked up beyond all recognition.)   

Battered Women are Nothing Like Battered Shrimp

The misconceptions about battered women abound. I remember once reading that the chances that a woman will be killed by her abusive husband/spouse/boyfriend are highest just after she leaves the relationship. Women instinctively know this. I’m surprised it has taken everyone else so long to stop making up weary accusations for battered women and their severe hasitance to leave their abusive relationships, and start looking at the facts from these women’s perspective.

Women’s Work

Man, the climate in Canada for women has just gotten colder. Status of Women Canada’s new mandate, as handed down by the Harper government, has stricken ‘equality’ from its objectives. Bev Oda, the minister of Status of Women bravely announced that women need not fret, because women are now ‘equal’ in Canada, thus ‘equality’ is no longer something to work toward. Thanks Bev! But somehow, the stats don’t add up…

there are 67% more women making less than $30 000/year than men.

there are 77% more men making more than $100 000/year than women.

Does that sound equal to you?

check it out <http://pacificcoast.net/~swag/womenfactsChart.htm>

Bev Oda said that women “understand the value of a dollar”, and thus 12 out of the 16 Status of Women Canada offices across Canada will be closed. Well, the reason we understand the value of a dollar is because we earn on average only 70% of what men make. It’s 2007! Why is there still an income disparity? I didn’t sign up for this.

As a little girl I was constantly told I could do anything a man could. They left out the disclaimer: I could do anything men did as long as I wasn’t paid the same for it.

Thanks Bev!

That’s it! I’m moving to New Zealand to live with a rogue band of wild sheep.

Next year, I’ll be posting photos not quite like this (because I’ll be sporting a better ‘do, and the sheep will be wilder,) but almost: