R.I.P. Betty Friedan
Issue #28
We commemorate the passing of the influential author by asking a few good women (and men) about feminism today
By Kristina Francisco
Published: June 1st, 2006 | 12:00am
The problem lay buried, unspoken, for many years in the minds of American women. It was a strange stirring, a sense of dissatisfaction, a yearning that women suffered in the middle of the 20th century in the United States. Each suburban wife struggled with it alone.
So begins The Feminine Mystique, the 1963 bestseller by Betty Friedan that ignited the second wave of feminism and revived the women’s movement after it had been dormant since women won the right to vote in 1920. Though the book may seem dated today, it launched Friedan into the role of feminist crusader. Despite the controversy that surrounded it (Friedan drew criticism for her attitude toward sexual politics and gender issues as well as for her focus on well-educated, white, affluent women), Friedan, who died on February 2, 2006, at the age of 85, will be remembered as the torchbearer for the women’s movement and women’s rights.
In the wake of her passing, Venus wondered about the status of the women’s movement today.
Do you think there is such a thing as a women’s movement today?
“Well, it is a little tough to say — and this of course is only from my tiny perspective — but it seems like there may be an organized drive to improve women's conditions internationally more than there is one to do so domestically. But that said, there is, at least in counterculture, ideas — particularly in media — that are focused on positive and progressive ideals for women, like Bust, On Our Backs, and Venus.” — Jaime Stewart of Xiu Xiu
“Yes, there is a women’s movement. On the one hand, it’s composed of the organized political efforts of groups such as the Feminist Majority, NOW, NARAL, and many smaller groups. On the other hand, it’s become part and parcel of so many women’s (and men’s) consciousness, that in our actions and statements we continue to move forward in a feminist direction.” — Michele Kort, senior editor of Ms. magazine
“There is definitely a women's movement today, which I consider myself a strong part of. The absolutely powerful, and sometimes difficult, things about the women's movement are both its evolution and divergence. The women's movement has progressed past the strong definitions of man and woman to include divergent identities, transgender politics, a more encompassing and post-colonial worldview, and how each person on earth defines reality based on our positionality in the world. … We no longer solely rally around concrete issues like the vote, equal pay, or abortion rights. We now have the task of expanding feminist analysis to layers of critical theory in all realms of thought and social position.” — Sydney Kopp-Richardson, Venus reader and feminist
What’s wrong with feminism today? What’s right with it?
“Well, one major thing I think is wrong with some parts of the feminist movement is that among many folks, there's a tendency to define feminist issues too narrowly. Feminism is not actually about women and women's lives exclusively (men are harmed by sexism as well, and the prison-industrial complex would be a feminist issue even if the numbers of women in prison weren't rising sharply). It's about developing a comprehensive gender analysis and using that to fight against structures of power. There's a lot of feminist rhetoric out there that assumes women are inherently different from men — more peaceful, etc. — that if we just get more women into positions of power, it will automatically lead to change. While I do agree that we need more high-profile powerful women as role models, that's just not enough for me. If Congress were 50% (or even 75%!) female, we wouldn't necessarily be seeing more feminist legislation. I want to see a more comprehensive progressive agenda.” — Lisa Jervis, Co-Founder of Bitch: a Feminist Response to Pop Culture<
What are the challenges we’re going to see? What are the positives?
“I think the biggest challenge is illustrating the urgency of feminism's goals in a way that is radical but not preachy, inclusive but not watered down. From a guy's perspective, it is vital that men — that all genders — are active and vocal feminists and are allied with women's movements without attempting to dictate them, which has been and continues to be a problem in activist — and other — communities. In terms of positives, there are so many amazing people that are already accomplishing so much and there are amazing people that have so much potential to affect change. There's so much that needs changing that all of us have a real — a crucial — opportunity to change the course of how humans interact with each other, with other species, and with the earth.” — Chris Pugmire of the band Shoplifting
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