If you want to understand the concept of Straw Feminism, look no further than the piece on FoxNews.com by Suzanne Venker called “ The War on Men.”
Venker’s image of feminism is the nightmarish menace that marches fulminatingly in the dark streets, illuminated only by the fitful light of a burning bra.
Feminism is the reason there are no Nice Men Who Will Marry You. You, young lady, were foolish enough to think you might manage to pursue your dreams and simultaneously get married and have children. That was your mistake. And that is why you are single. Blame those terrible firebreathing females in the 1970s who removed you from your proper place — above men, on a pedestal, where you should return as quickly as possible.
If such feminists exist, I have never seen one in the wild. But the myth is potent.
To understand what I mean, here are a few excerpts from Venker’s piece:
“As the author of three books on the American family and its intersection with pop culture, I’ve spent 13 years examining social agendas as they pertain to sex, parenting, and gender roles. During this time, I’ve spoken with hundreds, if not thousands, of men and women. And in doing so, I’ve accidentally stumbled upon a subculture of men who’ve told me, in no uncertain terms, that they’re never getting married. When I ask them why, the answer is always the same.
“Women aren’t women anymore.”
Aha.
What a coincidence. In the past 13 years, I, too, have spoken with hundreds, if not thousands, of men and women. And I wasn’t even writing a book about anything.
I have never, though, stumbled on a subculture of men who told me in no uncertain terms that they were never getting married because women weren’t women any more. I did once run into a guy who’d seen “The Crying Game” and had to rethink a lot of things, but that was it.
But let us return to the article. She goes on:
“Men want to love women, not compete with them. They want to provide for and protect their families — it’s in their DNA. But modern women won’t let them.”
Nope. We won’t. Men come home to their families with their earnings and offer to help with parenting, and women hit them with their own, much larger paychecks and shout, “HOW DARE YOU!” And then the men very sadly crawl back to their caves. Every day we see this playing out in American households. Men hold doors open, and women slam them in their faces.
Also, I’m really not sure her description of DNA is scientifically accurate.
Back to the column:
“It’s all so unfortunate – for women, not men. Feminism serves men very well: they can have sex at hello and even live with their girlfriends with no responsibilities whatsoever.”
Straw Feminists live in this land where someone can approach you and say “Hello” and suddenly you find yourself having sex with him. It is a magical place. Other denizens include unicorns and leprechauns. Also, I’m not sure that’s what “You had me at hello” meant but, well — let’s just keep going.
“Fortunately, there is good news: women have the power to turn everything around. All they have to do is surrender to their nature — their femininity — and let men surrender to theirs. If they do, marriageable men will come out of the woodwork.”
Oh lord.
That’s what feminism threatens, after all. It’s the End of the Marriageable Men. It’s a bunch of Angry Women yelling at men who are just trying to be nice, but men are now sick of being yelled at and so they are going to respond by not marrying ANYBODY. See what you’ve done, Feminism?
In short, everybody get back to your quilting.
Be careful what you wish for ladies. The men just might oblige you.
Were you unable to comprehend the article?
Colbert did a brilliant “The Word” segment on this. I cannot believe it is 2012 and we are still doing this to women. By a woman, no less. The 50’s just keep reappearing to cycle us women back into our ‘place’.
i was hoping jon stewart was going to have a take on this maybe with samantha bee
Good writing, also. Thanks for stating the truth with such panache.
..propaganda.. brainwashing…
Or in the Faux world… Ladies.. Let *US* tell you what to think….
Social development has never stood still and if the US is to remain a leading nation we had better get used to changing gender roles. Study after study points out that both men and women tend to be happier in nations where women are more emancipated and have greater say in politics.
So many of our disagreements are rooted in our different cultures. Often we assume there is one American culture. We pay American taxes, watch American television, elect American leaders. So, every question must boil down to an American answer.
New England liberals with our puritan (into everyone else’s business) heritage are, of course, correct to place equity at the top of our concerns. Antebellum values persisting south of the Mason-Dixon line with their aristocratic background are wrong certainly to promote inequality. But these differences are cultural differences.
It’s not surprising that Venker and Petri hear different things from the “hundreds if not thousands of men”, they talk to. They are talking to different men.
A great book that gets at the question of cultures and their political values in our country is by Portland, Maine author Colin Woodard, “American Nations”.
http://www.colinwoodard.com/americannations.html
Interesting commentary. An emotionally strong man is not going to be threatened or bothered by a “feminist”, or by a woman who is independent and capable. Who would want to be with a man who views women as subservient, someone to be controlled. We don’t want to go back to those ways.
There is no right or wrong way – some men and women prefer and are more comfortable with traditional gender roles – some are more comfortable with contemporary roles. Even more like something in the middle. The important thing is choice. As long as people can live how they want to live, I’m content. Stop judging.
Women aren’t women any more.
According to…. uh huh. Sure we are. More than ever.
Would it be sexist of me to say strong independent women are smoking HOT .If so I am not sorry.
There is a war on men. Since when is it okay to diminish men’s feelings on certain issues? The answer ironically is NOW (pun intended). You see feminist’s aren’t just content with equality, they want it ALL. They want complete control of their households, they want to be the breadwinner, yet they want a “sensitive” husband to come home to who is also subservient. It’s that darn pendulum swing, you know the one that never lands in the middle.
In today’s society if a wrong is uncovered, it’s not simply righted but totally reversed. As if some sort of punitive damage is assessed to today’s generation for sins (real or perceived) of the past. Men should have just as much right to their inner feelings as women do.
That door that is let go of to slam in a woman’s face would be no more tolerated in today’s society as it would have been in 1950, yet men are routinely vilified in the media, and trounced in courtrooms everyday when it comes to MEN”S rights. They have virtually none and does anybody really care?
Is this satire??!
No one’s rights should be diminished, male or female. No one should be trampled on. No one’s feelings should be minimized or ignored.
It is true however that men dominated in this society for centuries. They were the ones in power, the ones who controlled things. There was a time when all doctors were male, for instance. We do not want to go back to those times.Most thinking and caring people would not anyway.
The lack of civility and respect for others’ feelings (regardless of gender) seems to be quite prevalent . However, that is not due to men or women having more rights. It is a matter of respect for oneself, which is then extended out to others. Respect. It is not a gender thing for the most part.
There are many individual women who would say their feelings have been ignored, stifled, tramped on, just as there would be individual men who would say the same. It is a matter of experiences, who one knows and associates with, one’s relationships , etc. There is no war on men, that is for sure, although one does hear that from some conservative men. They see the world changing very quickly . They know they will be in the minority very soon and they are not happy about it.
C’est le vie. We all adapt to things, to changes, in life. What is the alternative…..
Anything with an “ism” or “ist” is a dangerous thing…
That subculture of men mentioned must be a sorry lot. It sounds like they aren’t attractive enough to get female companionship so they blame women for not finding them attractive enough to be with. There must be a self-help book out there somewhere with some pointers.
I’m lucky to have found one of the few women left willing to be “traditional” when it comes to marriage. 12 years and going strong. She just shakes her head at all of her twentysomething friends who have bought into modern day feminism, and who are alone, lonely, wrecked lives, stumbling from one fiasco relationship to another, no kids, no stability, complaining to her all the time……….ALL of her friends from high school and college are this way. She escaped, to my benefit.
This commentary is about as good as the “War on Men” that she is writing about. An opposite view and not much else. Its safe to say that there are some men and women that would appreciate a return to the old ways and they will find one another. At the end of the day, who really cares?
First off Fox Snooze LMAO! Whew now that I got that out of my system, I would think the Republicans would understand all to well being effeminate. They are quite effeminate. Remember how much Boehner cries? I know, I know, they keep buying guns and claiming they are macho……but we all know that is just to bolster their lack of being adequate in body parts and courage. I call it the Ted Nugent syndrome, all hat no cattle.
more single women= more single men (and fewer families). that is the R fear
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More single women= More D votes.( and the R “war on women ” clinched it )
Feminism is simply the concept that women are human beings just as men are human beings…Simple as that…And please remember that FOX NEWS (FAUX NEWS) is illegal in that enlightened country Canada as it is against the law there to broadcast “misleading, false, or made up news stories.”
It is an issue deserving of discussion in an academic venue. Unfortunately we don’t have academic venues anymore.
Boys (these days) or obviously suffering when compared to their female peers. Boys have more emotional problems, more disabilities, including but not limited to a two to one level of autism. A greater level of successful suicides, a higher drop-out rate, a greater usage of drug and alcohol, and are more likely to become homeless, unemployed, or criminal.
these men whom she “discovered” have their own issues that they won’t deal with and that is why women either avoid them or leave them. they are the men that fathers try to teach their daughters to avoid