Heshy’s funny comment yesterday set me off on a stream of consciousness about feminism and Judaism.
It hardly needs to be pointed out that his view of feminism is stuck in the 1970s. Heshy apparently has not noticed that the movement has become much more inclusive, embracing marriage, and domesticity (hell, even Gloria Steinem is now married!). In his self-created time-warp feminists hate men, don't value children, and think their careers are important above all else. Yet in the real world many so-called feminists feel blessed that they can afford to make the choice to stay home. Others feel blessed that they have a partner who supports their career goals and contributions to society. Feminism is about being able to make that choice and not be automatically shoehorned into the role of June Cleaver.
And what about the comfortable and familiar idea of separate spheres, of the angel in the house gently shaping an insular dominion that is the very opposite of the striving and impersonal world beyond its walls? Well, I hate to break it to you folks, but it seems that there isn’t a scrap of science or social theory to back up the view that men and woman have innately different roles.
And even if this were true, in the unreachable, almost unknowable, world of Platonic ideals, the simple fact is most women in this country have to work - not because of feminism but because of sky-rocketing tuition and housing costs. So who, in their right mind, would object to their efforts to become better educated and to make more money? If economic realities mean woman must work, why not make it possible for them to get as much as possible from the experience?
