Feminism

Where have all the ladies gone?

Well, I went to see the Stepford Wives last Monday. I am not exactly what to make of that movie. The original was a horror, which is based on a book, which I think is classified as a thriller. Anyhow, this time around they tried to make it into a comedy. Now, I know that the whole deal is supposed to deal with heavy satire, and what not. It did not work in this movie though, many points that I think were supposed to be satire just turned out to contradict the undertones. I mean, the main character was determined to bring down the town, because everyone was happy, and everything was great. She wanted to do this simply because it “…is not normal.” Yeah, that sounds about right, you get that angry minority in the mix that destroyed something for everyone. Anyhow, I was very disappointed in the ending. However, I will not go into that. Let me just say that if you watch the movie stop watching after they begin descending into the light.

Since I got started thinking about all the feminist undertones of the film, let me take a quick whack at the feminist movement. The entire feminist movement has done little, if anything for the actual advancement of women, and their rights. Technology advances such as the wrinkle free suits, vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, and perhaps most importantly: the birth control pill, have allowed women much greater freedom than they have ever known in the past.

The thing that disgusts me the most feminists is there insistence into getting women into the work place and politics. My personal opinion is that the feminists should be looking at helping women in foreign countries who are decides, if not centuries behind us rights for women. I have seen no feminist movement in support for the United States efforts in Iraq. Apparently, it is Ok if Iraqis rape their own women, so long as a women does not get hired for a job in the U.S.? Food for thought if nothing else.

Another one of the enormous problems with their emphasis on the work place is that they devalue the women that choose to stay home and raise their children. I know if seems like a foreign concept today, but I think that children being raised by “sitters” for part of the reason for the rise in neurotic people in the country. Judge Robert Bork made a pretty point about this:

“It should be a source of great pride to bear the next generation and to train that generation’s minds an morals. That is certainly a great accomplishment than churning out tracts raging at men, and families. It is fine that women are taking up careers, but the price from that need not be the demoralization of women who do not choose that path.”

I mean honestly, if parents do that raise their children, who is going to? You certainly do not want your children learning morality from the K-12 education system. It has been my personal experience that most people that go into teaching that level were not able to handle the normal requires for their degree, and backed down. Additionally, almost without exception these teachers are liberals. By the way, teachers unions are the number supporters of democratic party (no matter how much they get beat down by them).

A side effect of their tactics used to get women into the work place is that is actually devaluates the work of women. I mean, why the hell do women get minority privileges? They make up 52% of the population, I might be off by a little but that does not seem like a minority to me. This is just the tip of the iceberg though. Lame helper programs help unqualified women assume positions, and devalue the women who actually deserve the positions because “they would have not gotten there without help.” It is all bullshit. Let me take a moment as inform you about a common myth.

Women do not get paid less for equal work. A pretty common number that I have seen thrown around is that they make $0.75 on every $1.00 that a man makes. Now, let’s think about that. Who knows what a corporation is? The bottom line is that a corporation is an entity that’s only responsibility is to its stock holders and in that only to make as much money as possible within the shortest period of time. Ok? Now, consider this, you are an executive, and you find a way to cut payroll costs by 25%. If this were actually possible, you would get promoted and a hell of a raise. Unfortunately, it does not work that way. Damn, I thought I had an in there for a second. One of the ways that they work out the numbers on this is that they figure earning over a longer period of time, regardless of whether or not the women is working. Ok, so say we have Sarah, and Ed who both start out in accounting. They both work full time for a couple of years, and are equal in standing. However, Sarah gets pregnant, and takes a couple of years off to spend with her child. Then, she once again returns to accounting. Wait a couple more years and measure the difference between Sarah, and Ed (who continued to work full time since the beginning). Well I’ll be damned, Sarah only seems to be making $0.75 on every $1.00 that Ed makes. Who would have though take two years off would mean missing those raises?

Another issue that is common myth, or soon will be, is that discriminatory hiring practices exclude women. Ok, so this may have been a issue a while ago. But, the old men from the golden age of business, and women are growing old and getting out of the business. Now they are being replaced by younger men that typically trained along side women, and are much more likely to feel comfortable hiring them. And, as time goes on more will women will be able to assume more powerful roles (not that this is a good thing).

Well, it is far to late to continue with this rant. I have many more arguments against feminism. But, I will have to save them until another day.