Posted on 10/24/2009 9:29:31 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
"The woman's movement wasn't about happiness." That judgment, attributed to feminist Susan Faludi, seems to be the blunt assessment shared by many other women. As numerous recent studies now indicate, a remarkably large percentage of women describe themselves as increasingly unhappy.
This issue came to light last month in a fascinating essay by Maureen Dowd of The New York Times. Dowd, whose columns often reveal the nation's Zeitgeist, cited the fact that a number of major studies indicate that "women are getting gloomier and men are getting happier." She asked: "Did the feminist revolution end up benefiting men more than women?"
A very similar set of questions arises from TIME magazine's current cover story and special report, "The State of the American Woman." As the cover of the magazine explains, "A new poll shows why they are more powerful - but less happy."
Reporter Nancy Gibbs traces the vast changes brought about by the feminist revolution. "It's funny how things change slowly, until the day we realize they've changed completely," she observes. As she documents, these changes are easily visible in contemporary America:
In 1972 only 7% of students playing high school sports were girls; now the number is six times as high. The female dropout rate has fallen in half. College campuses used to be almost 60-40 male; now the ratio has reversed, and close to half of law and medical degrees go to women, up from fewer than 10% in 1970. Half the Ivy League presidents are women, and two of the three network anchors soon will be; three of the four most recent Secretaries of State have been women.
Along the way, Gibbs also traces more fundamental changes. With remarkable understatement she simply notes "the detachment of marriage and motherhood" among other transformations. "Women no longer view matrimony as a necessary station on the road to financial security or parenthood," she explains.
Nevertheless, "Among the most confounding changes of all is the evidence, tracked by numerous surveys, that as women have gained more freedom, more education and more economic power, they have become less happy."
Gibbs cites a growing body of research that documents this trend toward unhappiness. In "The Paradox of Declining Female Happiness," [pdf file] published in the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers explain that women in the 1970s "reported higher subjective well-being than did men." Now, the opposite is the case.
The big question raised by these studies is this: Has feminism produced unhappiness among women? That question is inescapable when seen in light of the historical context. The great transformation of society by feminism took shape only after the 1970s. As a political and social movement, feminism has been stunningly successful. In the span of a single generation, the society has been overwhelmingly transformed. But, over the same period, women report themselves less happy, especially as compared to men.
As Gail Collins notes in her new book, When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present, the pace of this transformation has been absolutely stunning. "The cherished convictions about women and what they could do were smashed in the lifetime of many of the women living today," she observes. "It happened so fast that the revolution seemed to be over before either side could really find its way to the barricades."
Nevertheless, Collins, also a columnist for The New York Times, concluded: " The feminist movement of the late 20th century created a new United States in which women ran for president, fought for their country, argued before the Supreme Court, performed heart surgery, directed movies, and flew into space. But it did not resolve the tensions of trying to raise children and hold down a job at the same time."
These tensions have erupted as flash points in our national conversation over recent years. Some feminists have accused women who decide to stay home with their children as "letting down the team." Gail Collins cites Marlyn McGrath Lewis, director of undergraduate admissions at Harvard University as saying, "It really does raise this question for all of us and for the country: when we work so hard to open academics and other opportunities for women, what kind of return do we expect to get for that?"
The essays by Maureen Dowd and Nancy Gibbs both raise the fundamental question of feminism - Has it led to greater unhappiness among women? Dowd and Gibbs remain committed feminists. Nevertheless, as Dowd notes, feminism has served to increase the burdens upon women, even as it promised to open doors.
Sadly, most feminists seem incapable, given their ideological commitments, of asking the hardest questions. "Progress is seldom simple," Gibbs explains, "it comes with costs and casualties, even challenges about whether a change represents an advance or a retreat."
In reality, feminism was never only about opening doors for women. In order to make the case for the vast social transformation that feminism has produced, the feminist movement aspired to nothing short of a total social, moral, and cultural revolution. Along the way, feminism redefined womanhood, marriage, motherhood, and the roles for both men and women.
Nevertheless, it appears that most women are uncomfortable with this total package. Instead of producing a vast expansion of happiness among women, the feminist movement must now answer for the fact that women, by their own evaluation, appear to be less happy than before the revolution.
The reason for this is probably quite simple. Women are in the best position to evaluate, not only what feminism has gained, but what it has lost. Maybe Susan Faludi is right - The women's movement wasn't about happiness. Adapted from R. Albert Mohler Jr.'s weblog at www.albertmohler.com.
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R. Albert Mohler, Jr. is president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. For more articles and resources by Dr. Mohler, and for information on The Albert Mohler Program, a daily national radio program broadcast on the Salem Radio Network, go to www.albertmohler.com
You are so right! Well done Danny Boy!
Cheers
Mel
History shows again and again how nature points up the folly of men.
Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s the P.C. crowd was just really getting started, at least in my area, and in the Engineering and construction fields. These young women thougth they had arrived.
One day we had begun a big discussion on a new women’s (feminist) Bible.) They asked me what it said. I quoted:
“There is a way that seemeth right to a women, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 16:25)
Jesus said: “That every idle word that women shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
(Matthew 12:36)
“Wherefore as by one women sin entered the world, and death by sin; and so death by sin; and so death passed upon all women, for that all have sinned.” (Romans 5:12)
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a woman soweth, that shall she also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
Now let me be honest; I did not have such a Bible, but you get the point! If they want to be as men, they have to take on the burden, and accountibilty of men!
One dirty secret in all this is that for all the talk of ‘balance’ that working mothers peddle, the fact remains that the most important person in their life is their boss.
They will much sooner tell their husband or boyfriend to take a backseat than they would their boss.
They will not ‘balance’ work and child responsibilities. The children invariably take a secondary role. Much like they would expect their mate to take a backseat to work concerns, they will do the same with their children.
I’ve supervised many people and while a man will tell me ‘no’ now and then, a woman almost never defies me. As to why, I can’t say. I just know it’s true. That’s one reason bosses like women working for them, though they present distinct downsides, too.
Send picture of boat. . . . . ;-)
Yes, I meant that women give away sex and call it freedom - far as I can see it’s actually giving away incentive for commitment. Hugh Hefner must be so proud.
BTW, I’m a she.
I work outside the home; I always have. But it was my choice. However, I didn't try to have it all. Working my way to the top would have meant not taking the kids to soccer practice and Little League; I would have missed the school concerts and missed being Cub Scout Den mother. I'm happy with what I've done -- both in raising kids and at work. If my daughter chooses to be a stay-at-home mom, that's great. If she wants to work in the outside world, that's great too.
Not to mention that any intelligent woman won't want to live as 'rustic' as my lifestyle requires. It's pretty sporty out here in the boonies.
/johnny
But when minimized to sex objects or the power broking b*@%!, the likes of which feminism has brought us, women digress into a puddle of bitter emotions and self destructive competitiveness amonst themselves and project that same behavior towards men. Which in turn leads any self-respecting or confident male to repel, rebel or just become detached.
Women have lost their greatest ability to motivate men's inbred tendency to chivilrous behavior by attempting to go toe to toe rather than compliment and lend their strength and achieve the same amount of recognition through non demasculinating means.
You’re smart. And I know you’re a ‘she’!
_________________________________
Hey, I can do just so much...
Genesis 3:16.
LOL.
They thought we worked 70 hours a week because we LIKED it?
Well people thought more highly of the marriage contract in those days. Two become one flesh and all that.
America's economy has done a remarkable job of absorbing a workforce doubling, but it covered for overspending and led to many other economic phenomena that are hurting many and still requiring adjustment toward quasi-equilibrium.
“How happy are men?”
Maybe we have some built-advantages, as per the now-famous
quote that follows explains:
“Men Are Just Happier People
-Your last name stays put.
-The garage is all yours.
-Wedding plans take care of themselves.
-Chocolate is just another snack.
-You can be President.
-You can never be pregnant.
-You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
-You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
-Car mechanics tell you the truth.
-The world is your urinal.
-You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
-You don’t have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
-Same work, more pay.
-Wrinkles add character.
-Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100.
-People never stare at your chest when you’re talking to them.
-The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected.
-New shoes don’t cut , blister, or mangle your feet.
-One mood all the time.
-Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
-You know stuff about tanks.
-A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
-You can open all your own jars.
-You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
-If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
-Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
-Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
-You almost never have strap problems in public.
-You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
-Everything on your face stays its original color.
-The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
-You only have to shave your face and neck.
-You can play with toys all your life.
-Your belly usually hides your big hips.
-One wallet and one pair of shoes — one color for all seasons.
-You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
-You can “do” your nails with a pocket knife.
-You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
-You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.
No wonder men are happier.
Thanks, Mr. Bachert, for your post #52. As usual, your comments are thoughtful and enlightening.
Your conclusions on the outcome of our society with the present trends continuing are right on target...unfortunately.
Those of us who are like you (I presume), seasoned citizens, are much distressed at what happening to our society. I, for one, do not foresee anything that will change the disastrous path we are on. In many ways it is good to be old and not far from checking out.
You don’t need to explain to me. . . . . ;-)
Some people would say it's the abortion culture.
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