[Thoran]

Originally posted by Timber Loftis: I think that both the "stay at home caregiver" and the "breadwinner" roles play an important part with kids. My problem with the feminist movement is that rather than empower women for what attributes that are traditionally associated with "feminine," the movement has instead encouraged women to become men, and told them they are not a success unless they do in fact assume what were traditionally male roles. This has left a dearth in society, a void, of the "stay at home caregiver" role -- which these days is relegated to a day care service. Oh, and sex. Feminism has really sexed-up women, and I guess the one female attribute it has made great use of is the ever-increasing showing of skin (low rise pants + cut off top + thong string peeking out is all too common these days) as a way to turn men into drivelling idiots. As if we couldn't do just fine at being drivelling idiots without all the help. I'm not saying women should not work or should not be empowered. I am saying that there is something incredibly worthwhile about the "female" qualities and we should dislike seeing them disappear from society. Lucy and Wilma Flintstone may not have been the breadwinners in their families, but they were powerful figures nonetheless.

Modern feminism relies on the idea of "victomhood", believing that the Wilma and Betty were being "oppressed by the patriarchy". The radicals believe that women won't be free until they've destroyed "male dominated" society.

Here's an interesting discussion that was broadcast on KRLA 870 am in LA recently:

http://www.glennsacks.com/audio/hs_7_6_03_mp3.mp3

it's a discussion between Glenn Sax and Prof. Daphne Patai on Academic Feminism (she used to teach Womens Studies, a fairly draconian feminist/lesbian indoctrination program in many schools)... it discusses a number of the issues you touched on (like the idea that women have no power).

I've read recently that the occurances of stay at home parents has slightly increased after decades of decreases. While the vast majority are still women, men have been gaining ground as the stigma of the stay at home dad has been attacked. Interestingly it's most often WOMEN who attack men who don't work... there's a number of interesting articles about "the lace cieling" (or maybe it was "the lace curtain"... can't remember) and the methods employed by women to keep men out of traditionally female roles, even as they push farther into male ones.

IMO more dedicated moms and dads at home is very good news for our children, now if we can just get our schools moving in the right direction.

[ 07-08-2003, 01:06 PM: Message edited by: Thoran ]