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From Barricades to Blogs

As the architects of the 1970s women's movement age, they wonder if anyone will march in their place.

By Jennie Yabroff | NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated Oct 22, 2007

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  • Posted By: PATRICIA IN MO. @ 10/28/2007 11:07:50 AM

    Comment: I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A STAY AT HOME MOM BY CHOICE. NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN I WAS ABLE TO DO THAT AND SO I DID. I DON'T REGRET IT. I'M INTERESTED IN HEARING SOME POSITAIVE EXPERIENCE OF HOME DAY CARE EXPERIENCES FOR NOW THAT MY KIDS ARE ON THEIR OWN WAY I AM NEEDING SOMETHING TO DO AND THOUGHT OF MAYBE WATCHING A COUPLE ;OF LITTLE ONES. COULD SOMEONE SHARE WITH ME WHY THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA, OR AM I CRAZY.
    PATRICIA IN MO.

  • Posted By: donna darko @ 10/21/2007 2:42:14 PM

    Comment: thanks for the shout-out, shannon! you are a vital part of feminism also.

    this is not directed at any individual but i want america and the world to know that the marginalization of women of color in the so-called "second wave" is happening the same way in the "third" and "fourth waves."

    i







  • Posted By: shannon the whiner @ 10/21/2007 1:53:17 PM

    Comment: There are many young feminists on blogs, but I think the most vibrant work is being done by women of color such as brownfemi of women of color blog and donna and AradhanaD of leftist looney lunchbox.

    I myself am a woman of color blogger- presiding over the link blog egotistical whining. Oue focus is both


    local and globa.

  • Posted By: mommy1234@hotmail.com @ 10/20/2007 3:19:58 PM

    Comment: I do not know about the younger generation of feminists, but they cannot possibly be having as much fun as the 1960 and 1970 feminist artists. After attending WACK! Art and the Feminist Revolution at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, DC and Judy Chicago's Dinner Party and Global Feminisms at the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn, I am trying to form an essay built around "The Decades of the Vagina: When Women Began to Discover What Men Already Knew or The Absolute Wonders of the Female Genitala."

  • Posted By: mommy1234@hotmail.com @ 10/20/2007 3:09:22 PM

    Comment: Enter Your Comment

  • Posted By: mommy1234@hotmail.com @ 10/20/2007 3:09:09 PM

    Comment: Enter Your Comment

  • Posted By: mommy1234@hotmail.com @ 10/20/2007 3:08:58 PM

    Comment: Enter Your Comment

  • Posted By: AnyaB @ 10/17/2007 5:50:40 PM

    Comment: e country being run by younger women, political "mommy" orgs like MOthers Acting Up and MomsRising.org, both of which advocate for women and chidren, there are organizations like SisterSong that push for a more inclusive reproductive justice agenda with younger feminists at the helm (or at least in upper levels). I don't, for one minute, believe that feminist blogs are the only source of feminism out there. THey may ve vocal and provide a gathering space and a call to action but there are younger women on the ground throughout this country fighting each and every day in growing numbers for a more equitable society. Articles like these pop up every once in awhile but don't tend to say much.

  • Posted By: AnyaB @ 10/17/2007 5:50:17 PM

    Comment: This article is a very brief, very narrow look into the world of feminism today - especially amidst younger women. There are many, many young women picking up where the "older" feminists left off. Choice USA, The Third Wave Foundation, myriad of organizations that support equal rights for LGBTQIs, abortion funds around the country being run by younger women, political "mommy" orgs like MOthers Acting Up and MomsRising.org, both of which advocate for women and chidren, there are organizations like SisterSong that push for a more inclusive reproductive justice agenda with younger feminists at the helm (or at least in upper levels). I don't, for one minute, believe that feminist blogs are the only source of feminism out there. THey may ve vocal and provide a gathering space and a call to action but there are younger women on the ground throughout this country fighting each and every day in growing numbers for a more equitable society. Articles like these pop up every once in awhile but don't tend to say much.

  • Posted By: Homemaker99 @ 10/17/2007 12:04:22 PM

    Comment: I think it's going to the extreme that by suggesting bringing back traditional roles, husbands will again have the right to rape their wives. Sometimes you need to take the good and LEAVE the bad! There are many, many happily married couples out there where the wives stay at home and, shock of all horrors, follow their husband's leadership. I've never seen one of these husbands even speak in a demeaning tone to their wives, but instead lead their family with sacrificial love. It's hard work on both sides, but I see it lived out everyday and it is a beautiful, beatiful picture of loving one another. These ladies waited for a man that would be this kind of husband! Obviously I'm not saying all women should be forced to return to this, but don't demean or trivialize the women that follow their maternal instincts (that is not at all to say that women who work have none). And while some feminist's choose to fight for their "rights", they're taking away some of mine (such as the draft issue) in the process. As a final note, while we may be in the minority, there are a lot more women out their choosing [and wanting] the traditional roles than you may realize.

  • Posted By: jhage1 @ 10/17/2007 10:07:23 AM

    Comment: I am not sure what the author means by "Take this mommy-war thing. If we all had access to day care, would we be having a different kind of conversation?", but it insinuates that all women want to be in the workplace and would be if day care was affordable. Many people prefer not to have their children in daycare and prefer to provide round the clock care to their children. Why can't it be ok for a woman or man to want to stay home? I work full time, and my husband stays home and takes care of our 3 young children, but I would much rather it be the reverse. It just made more economic sense the way it is. We could afford daycare on just my salary, so my husband could work too (and he did for awhile and the first two did attend daycare for almost a year), but we would provide care than a stranger.

  • Posted By: jweiss1087 @ 10/17/2007 3:13:32 AM

    Comment: Homemaker99: Speak for yourself. No one cares if you become a homemaker. Also there are A LOT of women that would not want to return to traditional gender roles. You do realize that along with the privileges women gain from chivalry like having doors opened for them (which does originate in the belief that women are the "weaker sex"), a return to traditional roles would give husbands the right to rape their wives right? You can't just take the good and ignore the bad.

  • Posted By: jweiss1087 @ 10/17/2007 3:09:48 AM

    Comment: Homemaker99: Speak for yourself. Become a homemaker, whatever. No one cares. And no, A LOT of women don't want to return to traditional gender roles. You do understand that along with the privileges women gain from chivalry like having doors opened for them (which does originate with the concept that women are the "weaker sex"), a return to traditional gender roles also includes a husband having the right to rape his wife right?

  • Posted By: Homemaker99 @ 10/16/2007 9:40:26 PM

    Comment: I am a 27 year old woman that wants nothing more to be a homemaker/stay at home mom. Not because I feel obligated or guilty about leaving my children at day care, but because I WANT to be home with them. We've completely flip-flopped this whole mess. Instead of men forcing us in certain roles, it is now other women. For those of us that are conservative in thinking and living (I rather like having doors opened for me...not because I'm special or weak, but because it's just a nice sort of common courtesy), living in today's age has become heart-breaking and frustrating. The most ironic thing: when will feminists understand that the shift back to traditional gender roles is something we WANT?

  • Posted By: Homemaker99 @ 10/16/2007 9:38:08 PM

    Comment: I am a 27 year old woman that wants nothing more to be a homemaker/stay at home mom. Not because I feel obligated or guilty about leaving my children at day care, but because I WANT to be home with them. We've completely flip-flopped this whole mess. Instead of men forcing us in certain roles, it is now other women. For those of us that are conservative in thinking and living (I rather like having doors opened for me...not because I'm special or weak, but because it's just a nice sort of common courtesy), living in today's age has become heart-breaking and frustrating. The most ironic thing: when will feminists understand that the shift back to traditional gender roles is something we WANT?

  • Posted By: alijune @ 10/16/2007 8:53:54 PM

    Comment: I am a feminist and a women's studies student. I think this article greatly trivializes the work of feminists today. Feminism has not been reduced to "girls gone wild" or other forms of sex positive feminism (see wikipedia for that term). There has been a shift towards fighting multiple oppressions, based on gender, race class, physical ability etc. We can no longer say that there is One Single Women's Movement, but there are many women's movements. Activism has changed. Feminism may not take the same shape or form that it did in the 60s and 70s, but that doesn't mean it is any less significant or any less political.

  • Posted By: DonnaMaryland @ 10/16/2007 5:09:40 PM

    Comment: I consider myself a feminist. I believe that the value of men and women is equal. A woman does not have to be exactly like a man to be equally as valuable. I do not have to be career minded, think that abortion is ok, and put my children in daycare to be a feminist. As a feminist woman I have choices, I can stay home with my children or work as a VP of a computer company and I am equally as valuable in both roles. If an unplanned pregnancy occurs, why do I have to have an abortion instead of asking the man to marry me and raise our child together? Why is abortion always suggested as a measure of women's rights? The more stories I hear and poems I read about women suffering over abortions from even 20-30 years ago or being encouraged by boyfriends, husbands, and parents to abort, the more I think that abortion was a benefit to men much more than it ever was for women.

  • Posted By: DonnaMaryland @ 10/16/2007 4:48:16 PM

    Comment: Enter Your Comment

  • Posted By: bkda @ 10/16/2007 2:25:34 PM

    Comment: Enter Your Comment

  • Posted By: mscarr1 @ 10/16/2007 2:09:25 PM

    Comment: To Jonna,

    You are kidding right? If you really think that the shift back towards traditional gender roles and abstinence-only education is at fault, then your liberalism is invading your think space. The lack of "taking a stand" by the current generation has more to do with the fact that we have made so much progress as women which benefits the current generation. They don't know what it is like to be denied employment because of gender, or to feel helpless because a male co-worker sexually harasses them. They know that this stuff is wrong and expect to be treated appropriately.

    What issues do they have to fight for. They have abortion on demand, access to several types of birth control, pretty close to equal pay for equal work, they attend college at every level greater than men, they participate in sports at every level...what's there to fight about?

    This is the real reason for apathy - not conservative politics.

  • Posted By: Jonna @ 10/16/2007 11:27:05 AM

    Comment: As a young woman, I am happy and proud to call myself a feminist. That being said, I agree that the women's lib movement has changed from a large group of strong women unwilling to take no for an answer to apathetic young teens more concerned about makeup and clothes and their rights. I find it sad and disheartening. Who is to blame? It's hard to say, but I certainly believe that the shift back to traditional gender roles and abstinance-only education funded by our federal government is not helping.

  • Posted By: quix0te @ 10/16/2007 9:00:01 AM

    Comment: When couched in terms of "Women need help. Women need to get together to address their problems" then the ERA will be doomed to fail. The majority of entering freshmen in college are women. Will the ERA mandate equal slots for boys? There was a time when women needed special protected status. That time is long past in America.

  • Posted By: quix0te @ 10/16/2007 8:56:25 AM

    Comment: When couched in terms of "Women need help. Women need to get together to address their problems" then the ERA will be doomed to fail. The majority of entering freshmen in college are women. Will the ERA mandate equal slots for boys? There was a time when women needed special protected status. That time is long past in America.

  • Posted By: sandyo @ 10/15/2007 8:19:08 PM

    Comment: Enter Your Comment

  • Posted By: sandyo @ 10/15/2007 8:19:07 PM

    Comment: Enter Your Comment

  • Posted By: sandyo @ 10/15/2007 8:18:08 PM

    Comment: (Sigh)
    How many times do we have to correct this image of equality / Equal Rights Amendment that never did pass as being "as obsolete as bell-bottoms", as FL Governor Jeb Bush said and you have just repeated?

    When are your reporters going to go at least to Google and not just to uniformed blogs to find out that the "women's movement" is not only alive and well in several states but is now a men's and women's and family and economy movement". Get with The Program, Newsweek. Time magazine got over that long ago, after their repeated fretting that Feminism is Dead. S

    Saying so doesn't make it so, especially from those who just are living back in the 50's, blog or no blog.
    Come to Florida and see that the heavy lifters of the re-ignited move to ratify Florida and two other states has real Fire-in-the-Belly elders like me who oversee Floirda's Equal Rights Alliance with nearly 295 000 supporters in 352 member-organizations; 88% of the public; 7 newspapers and all of Florida's county officials endorsing our effort!

    I don't know what bloggers are doing besides sniping, but there's a world of College Students For ERA and national ERA organization, some who have forged on for ERA since it barely missed passing in 1982. Let me tell you, our college students and former-ERA igniters are no bra burners. They join me and the Alliance in around the year lobbying for Florida's required two bills to ratify the ERA. It is non-stop work. For those who go negative that ERA is symbolic, I ask, since when is being paid only 76% for the same or equal work that trivial? Ask an elderly woman who is the 1 of 7 who wind up in poverty because wages unfairly minimized her takehome, her Social Security and her pension. HOW "SYMBOLIC" IS THAT? And what about the fair-minded, caring fathers who cannot get child custody or some of whom get dunned for support payments that go for unreasonably expensive vacations, homes and cars.

    Just ask how the economy would benefit from an Equal Rights Amendment that increases tax revenues, and reduces outflow from public assistance, never mind that it would boost the morale of 52% of the population. I can't speak for all women, of course, and not at all for men in this regard.

    But, hey, stop trivializing our hard work to bring Florida out of the mental swamps and 'chads', and many American women and families out of depression.

    An ERA in the Constitution holds much promise, is not dead, unless people subscribe to your funereal pall over the search for Equality for ALL.

    Let's not continue to interview bloggers on any topic as if they knew the Facts. At least Google the rest of us, and go to www.RatifyERAflorida.net for The Real News on what's happening to ERA everywhere with surveys, legislation, blazing new strategies and re-ignited ERA stalwarts.

    After all, the body of the Equal Rights Amendment's fine prose, "Equality under the law shall not be denied
    by the United States or by any State on account of sex" just re

  • Posted By: emma Snyder @ 10/14/2007 8:25:37 PM

    Comment: I am thankful that womens suffage came to bring us alot of things women need but at the sametime it gave us equality and we still get hurt in the schemes of life struggles. I am alittle old fashion and I still believe it is the man who should surport the wife. I also know we have a lot of mothers in the war who should be home carring for their families and not getting killed. That is apart of equality for the women of our times. Now women and girls want to do the samething as men and run wild leaving children if they even have them to care for themself. I will say this I have seen some men who are good child care takers and have taken the place of mothers. I believe this new generation of women are not looking to burn bras and being an ass, they want to be equal with there husbands where work and careing for a family and home are concern.

 
 
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