In defence!

Hi Mother,

An interesting post but I have criticisms......on the bits that stood out to me..... it's very long post, I couldn't read it all thoroughly.

Firstly, your post is misleading as there are many branches of feminism....radical feminism, socialist feminism, Marxist feminism, the Black feminist movement, lesbian feminism.....you imply there is just one. Also....the ten 'lies'.....a lie is something which you know to be untrue. I think that's an inappropriate word to describe the hopes and dreams of such a movement.

Though I agree there are many aspects of the feminist movement which are and should be open to criticism, I think more harsh criticism should be made against a patriarchal, inegalitarian society in which the development of various feminist movements was inevitable.

>> Lie #1: Women Can Have It All

Maybe some women have acted selfishly but this could been seen a reaction against the roles that women have been expected to conform to and within which they did not feel fulfilled. For a lot of women their experiences of marriage and family have been very oppressive or abusive. Some of those deserted men may have been abusive. I agree leaving your own children is not the ideal but I'm sure most women would not have taken this decision lightly. Women have traditionally been regarded as the property of their husbands without any rights.

>> Scripture presents a different picture for men and women

What if a woman doesn't believe in Scripture or God?

>> Lie #2: Men and Women are Fundamentally the Same

Some feminists believe this, others don't. Most just believe in equality and want to be *equal* to men, with the same rights and opportunities (as they should) and don't necessarily believe we are the *same* as men.

>> Lie #3: Desirability is Enhanced by Achievement
The third lie of feminism is that the more a woman achieves, the more attractive and desirable she becomes to men.

Far too general a statement. Feminist movements and campaigns set out to fight for equality and women'a success for it's own sake, not to please men and anyway, some men do like successful women.

>> It's threatening to many men when a woman achieves more, or accomplishes more, or knows more than they do.

Some I agree, not all though and not really the men I know!

>> Sometimes, being overeducated hampers a woman's ability to relate to men

What so we should make sure we don't educate ourselves too much??!!!

>> Feminism didn't warn women of the double standard in relationships

!! It's what feminists were fighting against!

>> To feminism's way of thinking, just being average isn't acceptable: you must be great.

No, just be allowed to have a chance to fulfill ourselves outside marriage/partnership and family.

>> Just being good, or being good at what they do, isn't enough if they're not the best.

Because traditional women's roles eg motherhood are not valued much by society.

>> Lie #5: Sexual Sameness

I agree some truth to this, but it's for women to go through that process and discover it for themselves.

>> The lie of sexual equality has produced widespread promiscuity and epidemic disease. No wonder so many women are struggling with self-esteem!

Not the fault of feminism. Rather due to very poor sex education which doesn't teach empowerment and choice.

>> Lie #6: The Denial of Maternity

I wouldn't quite agree with this, again a very general statement. More a case of you can have a life outside of motherhood.

>> Lie #7: To Be Feminine Is To Be Weak

Yes perhaps some women have thought this I agree, but generally it's message conveyed by a sexist, male dominated society, not by the feminist movement which generally celebrates women's qualities.

>> Lie #8: Doing is Better Than Being

If anything I think that's more a male trait and belief and didn't originate from feminist movements.

>> Lie #9: The Myth of Self-Sufficiency

I agree women and men need do need eachother.

>> Underlying the women's liberation movement is an angry, unsubmissive attitude

Nothing wrong with feeling anger as long as it's used constructively. Are you saying we should be submissive?!!!

Anne :)

p.s. don't call me an angry feminist!!! ;)