http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/get-angry-and-smash-patriarchy-1/
As a radical feminist, Shulamith Firestone, became the fire to the feminist movement. She had very extreme and strong beliefs that she stuck to, never budging for anyone. Though some of her ideas are aligned with the type of feminism I support, her idea about the elimination of sex distinction from our culture doesn’t sit well for me. I just don’t see how that would ever be possible when your type of sex runs through racial, social, and class differences.
Firestone didn’t just want to bring equality for women in the business area or in politics, she wanted to uproot how societies have been founded for centuries. She wanted to get rid of the patriarchal system once and for all. Though I do have to agree there are some faults with the patriarchal system that does at times lead to women oppression, I don’t see how it would ever be possible to get rid of it. Since, gender does not separate between class, religion, race, and so on, I believe it would be too big of a change that would have many unseen effects. For example, in third-world countries, women are taking a different stance on feminism. Because of their financial struggles and their social standings, women in third world countries are asking for social equality and representation in government. If they would try to uproot the bases of their society and culture, it would lead too many for issues that they might not be able to fix, because they do not have all the resources and stability to fix them.
So, I guess my main problem with Firestone is that she took what feminism meant to her and applied it to all other women, not realizing that for others her type of feminism just wouldn’t work. But now reflecting on my own thoughts and experiences, I realize that Firestone does have a point. She’s really just talking about how degrading our culture is to women, and she wanted to change that. I can see her point in many places in our culture today, like the role of women in advertisements. Also, Firestone grew up in a different time as me. Her life was spent in a time where no one was really having any conversation about feminism, while nowadays the conversation about feminism is everywhere. Plus, back then women weren’t allowed to to do half as much as they are allowed to do today. Today, even though there are still inequalities, women get college education and are apart of the workforce. We even have stay-at-home dads instead of stay-at-home moms. Back then, during Firestone’s time, these things were unheard of, just a dream many feminists tried to catch.
Overall, though I do not agree with some of Firestone’s ideas, it is because of her fire, courage, strength, and determination that we are having open discussions about feminism. It is because of her that I am able to attend college without disapproval from the opposite gender. It is because of her that women across America, and the world, are able to get a job without too much worry. Without her the feminist movement would not have went as far as it did, and for that much I am wrong to judge Firestone based on experiences and a background unknown to me.
So, I guess my main problem with Firestone is that she took what feminism meant to her and applied it to all other women, not realizing that for others her type of feminism just wouldn’t work. But now reflecting on my own thoughts and experiences, I realize that Firestone does have a point. She’s really just talking about how degrading our culture is to women, and she wanted to change that. I can see her point in many places in our culture today, like the role of women in advertisements. Also, Firestone grew up in a different time as me. Her life was spent in a time where no one was really having any conversation about feminism, while nowadays the conversation about feminism is everywhere. Plus, back then women weren’t allowed to to do half as much as they are allowed to do today. Today, even though there are still inequalities, women get college education and are apart of the workforce. We even have stay-at-home dads instead of stay-at-home moms. Back then, during Firestone’s time, these things were unheard of, just a dream many feminists tried to catch.
