Comments on: Feminism and "The Wave" http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave Having an opinion never goes out of style. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 03:22:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: MojoMom http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave/comment-page-1#comment-4225 MojoMom Thu, 01 May 2008 17:02:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave#comment-4225 PunditMom, thanks for your piece and the great links to other women writing about these issues. I am heartened by the many conversations I've had with Hillary supporters (including you and Deborah Siegel) that show that we can find a lot of common ground even if we are personally supporting different candidates. After all, we have a battle in November that will require all of our collective effort to win.<br/><br/>I wish Second Wave feminists would take a moment to look at the election through my eyes. I am not a pole-dancing Girl Gone Wild as Mother Jones suggested (that is NOT how I imagined making my first appearance in Mother Jones....).<br/><br/>But my age is relevant to my decision. Part of the reason I do not support Clinton is that this is my sixth Presidential election, and they've been won by Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush.... Fellow feminists, feel free to disagree for this as a deciding factor in your vote, but don't just dismiss me as clueless and naive. <br/><br/>On the other side, Obama's style of leadership resonates with the grassroots, participatory style of leadership that I am drawn to based on my own experience.<br/><br/>We Gen Xers aren't "kids" any more, and even if we were, some of the smartest people I have ever met are in the generation coming up fifteen years behind me. PunditMom, thanks for your piece and the great links to other women writing about these issues. I am heartened by the many conversations I’ve had with Hillary supporters (including you and Deborah Siegel) that show that we can find a lot of common ground even if we are personally supporting different candidates. After all, we have a battle in November that will require all of our collective effort to win.

I wish Second Wave feminists would take a moment to look at the election through my eyes. I am not a pole-dancing Girl Gone Wild as Mother Jones suggested (that is NOT how I imagined making my first appearance in Mother Jones….).

But my age is relevant to my decision. Part of the reason I do not support Clinton is that this is my sixth Presidential election, and they’ve been won by Bush, Clinton, Clinton, Bush, Bush…. Fellow feminists, feel free to disagree for this as a deciding factor in your vote, but don’t just dismiss me as clueless and naive.

On the other side, Obama’s style of leadership resonates with the grassroots, participatory style of leadership that I am drawn to based on my own experience.

We Gen Xers aren’t “kids” any more, and even if we were, some of the smartest people I have ever met are in the generation coming up fifteen years behind me.

]]> By: Daisy http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave/comment-page-1#comment-4180 Daisy Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:28:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave#comment-4180 I am an almost-first-wave feminist (age 47) who dared to try typical boy things in high school and college, but eventually ended up working in a largely female field: teaching elementary school. Does this put me in the middle or the "old"? I am currently supporting Hillary, not because of her gender, but because I believe she knows what education really needs. She'll help my profession and the children I teach. I am an almost-first-wave feminist (age 47) who dared to try typical boy things in high school and college, but eventually ended up working in a largely female field: teaching elementary school. Does this put me in the middle or the “old”? I am currently supporting Hillary, not because of her gender, but because I believe she knows what education really needs. She’ll help my profession and the children I teach.

]]> By: Diana http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave/comment-page-1#comment-4179 Diana Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:38:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave#comment-4179 Great piece! This extreme, my-way-or-the-highway, first-wave feminist thought is exactly what turned me off about identifying myself as a feminist during my late-teen years. For as long as I can remember I was proud of feminists but then suddenly I just thought "Whoa! Wait a minute, that's not who I am." I'm back. Prouder than ever. But I'm still not <i>that</i> person, and that's ok. We can be feminists without being carbon copy robots of our foremothers. Great piece! This extreme, my-way-or-the-highway, first-wave feminist thought is exactly what turned me off about identifying myself as a feminist during my late-teen years. For as long as I can remember I was proud of feminists but then suddenly I just thought “Whoa! Wait a minute, that’s not who I am.” I’m back. Prouder than ever. But I’m still not that person, and that’s ok. We can be feminists without being carbon copy robots of our foremothers.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave/comment-page-1#comment-4178 Lisa Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:00:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave#comment-4178 You make some great points, lady. It is facinating to see how differently the different waves think and especially WHY they think differently from previous generations. You make some great points, lady. It is facinating to see how differently the different waves think and especially WHY they think differently from previous generations.

]]> By: slouching mom http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave/comment-page-1#comment-4176 slouching mom Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:09:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave#comment-4176 this has been bothering me so much. i've been fairly open on my blog about supporting obama, and i've been chastised here and there -- particularly by women older than i am -- for forgetting what the feminist movement was all about.<br/><br/>i thought it was about ensuring that women gained the ability to CHOOSE for themselves. silly me. this has been bothering me so much. i’ve been fairly open on my blog about supporting obama, and i’ve been chastised here and there — particularly by women older than i am — for forgetting what the feminist movement was all about.

i thought it was about ensuring that women gained the ability to CHOOSE for themselves. silly me.

]]> By: Glennia http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave/comment-page-1#comment-4175 Glennia Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:04:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave#comment-4175 I think of Hirshman as a polemicist more than actual feminist or representing the "traditional" feminist point of view. She takes an extreme position to provoke people into a dialogue, but her views can be so extreme that it turns quickly to a shouting match. I am grateful to the women who marched and made strides for women, but the 1970's are long over. Hirshman's generation failed miserably to pass the ERA and were easy fodder for the right-wing attack machine. I understand why Gen-X & Gen-Y would say "we've come a long way, baby, but not far enough." I think of Hirshman as a polemicist more than actual feminist or representing the “traditional” feminist point of view. She takes an extreme position to provoke people into a dialogue, but her views can be so extreme that it turns quickly to a shouting match. I am grateful to the women who marched and made strides for women, but the 1970′s are long over. Hirshman’s generation failed miserably to pass the ERA and were easy fodder for the right-wing attack machine. I understand why Gen-X & Gen-Y would say “we’ve come a long way, baby, but not far enough.”

]]> By: Becky http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave/comment-page-1#comment-4174 Becky Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:43:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave#comment-4174 " ... (even though her opponent never had to put his vote where his anti-war voice now is) ... "<br/><br/>Yep. I wrote about that too. It bothers me. What bothers me about both of them, though, is that I don't believe either one will end the war like they're promising they will. ” … (even though her opponent never had to put his vote where his anti-war voice now is) … “

Yep. I wrote about that too. It bothers me. What bothers me about both of them, though, is that I don’t believe either one will end the war like they’re promising they will.

]]> By: Gloria Feldt http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave/comment-page-1#comment-4172 Gloria Feldt Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:32:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave#comment-4172 Thanks for the shout out, Pundit Mom, and moreso thanks for the reminder that disagreement without being disagreeable informs us and enhances the political process. It's a lot harder to marshal cogent arguments than to attack, but everyone learns a lot more from the former, whereas the latter tends to turn of the very people whose voices are most needed in the political conversation.<br/><br/>Btw, I think that Linda Hirshman speaks with brilliance and courage but I wish with more positive intent to advance to debate than to win it. Thanks for the shout out, Pundit Mom, and moreso thanks for the reminder that disagreement without being disagreeable informs us and enhances the political process. It’s a lot harder to marshal cogent arguments than to attack, but everyone learns a lot more from the former, whereas the latter tends to turn of the very people whose voices are most needed in the political conversation.

Btw, I think that Linda Hirshman speaks with brilliance and courage but I wish with more positive intent to advance to debate than to win it.

]]> By: Lawyer Mama http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave/comment-page-1#comment-4171 Lawyer Mama Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:41:00 +0000 http://www.punditmom.com/2008/04/feminism-and-the-wave#comment-4171 Thank you! I was annoyed and yes, insulted, by the Hirshman piece. Maybe *her* daughter is still going through a teenage rebellion but it's so demeaning to be treated and spoken of as children instead of thoughtful, intelligent adults.<br/>Our mothers' generation did so much for us. But I also think they've squandered that good will in many ways by taking "feminism" to a point where it's their way or the highway.<br/>I wonder what they'd call my mother, one of their feminist sisters, who plans to vote for Obama? I'm sure Hirshman would just say she's becoming senile. Thank you! I was annoyed and yes, insulted, by the Hirshman piece. Maybe *her* daughter is still going through a teenage rebellion but it’s so demeaning to be treated and spoken of as children instead of thoughtful, intelligent adults.
Our mothers’ generation did so much for us. But I also think they’ve squandered that good will in many ways by taking “feminism” to a point where it’s their way or the highway.
I wonder what they’d call my mother, one of their feminist sisters, who plans to vote for Obama? I’m sure Hirshman would just say she’s becoming senile.

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