Do We Still Need Feminism?

I asked friends for some suggestions on blog topics for the new year. One friend sent me an article to peruse entitled "Why We Don't Need Feminism".

In it the author Emily Matters talks about Feminist Scholar Wendy Brown. Brown has a book of essays called Edgework. Matters goes on to describe the collection of essays and how Edgework looks at the so-called normal or "popular" way of thinking about abortion and gay marriage with a critical eye. Her book is subtitled Critical Essays On Knowledge and Politics, and Matter's admits that the book doesn’t offer solutions or definite statements on these topics- it more encourages us to think critically about our own assumptions and go beyond or to "the edge" of our own thinking.

This article is interesting because it can be interpreted in a number of ways. On the whole my reaction was confusion upon my initial read. Matters tells the reader that Brown doesn't make many definite statements but rather suggests that thinking outside of owns usual train of thought can be beneficial (I think). Without having read any of the text I don't know for sure what Matters considers a definitive statement but she goes on to make a bunch of them in her article. She doesn't attempt to mirror the thoughts of Brown but rather calls the collection of essays an inspiration for her own response to the idea that we don't need Feminism.

She states that the wage gap is Feminist propaganda, Men rape because they are inherently violent and aggressive and women choose careers that pay less because of their inherent kindness and patient nature. Also, we need less femininity and more masculinity in order for progress to be made in culture and civilization.

These statements aren't elaborated upon very much and where they are seems to add to the articles general muddled feeling. The writer makes statements as facts- cites a study or New York times op-ed and moves on to the next statement. I want more from her in some areas but not anything from others.

For example: "Throwing a ball like a girl is lame. That’s why most people, male or female, prefer to watch the NBA over the WNBA. Aggression, intensity make sports more interesting and captivating."

I'm not sure how to interpret the latter intellectual statement with the former name calling ("You play ball like a Girl"). I mean, what? I'm sure there is more to the NBA vs. WNBA comparison besides the generalization that men are better at entertaining us in the sports arena. Some elements to consider might be the commercialization of the NBA, money and sponsorship disparities, environmental and societal elements that push boys towards sports and girls towards baking and sewing- just to name a few.

Matters also tells us- "we don’t need to balk at traditionally feminine values in the United States like they do in China. But effeminate nations of love and equality don’t produce companies like Google or Apple." It's interesting to me that Matters doesn't talk about what Feminism is besides that it involves being pro-abortion and supporting gay marriage, which she says is by far the cultural norm now. Google and Apple are what we should strive for in a society and all that girly crap isn't doing anyone any favor

So- why don't we need Feminism? Well, Matters gives us the skimpiest text in this section. Besides her calling Feminism outdated she calls for a new paradigm to move forward with- "One that is not so much a collective movement, but a way of living which respects and integrates men, women, and every beautiful and complex variation in-between."

She thinks women self select lower paying jobs because they don't care about money as much as men do. Men are bad- but that is good for society as a whole because otherwise we'd be like China and since Feminism doesn't stop rape then what's all the fuss about?

There is little here in the way of critical thinking in my opinion. Some controversial thoughts here and there but not much to chew on. Oh, and that collective movement integrating all of these beautiful variations of men and women? Well, that just seems like a cop out to me.