Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 20, 1994 TAG: 9402130202
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: F-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Reviewed by LUCY LEE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
According to Naomi Wolf, October ll, 1991 was the beginning of a new era for women.
That was the day that Anita Hill began her testimony and set in motion a genderquake, an "abrupt shift in the balance of power between U.S. women and men." This shift allows women to see themselves as agents of change rather than as helpless victims.
The basis of the genderquake is not just the blow patriarchy received when "a phalanx of white men . . . showing at best blank incomprehension, and at worst a cavalier, humiliating disregard for women's reality and testimony" reflected a "democracy" that excluded women. It includes passage of the Family Leave Act and Violence Against Women Act, investigation of the Tailhook scandal and allegations of sexual harassment against Sen. Packwood, the '92 election of a record number of women to Congress and the appointment of Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Court.
Lest we begin to think that women have finally arrived, Wolf devotes one of the strongest sections of the book to "What Went Wrong? How So Many Women And Their Movement Parted Ways." She believes feminism has deserted mainstream women who, for the most part, lead lives that reflect feminist principles but who do not call themselves feminists.
Their aversion to the label is rooted in several sources: The media and the religious right have done much to discredit feminism and perpetuate unfair stereotypes. And the movement has been taken over by an extremist minority who champion such specific issues as lesbianism, abortion rights, combat duty for women in the military, victim rights and censorship of pornography.
Many women are turned off by an organization that requires adherence to such a rigid check list of attitudes. In order to appeal to the majority of women, feminism must be reclaimed as a movement concerned with a woman's right "to define herself, express her beliefs, and make her own life."
Another problem is that feminist debate has moved to the academic arena where it has become enshrouded in obscure language and theory. (A major plus for Naomi Wolf is that she is trying to return the debate to a larger audience by addressing everyday issues with plain language, in both mainstream publications and through speaking engagements.)
A large section of the book is devoted to an analysis of victim vs. power feminism. Victim feminism, which prevails today, is what Wolf abhors. In part, it appeals for status on the basis of feminine specialness instead of human worth. It promotes the idea that women are superior to men because of their childbearing ability, nurturing qualities, reliance on intuition, preference for decision-making via consensus and their supposed non- competitive natures.
Wolf knows that this ideology is unsound and, whereas it may earn short-term gains, it ultimately sets women up for failure.
She also warns against another aspect of victim feminism - the tendency to seek power through an identity of powerlessness, i.e., as a victim. Her stance will likely be criticized as unsympathetic to victims of sexual abuse, rape or other forms of violence. Wolf makes clear, though, that it is important to recognize the ways in which women have been victimized. What she protests is the mind-set that sees women as natural victims or encourages them to center their identity on their victim status.
Power feminism, which merely wants "more for women," is what Wolf advocates: "[W]omen will win their rightful place when they change their image of themselves and focus not on being good, or being hurt, or begging for justice, but on consolidating the clout that lets them dictate the terms of their lives."
Forget the old feminist notions that power is a tool of the patriarchy and is, therefore, evil, or that a desire for money is elitist. Without power and money women will never rise out of helplessness and poverty. (Thus the title of the book, from the proverb, "Fight fire with fire.")
It is important that Wolf includes men in her vision of feminism for, as she notes, "Fathers, brothers, sons, lovers, husbands, friends: All the men who care about the women in their lives are, whether they know it or not, male feminists." And her maxim that one can hate sexism without hating men is well worth remembering.
We should be aware that Wolf's views are based primarily on her own and her friends' experiences - a decidedly well-educated and advantaged group. Many of her ideas were reinforced by young women she met through campus speaking engagements - a result of her 1991 bestseller, "The Beauty Myth." Wolf's own experience is enhanced, however, by a thorough knowledge of feminist theory and women's history. Her common sense approach and practical suggestions are added pluses.
Although the book has its flaws - it's somewhat repetitive and, therefore, too lengthy; some "remedies" are simplistic or questionable; it drags in spots - it is important because it raises necessary questions about the current version of feminism and brings fresh insight to old problems. Wolf's message is sensible, honest and clearly articulated. Even better, she makes us think the new female power can change the 21st century.
Lucy Lee is a free-lance writer and advocate for women's rights.
by CNB