Mrs. America and Why I Don't Fit in with Mainstream Feminism

[blackforest]

Feminism goes through its regular bash-and-trash rounds on CAF, and I think it’s unwarranted, black-and-white thinking. It doesn’t have to be a dirty word, and we don’t have to let other define it for us. I love this article because the author so eloquently explains the dilemma of the pro-life-Catholic feminist.

Has anyone seen Mrs. America? I don’t get any streaming service, so I’m hoping it comes to DVD. What are your thoughts?

Is ‘Mrs. America’ the most feminist show on television right now? | America Magazine

The stories portrayed in “Mrs. America” encourage Americans on both sides to recognize that there is a class of women who were not welcome in 1970s feminism, but also did not align with anti-feminist women.

As a woman who is dissatisfied and angry with the world that both Steinem and Schlafly left for me, I have been moved by the portrayals of women on both sides of the movement, and I hope that those who identify with either of them can also develop compassion for characters who oppose their views.

 

[John_Martin]

As a Catholic Woman, you are In the World, but not Of the World.
You are, as a sojourner here, looking at the world’s cultural opposites of what it imagines a “real woman” to be. And while you look just like the women of the world’s invented cultures, you do your being virtuously, as a light shining that is different than they have ever noticed before, and you may draw others to desire to be Not Of the World, though In the World.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I prefer to just be myself and not hook up with any -isms. Except, of course, Catholicism.

The groupthink of groups of women is often every bit as bad as the groupthink of groups of men. If you have self-confidence then you don’t need a group backing you up.

 

[Polak]

The fact that America Magazine believes it’s the best political drama on television right now, is enough of a reason for me to avoid it.

 

[Tolle_Lege]

It looks like one of those shows that was conjured up in the immediate aftermath of all the “me too” news stories, but now it’s a day late and dollar short as racial tensions have taken the lead as more pressing with more “virtue cred.”

 

[dochawk]

I prefer to just be myself and not hook up with any -isms. Except, of course, Catholicism.

ahh.

antiismistism

 

[yankeesouth]

 

[blackforest]

This derails the thread, but I’ll just say that she’s really misrepresenting feminism.

 

[c4csp]

Women’s greatest honor in this world is to be a mother. Feminism crushes that idea. We get so caught up in the culture as if we live for this life. It is all about the next life folks.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Women’s greatest honor in this world is to be a mother.

Interesting viewpoint given all the female Catholic saints who weren’t mothers.

 

[twf]

What about women religious?
Motherhood may be the greatest natural honour though - supernatural honours aside.

 

[Dario_Western]

Feminism is basically women wanting equal opportunities that men have, equal pay for equal work and the right to control their own bodies. What’s so bad about that?

Women who call themselves feminists and are anti-men are NOT feminists at all, they are misandrists. Big difference.

 

[Lea101]

My issue with feminism is the way people treat it as a group.

I always approached it as an adjective to summarise a group of beliefs I have. I’m Lea, I’m an introvert, I’m a feminist, I’m short etc. As a result I never identified myself with a ‘group’, but people lump me in with one anyway.

I always feel uneasy with the west’s black and white view of things like this. Because it allows the ‘left’ or ‘secular’ world have a monopoly on these terms, and I think it does more harm than good especially when these terms become more mainstream. With JPII, Catholics had the opportunity of creating their branch of pro life feminism but i think we missed it.

Before feminism became the ‘in thing’, people generally acknowledge that there were different strains of feminism. Even now we can see different schools of thought (eg terfs, radical feminism and Liberal feminism), but somehow we became really lazy and merged it all into one movement. As a result you see people gatekeeping and whining about everything all day long.

Like I always said, if I see feminists marching for a cause I agree with, I’ll be with them. If i see them marching for something I don’t, then I’ll be against them. I think having group membership with an ideology can be dangerous at times. It can become a second religion where people think ‘Oh, I need to accept this if I’m a real feminist’.

 

[blackforest]

the right to control their own bodies.

This phrase is rather general. Is there a specific way of controlling one’s body that you had in mind? I actually don’t have a right to control my body. If I get a job at the local hospital, I’m required to get a flu shot. A number of doctors put laboring women through forced c-sections. And not that I want to, but there are certain drugs considered illicit that I cannot take.

If you’re talking about abortion, then come right out and say it. I’m not sure why the A-word is treated as so taboo . . . .

Just so you know, not of all of us feminists espouse the notion that women should be impelled to lie down on the abortionist’s table and endure corrective surgery in order to have access to the same rights and opportunities available to men.

 

[blackforest]

but somehow we became really lazy and merged it all into one movement.

I think that’s a danger we run into with any movement or belief.

A favorite quote of mine from pro-life feminist Maureen Jones-Ryan: “Labels and categories enslave the mind and dampen intellectual curiosity. But they certainly are convenient.”

On the other hand, movements and beliefs do need some sort of name so that we can identify them. We just should just stay open to diverse beliefs within any movement, whether it be feminism, Black Lives Matter, or anything else.

I think having group membership with an ideology can be dangerous at times.

I hear you there - that’s why I don’t affiliate with either major U.S. party.

 

[Lea101]

On the other hand, movements and beliefs do need some sort of name so that we can identify them

That’s true.

We just should just stay open to diverse beliefs within any movement, whether it be feminism, Black Lives Matter, or anything else

Highly unlikely. Everything is so black and white, as if we no longer have the cognitive ability for nuance anymore. It’s like talking to toddlers whenever I explain that painting feminism as all good or all bad is ridiculous!

 

[stpurl]

Speaking as mom and grandma, you would actually have more success talking to toddlers. They are at least open to learning; that’s what they’re in a sense ‘hard wired’ for.

Unfortunately too many adults think they know it all, know it ‘best’, and have ‘no’ room to consider anything else.

 

[Sarcelle]

I wonder about that too.

I’m not a mother so I must not have any honor.

 

[Dolphin]

The ultimate feminist in the history of the universe was Mary. Being pro-life by definition is being a feminist (even if modern society does not see this)

 

[c4csp]

Interesting viewpoint given all the female Catholic saints who weren’t mothers.

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twf

What about women religious?
Motherhood may be the greatest natural honour though - supernatural honours aside.

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LumineDiei

c4csp:

Feminism crushes that idea.

Authentic Catholic feminism doesn’t. Please rethink your statement in the light of all the women that can’t and didn’t have children…whether they were not able to physically, or remained single, whether as a Religious, a consecrated single, or as lay woman.

Religious women are great who aren’t mothers absolutely. We must remember the greatest saint of all, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Her greatest honor was being the mother of our lord Jesus.