Ok, so this is not what you think... I was reading a book review on a site I go to to find new books to read, (My old method of going to the library, sitting on the floor in the aisle, and reading random pages from the middle of the book for hours at a time to figure out if I think it's something I would like... isn't conducive to my lifestyle anymore.) when I came across a book review about Twilight.
Now, think what you may about Twilight.. that's not what this is about...
I read several reviews, some of them loved it, some of them hated it... but one of the reviews really sucked! Some of the review was pointed and objective, and I could see where she was coming from... until I laid my tired eyes on this little ditty of an excerpt:
"This is such a profoundly antifeminist novel. And it's funny, because I think Meyer has no idea that it's antifeminist. I mean, she has a female heroine! A heroine who reads Austen and writes essays about misogyny in Shakespeare! Surely she's kicking butt for all womankind. Um... no. She cooks, she cleans, she looks after the man in her life! She needs male characters to protect her from the big, bad, scary world! She falls headfirst into a disturbingly dysfunctional relationship with a man 90 years her senior without the slightest amount of worry!"
Ok,... I know this girl...because I used to BE her! I get it, cooking, cleaning, looking after the man in her life... these are all female roles, traditionally speaking, of course. And, once upon a time, I would have been right there with her.. I mean, being a feminist means you don't cook, clean, or take care of anyone!... right? Traditional roles are for weak people who can't make up their own minds, right? Strong independent women don't need anyone, right?!!!?
So disillusioned... It is concerning that this not-so-new wave of misunderstood feminism is perpetuated in women today. Feminism is so much bigger than this. True feminism isn't just about females at all... it's about a more gender-equal society for everyone! Gender roles are nothing more than a social construct.
So the heroine in the story fills a portion of, what we consider, traditionally female roles... that part is undeniable, but to say this is antifeminist.. is actually an antifeminist statement in itself. Stay with me...
Feminism is about breaking free from the social constructs that, previously, held women AND men in their respective "places." (I'm going to break off from involving men for the rest of this rant, because I think you get the point.) I think any true open-minded feminist would agree, this is the goal of the feminist movement.
So, if the goal is to break down social constructs that have confined women throughout history, then wouldn't the obvious solution be to simply not honor social constructs?
I have always been hard-headed, hard working, and independent. All my life, and all through college, I was obsessed with graduating college, getting a corner office, and having dozens of minions to do my bidding.
I wanted these things, not because I truly wanted them, but because I bought into the falsity that this is what would make me a strong woman. Who sold me this treacherous idea of strength?... the feminists. Not true feminists, women who took one idea from the feminist movement, and turned it into an additional form of oppression. These women have created a whole new social construct for women to fall subject to if they wish to be viewed as strong and independent.
So... thanks? If I honor social constructs, which I do not, I can't claim "feminism," because then I am a man-hating bitch who can't cook or clean,... and I can't cook, clean, or take care of my man, because then I am a weak antifeminist woman incapable of independent thought.
Isn't that the opposite of the desired result?
And, since when is it antifeminist to accept help when you're in need? I call that resourceful..
Is it "antifeminist" to fall in love, with wreckless abandon, with a super hot, mature, well-read, worldly being with an impressively eclectic taste in music?... I think it's just nature at its finest. A passionate biological reaction to sex appeal that we, as a species, happen to enjoy as a whole.
Is it "antifeminist" to have a relationship with someone older than you?... or is that just another socially constructed brick we'd like to stack on top of the wall of shit that keeps us from living life the way we choose... or the way we would choose, if not for being pulled in a confounding mass of directions.
Come on ladies!... get your head out of your vagina. Why are we creating (or re-creating) a society in which women have to constantly defend their lifestyle choices??
The most depraved part of this whole antifeminist-feminist movement, is that women are no longer fighting for equality with men... we are at battle with each other. We shouldn't have to defend our lifestyle choices... least of all to other women. Support each other, and put an end to this self-righteous glorified form of same-sex bullying we are mistaking for feminism.
