"The Flipside of Feminism"

  I like to listen to James Dobson's "Family Talk" during the boys' afternoon rest time which is often my start dinner prep/ do the dishes time. I love the program and have greatly benefited from it. One day they had Phyllis Schafly and Suzanne Venker on as guests and co- authors of a new book called "The Flipside of Feminism, What Conservative Women Know and Men Can't Say". I have always considered myself an "anti-feminist" which is no surprise. Their conversation peaked my interest and I immediatley order the book. It has been my intention to write a blog book review for each book I have read but that hasn't happened. This one, however, is too important to skip.

The basic theme of the book is how feminists have affected American women in the area of sex, marriage, children, work, and education. At first It seemed that the book was about how the feminist ruined America, which I think is true, but having finished the book it is more about how feminism has creeped into every woman, myself included. I was shocked to make connections from my own experiences that can be traced back to the feminist movement. Most Americans think like a feminist even as they vociferously deny being one.

I should start by defining feminism by what mainstream media advertises, left left left, pro choice, anti-male, oppressed women trying to obtain equality with men. I am not speaking of the suffragettes, rather the movement that started in the 1960's liberating women from basically everything but themselves. 

I know this is a sticky matter, so please just choose not to be offended but rather see how you too may have been affected. I am only speaking of MY personal experience. 

The main personal connection I made through the book had to do with career choice or lack thereof. I have never proudly told someone that I am a homeaker. Never. When meeting new people I usually hope they wont ask. I never took pride in my choice, despite my deep convictions that we were making the right choice. I always felt that it was looked down upon. Who ever would have created that idea? The feminists! One of my favorite quotes that accurately pinpoints what I have felt over the past 5 years,

The feminists came along and undermined the value of motherhood.  They spread the message that motherhood isn't a suitable career goal for educated women.  Women, they said, should make careers- not children- the focus of their lives. 

This is just it. In high school I was considered a smart girl. I didn't really want to go to college but that is what smart girls do and what else was I going to do? I wanted my MRS and that was about it. I made no secret of it either. I had a horrible time picking a major and then picked one that is useless without a Masters, which would cause another uproar. I am sooooo thankful for my time at OU. I loved it, but it might have been little more than an expensive way to meet my man! I am very grateful that Brian and I met at a young age. I am not sure how well I would have fared on my own. I never had career ambitions in college... Or after. It was a no brainier for me to stay home after Baker was born. I wasn't giving up much money and why work? Lol, I had a baby to take care of. Seriously though, I am thankful to The Lord for shaping our hearts to make the decisions we did. 

 In North Dakota most women are homeakers. I don't know if it is the oil boom or just that it is a super conservative state, but many women are at home. I don't find this to be the same in Oklahoma, or not in my surroundings. There are lots of women at home, but my pre-baby friends all have sweet careers that they have worked hard for. These are some of my favorite women who I know think I am crazy. They don't or can't understand. I feel bad for not making my own way because that is what educated women do! They can't see how I am sane or happy because why would an educated women sit on her butt all day? It blows my mind and breaks my heart all once. 

I highly highly recommend this book, especially to my generation and younger. It is important to see why we believe as well as what we believe. It seems things are swinging back up for the conservative woman, but it's an uphill battle. My sons will be attacked like men three generations ago weren't. I pray there will be conservative women for them to marry.  I will have to accurately point out the feminist views to all my children and teach them how men and women are different and to embrace those differences. I hope to take pride in my "career" choice from now on and continue to recognize the self centered influence of feminism in my world. 

I hope you read the book!