February 25, 2015

"Many women are now exactly what feminists say they are: victims — only not in the way that feminism understands."

"They are captives behind enemy lines, but the enemy is not patriarchy or gender-norming. It’s the sexual revolution itself. And like other people held hostage for too long by a hostile force, these women are suffering from a problem that has had a name for some time. It’s Stockholm syndrome."

That's the last paragraph of an article in National Review by Mary Eberstat that has a title that's so unhelpful in understanding what it's about — "Jailhouse Feminism" — that the subtitle — "What the raging gets right" — is followed by 3 suggested tweets, none of which are too helpful either.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Feminism is the best thing that ever happened to men of low morals.

mccullough said...

Maybe the editor didn't read the article.

I've never heard of the term jailhouse feminism before. Maybe the editor was taking a swipe at the author.

Anyway, isn't slut outdated? I though the term nowadays was THOT

rhhardin said...

My favorite frame from Thurber's War of Men and Women was the Capture of Three Physics Professors.

Thurber thought it was fun, as I do.

traditionalguy said...

Snarling animalistic sluts are really not marriage material, unless there are some men out there seeking suicide by marriage.

But insanity gets attention and compassion for a season. Who doesn't love alcoholics, until fed up day arrives.

Bob Ellison said...

That essay needs editing, and better headline-writing.

I joke to friends that "I read the Internet every day". It's a problem. There's so much bad writing on the Internet that it's also a challenge.

Good persuasive writing, we were taught in grade school, requires that you state your conclusions immediately, preferably in the first two sentences or so. Then you proceed to proof and argument.

Most web writers don't do that, and even most essayists who apparently get paid for it, like this one for National Review, don't do that.

Say what you want to say, quickly, or else I'm gonna click elsewhere!

lgv said...

It's like all movements. It strives for justice and equality, except for situations where the members of the movement actually get preferential treatment by their distinction.

As the saying goes, sometimes you can't have it both ways. OK, you can, but not without compromising your own philosophy.

SGT Ted said...

Noting says "Strong, independent Woman" quite like "I'm a victim".

Larry J said...

SGT Ted said...
Noting says "Strong, independent Woman" quite like "I'm a victim".


"I am strong.
(STRONG)
I am invincible.
(INVINCIBLE!)
I'm a VICTIMMMMMM!"

The Godfather said...

Should be "none of which IS too helpful". "None" is singular.

A pet peeve. Sorry.

Unknown said...

Contrary to popular opinion, sex has consequences

n.n said...

Pro-choice. Choose life, not abortion. The cost of waging war on wholly innocent human lives has been too high.

Sloanasaurus said...

Another possible explanation for this type of behavior could simply be the never ending quest to be better or different from the prior entertainer. If Madonna made money by wearing underwear, then someone can come up with the idea to make more money by wearing less underwear. The sweet spot for success is just slightly more shocking than what the last person did.

I'm not sure though if this type of behavior translates to normal life. People dress up like Madonna any Miley Cyrus for Halloween. They are not going to work as her.

Michelle Dulak Thomson said...

Um, the editor obviously did read the article. "Jailhouse feminism" is used several times, albeit not in the opening grafs.

traditionalguy said...

Camille Paglia now says her thought is for a woman to be a "street wise feminist."