A brief look at several timelines published by various websites touch on the accomplishments of the Women’s Movement in Western culture since about 1848. (1)  Most of the milestones highlight issues such as women’s suffrage, equal pay for equal work, female political appointments, and the other legal battles for gender and racial equality.  No one would argue that these were important accomplishments which have contributed to the development of a more just and equitable society in our country.

 However, intertwined among these milestones are sparse references to birth control, reproductive rights, sexual abuse, child-care, and abortion.  Though reported in an innocuous manner they actually belie some of the more sinister motives that currently under-gird the movement.  I quote several prominent 20^th century feminists to illustrate. (2) (3)

 “The nuclear family must be destroyed, and people must find better ways of living  together…Whatever its ultimate meaning, the break-up of families now is an objectively revolutionary process…. No woman should have to deny herself any opportunities because of her special responsibilities to her children… Families will be finally destroyed   only when a revolutionary social and economic organization permits people’s needs for love and security to be met in  ways that do not impose divisions of labor, or any external roles, at all.”  Linda Gordon, “Functions of the Family,” WOMEN: A Journal of Liberation, Fall, 1969.

 

“We can’t destroy the inequities between men and women until we destroy marriage.”  Robin Morgan, from Sisterhood Is Powerful (ed), 1970, p. 537.

 

“By the year 2000 we will, I hope, raise our children to believe in human potential, not God.” Gloria Steinem, editor of MS magazine; Saturday Review of Education, March 1973.

 

“In order to raise children with equality, we must take them away from families and communally raise them.” Dr. Mary Jo Bane, feminist and assistant professor of education at Wellesley College, and associate director school’s Center for Research on Woman; Tulsa World, 8/21/77, Associated Press.

 

“Being a housewife is an illegitimate profession… The choice to serve and be protected and plan towards being a  family maker is a choice that shouldn’t be. The heart of radical feminism is to change that.” Vivian Gornick, feminist   author, University of Illinois, The Daily Illini, April 25, 1981.

 

“I feel that ‘man-hating’ is an honorable and viable political act, that the oppressed have a right to class-hatred  against the class that is oppressing them.” — Robin Morgan, Ms. Magazine Editor; “Lesbianism and Feminism:  Synonyms or Contradictions?”, in Going Too Far: The Personal Chronicle of a Feminist, p 178.

 

“Who cares how men feel or what they do or whether they suffer? They have had over 2000 years to dominate and made a complete hash of it. Now it is our turn. My only comment to men is, if you don’t like it, bad luck – and if you get in my way I’ll run you down.” Signed: Liberated Women, Boronia. (Herald-Sun, Melbourne, Australia – 9 February 1996.

 

 “All men are rapists and that’s all they are.” (thoughts of a fictional character used by Marilyn French in People, February 20, 1983. She later served as an advisor to Al Gore’s Presidential Campaign.)

 Interestingly enough these ideas, though apparently quite radical, have been present since the very earliest days of the more vintage feminism of the 1800’s.

These women certainly represent the more radical arm of the feminist movement. However ‘radical’ elements can exert a subtle influence on even the most moderate mind through the continual barrage of these values presented in myriads of ways through our educational system, news media and entertainment venues.

I am deeply disturbed by the display of an acrid, even perverse anger that almost borders on insanity.  We know that Spiritualism has many manifestations, but here we see it manifesting itself without any veil – like a wild infected animal – rabid, snarling and vicious, openly baring grisly fangs and attacking anyone who dares cross its path.  To think that these women and their protégés have been our thought leaders, glamorized stars of the entertainment industry, or teachers of our children is simply bone-chilling.

The strident voices of our feminist-infected culture bring me to currently understand that the goals of the feminist movement from its inception were at least threefold – foremost was religious anarchy –a totally Godless culture – spiritual of course, but without the God of the Bible.  Another goal was the destruction of the nuclear family, and finally the creation of human androgyny – the destruction of gender distinctions.  Terms often used today are gender equality, role interchangeability, and most recently fluid sexuality (one may be heterosexual, bisexual, transsexual, homosexual, or whatever you desire).  In future blogs I hope to explore the impact of these goals on homes, churches and society.

Were you as surprised as I was to read the quotations of radical feminists?  Can you see its effect in our culture?  Let me know what you think.

References

1)      The year 1848 is a widely accepted year for the beginning of the women’s movement as it marks the date when women organized in Seneca, New York to plan a strategy to obtain, among other things, the right for women to vote.

2)      These quotations were drawn from a large list of several quotations many of which were left out because of offensive and graphic language. Please be cautious if you decide to pursue the sources.  These types of quotations have had wide circulation on the Internet, so some that you may find, as noted below in the 3^rd reference may be inaccurate, but the most famous ones most have been checked.

3) Please take the time to read the book Radical Spirits – Spiritualism and Women’s Rights in Nineteenth-Century America.  How séances and trance speaking empowered a generation of American women to claim their own voices by Ann Braude.

4) An insightful paper on the destruction of the nuclear family worth reading –  The Howard Center for Family, Religion and Society; Volume 22, Number 07;  Oct/Nov 2005; ‘Deconstructing the Family’; Daniel R. Heimbach; http://profam.org/pub/rs/rs_2207.htm

Other sources for feminist quotes

http://www.womenagainstmen.com/media/feminism-is-a-hate-group.html

http://manboobz.com/2011/02/15/factchecking-a-list-of-hateful-quotes-from-feminists/

http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Havent-Lost-My-Virginity/1269918

http://www.americanthinker.com/2004/02/the_lefts_war_on_the_family.html

http://no-maam.blogspot.com/2007/01/womens-studies-101a-winter-semester.html