February 5, 2006

RIP Betty Friedan

Conservatives have done a good job of demonizing feminism, but that is a shame. All people like Friedan wanted was for women to be equals and to make their own choices. And while so many young women now distance themselves from feminism, they do so as they pursue professional degrees and negotiate relationships as equals.

As Friedan said herself: "'A woman has got to be able to say, and not feel guilty, `Who am I, and what do I want out of life?' She mustn't feel selfish and neurotic if she wants goals of her own, outside of husband and children,' Friedan said."

That isn't that radical. Men have done that for years. And conservative women--the same ones who badmouth feminism--are now doing that too. They just still like to put down feminism.

Anyway. This is one man who says "thanks and well-done" to Betty Friedan. We will miss you.

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