Parker: Yes, a woman can be both feminist and conservative
by Kelli
Only in Washington would anyone ask this question: Can a woman be both feminist and conservative? Why, yes, she can!
But the question does deserve a more serious answer so women can stop fussing over labels and litmus tests to determine whether a woman who doesn’t fall in line with feminist ideology can be useful to society. Specifically, is a female politician worthy of women’s support in public office even though she may be pro-life or might have spent her younger years at home raising her children?
This may seem an absurd question on its face — because it is. But in reality, conservative women face far greater obstacles to public service than their more-liberal counterparts primarily because of reproductive issues. EMILY’s List, for example, anoints women candidates for public office (Translation: Are they pro-choice?) and has clout in the political realm. Conservative women needn’t apply….
Why should smart conservative women essentially be blackballed by liberals based on whether they are liberal or conservative enough on this single issue?
~ Kathleen Parker, Washington Post, December 9
[Photo via news.nd.edu]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
I’d focus on the “useful to society” part rather than worrying about what can fit into “feminist ideology”.
The problem is that feminist ideology today has been tied to the right to abort one’s children. This is a huge departure from the origins of the (largely pro-life) feminist movement in America. That is why so many have the idea that you can’t be a feminist and also believe in the right to life of children in the womb.
“I’d focus on the “useful to society” part rather than worrying about what can fit into “feminist ideology”.”
Indeed. In fact, I think one of the biggest mistakes someone can make in politics is to try and align one’s views with a particular ideology instead of trying to do the right thing.
One should think that authentic feminism would celebrate strong women wherever we find them. Feminism should desire to see women leading in both political parties, in business boardrooms and offices, in churches and charities, in family businesses and family homes.
Feminism would rightly recognize that abortion is a very important concern for women — but authentic feminism would not take sides.
Authentic feminism would expect pro-bort women to lead with a cry that “Abortion helps women.” And authentic feminism would equally demand that pro-life women would cry out, “Abortion hurts women.”
Modern feminism is blind in one eye, and that has severely impaired its relevance to modern culture.