I think that men and women are miserable for reasons besides follies in political discourse. I don't know what happened to feminism- it's a flawed ideology. I mean, I support gender equality- absolutely- and women's rights, but feminism is so flawed at the moment that I don't think that feminism or many feminists know what it's about any more.

I think that men and women are miserable because lack of spirituality, nature, art, and all sorts of things. It's just like we're standing on a cliff and we need to move to a higher plateau.

Scary! I was on Yaz for years to help with menstrual cramps, and then was on Yaz when I accidentally conceived my son. But he was not harmed, THANK GOD!

I was a working mom out of necessity and miserable. Now I am a stay at home mom. I cook, I clean, and I mother my child and I am so stress free! At least for me, the old gender roles work the best!

To me, feminism means "be narcissistic, materialistic, power hungry jerks like the men you hate."

Failed feminism means "you idiot, you chose to raise those fetuses, so now you're divorced, poor, & on anti-depressants. You should have rejected men & become either a New Age lesbian, or a pro-choice politican married to a sleazy womanizer."

I'll just choose to be a Christian, thank you. In God's law, there's more freedom, dignity & respect for all people.

That's an interesting post about the deaths resulting from oral contraceptives. Here's another:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091026152820.htm

An interesting fact: in the US, today, more women are killed by hormonal contraceptives every year than were killed by illegal abortions in 1965.

I actually had a fairly positive experience on Yaz. All the possible side affects, serious ones included, are explained in the handout you get with each box of pills. You can chose to take the pills are not, but the side affects are fairly explicitly spelled out. I don't understand what all the ruckus is about.

I benefit from feminism, and I wholeheartedly tell you that I'm made quite happy by it. I like being able to work outside the home, and being judged by more than my uterus.

A feminist is a person who answers "yes" to the question, "Are women human?" Feminism is not about whether women are better than, worse than or identical with men. And it's certainly not about trading personal liberty - abortion, divorce, sexual self-expression - for social protection as wives and mothers, as pro-life feminists propose. It's about justice, fairness, and access to the broad range of human experience. It's about women consulting their own well-being and being judged as individuals rather than as members of a class with one personality, one social function, one road to happiness. It's about women having intrinsic value as persons rather than contingent value as a means to an end for others: fetuses, children, the "family," men. (Katha Pollitt)

A feminist is a person who answers "yes" to the question, "Are women human?"

Rubbish.

I will not wear the label of "feminist" even if I do believe women are human.

Sounds like you want to be autonomous. Good luck with that.

Human Abstract,
Are we allowed to appreciate our children, families and men at all?
How much is too much? You make it sound as though any woman who truly appreciates these things is a Neanderthal.

I'm sorry, but abortion factors nowhere into "...justice, fairness, and access to the broad range of human experience", since it entails you denying men and even other women that all-important "human experience". I'm also insulted that anyone would claim that I, as a feminist pro-lifer, would even entertain the notion that women are anything less than human. I just will not discriminate against women who are yet to be born in that department. You might want to rethink your feminism, since you would deny many women such consideration.

Actually, I would love to be autonomous, without being forced to involve anyone else in my private business. I chose to involve friends, family and partner in my life, but I certainly don't have to; I have no obligations to do so. Appreciation of those things is voluntary, and entirely dependent upon their individual value in your life. I value and appreciate my partner, and my friends, because of their value in my life.

I believe the rights of a born woman trump that of an unborn, unformed, incomplete fetus. By forcing a woman to be a mother, you ARE denying her the broad range of human experience. By forcing a woman to be second to her uterus, you ARE making her less than human; she becomes a body part, a walking womb. Personally, I feel that pro-life feminism is a contradiction in terms.

"Are women human?" yes, only if they're already born.

Yeah, uh, thanks feminists! Thanks for standing up for your unborn sisters! HYPOCRITES.

Personally, I feel that pro-life feminism is a contradiction in terms.

Posted by: Human Abstract at October 28, 2009 10:18 PM

What???? To be a woman is to be willing to abort? Lovely.
I think your personal experience is one that not too many women share. By nature, humans are social. Apparently you are not so much.

No, I said pro-life feminism is a contradiction in terms. To be pro-life is to be willing to take away abortion rights from other women. Not everyone is willing to undergo an abortion, and no one should ever, ever force them. Women should, however, have that choice for themselves--they shouldn't have it made for them.

Not sure where you get the idea that I'm not social. There's a difference between being autonomous and being anti social.

Sorry. I didn't realize that being a real feminist(TM) meant that there was a list of certain other women you must dehumanize and degrade. Good to know.

I believe the rights of a born woman trump that of an unborn, unformed, incomplete fetus. By forcing a woman to be a mother, you ARE denying her the broad range of human experience.

Feminism (as outlines here) is deranged. Pursue it and you will become a wraith.

You precious "experience" is more important thatn another person's life.

Okay, that's repulsive.

excuse the typos

There's a difference between being autonomous and being anti social.

If you only care about others b/c of their "value" to you, I'd suggest you'll end up a lonely old woman.

You don't sound like the kind of person I'd like to have in my life, to be frank.

I love my family and friends, not so much because of their "value" to me, but b/c they are inherently lovable.

A woman can choose not to have sex, if she doesn't want to become a mother. As soon as you have sex, even with reliable contraception, you must be open to the idea that another human life could form. If it does, it's right to live does actually trump all your desires. All of them.