Getting It

“Though the two are easily confused, female cynicism about men is not an expression of feminism. The cynic assumes that men will always have power over women and the will to exploit it, that if things change it can only be for the worse. But since few people can live entirely without hope, she tends to displace hers onto the past. For the feminist’s utopian vision, she substitutes a romantic nostalgia for patriarchal paternalism; she imagines that by pursuing freedom we’ve gained nothing, only sacrificed the ‘respect’ and ‘protection’ and ‘commitment’ that were once our due.  This is the familiar stuff of female antifeminism. But it can get complicated, because sometimes the feminist and the cynic are the same person.” — Ellen Willis.

Wish we’d all read this when we were trying to figure out Sarah Palin feminism.

Also, “Because I’m not a chick I’ve only read her rock criticism” is—coming from someone who is clearly smart and interested in learning—is the most idiotic statement I’ve heard in a while.

(Source: emilybooks)