As we already know, feminist writer, women's rights activist, and DC settler, Betty Friedan died Saturday.
You either loved or hated her opinions. She was considered an instigator by many, and, at the same time, she was viewed as an innovator for her time. I'm not here to judge for either case. I didn't really know her. I probably won't ever understand what it means to be a feminist. So, why is a charismatic Christian talking about Betty Friedan or the Feminist Movement?
I met her once. The details may be sketchy, but I'll recall as much of the meeting.
With writing the "Feminine Mystique," she became a household word and feminist icon in the last half of the twentieth century. As time went on, her focus diverged to other directions. Later, she became a champion for the unborn, family stability, and ageism. Her path changes earned irks from other contemporaries. Even some of her fellow feminists later called her a reactionary.
Admittedly, I have not read any of her works or read any of her contemporaries' works, although I did receive a free copy of Simone De Beauvoir's feminist work "The Second Sex". It is somewhere located on a shelf on the "To Read" list.
Specifically, I met Betty Friedan around 2001 (I'm guessing) at a book signing.
I listened to her speak and talked to her briefly after the speaking engagement. There definitely was a mystique about this woman. She was a woman who helped change the cultural notion of what is the role of a woman, whether you believe it was good or bad.
Without reading her work and based on what people have said to me and how she presented herself at the talk, I perceived her as a strong willed personality. Although at first glance, I didn't think that was the case. She was sitting at the table appeared as a weary and delicate woman tired from too many fights, physically, intellectually, and emotionally.
Once she stood up and started to talk at the signing, I immediately saw a change in demeanor. She was articulate and complex, and I observed her as a highly opinionated personality.
It was like electricity shot through her veins and her fighting spirit just bubbled outward.
She founded NOW and NARAL. Let's not forget her involvement with the Political Women's Caucus. As folks already know, she resigned from NOW due to its' changing extremist goals. Even social activism has its politics. Social activism is politics, right?
After much time, the cultural attitudes shifted again and women decided that it was okay to stay at or work at the home. She also started to champion this new thought or taken to an updated version of a cause.
To become a stay-at-home mom was popular. So much growing national interest, women are teaching their school-age children at home that it is becoming a cultural norm.
At that book signing, her speech was slow, but she did not appear delayed in reaction and deliberateness. Her responses to questions were eloquent and direct. Surprisingly, I observed that both genders were fully represented, almost 50-50.
She talked about the rights of the unborn. My interest piqued with the discussion. It was as though she had turned 360 degrees about the pro-choice issue which was one of the major underpinnings for the modern feminist movement in the sixties and seventies. Here, she admitted that women do not have the right to undermine the right of the fetus.
Wow. That was a surprise. I later found that numerous pro-feminist, pro-life organizations were started.
As I recalled the details of her talk, she was not ashamed of her changes in beliefs or opinions.
Although I don't recall that she did admit it as a change in beliefs. Pretty gutsy, eh?
It is fortunate that she later regarded the rights of the unborn.
Unfortunately, I know family members and others who had abortions during their lifetime. I did not know about this bit of news until recently. One still doesn't know that I found out. I don't judge or condemn their decisions, but I'm saddened by their losses.
14So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this,
"Cursed are you above all the livestock
and all the wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
15And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring [a] and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel."
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