Reading Shelley Phillips' Beyond the Myths, a fascinating book that analyses mother-daughter relationships through "Psychology, History, Literature and Everyday Life", has almost shockingly transformed my perspective of the world. That is what Feminism does to you, I have been warned.
I picked up this book assuming it would be a 'tough read', but in spite of the academic tone and jargon it has a smooth flow and distinct voice that, allow me the cliche, renders it un-put-downable. The inter-disciplinary approach to this sensitive subject combines the best of the sciences, clinical studies and research, with voices from the past, drawing examples from the legends of Goddess-worshipping cultures to Shakespeare to Jane Austen to Virginia Woolf. Philips analyses history to illustrate the transformations the role of women has endured and discusses their strain on mother-daughter relationships. Her goal seems is to enrich these relationships by providing a clearer understanding of the 'roots of the mother-daughter conflict'.
Reading about everything from the underlying politics of the Witch Hunts to Victorian ideals of 'fair' women to Freudian explanations of female masochism, makes me wonder how the story of Eve will continue in the 21st century. What issues will be raised and what changes will come to her role in society? If my daughter or grand daughter was to look back, just like I am doing right now, what will she identify as the challenges faced by women at the turn of the 21st century? Will she be proud of what we have achieved?
I think one of the main issues that we have inherited form the previous millenium is the need for a balance between the working-woman and the housewife- their roles as wives, mothers and independent women, their rights as workers and citizens, and their impact on the economy and society will probably be redefined within the next 100 years.
The 'Global Economic Crisis', much like the World Wars and the Great Depression of the previous century, will be an axle for change. Globalization, the intergration of world cultures, will set new boundaries to the female sphere and allow Feminism to be (finally) studied beyond the West. Could the Arab Spring, another significant sociopolitical transformation of this decade, also be written about in the books of our children? My guess is yes.
The enfranchisment of women won in the last century will need to be built upon, giving women the world over not only the right to elect, but also the power to lead. Political philosophy will hopefully expand beyond the patriachal thinking of acquisiton and consumerism, to encompass a more feminist world view, or at least a more humanitarian foundation. Whishful thinking? Yes, that's me.
May be while we are at it, we could also declare war against (unethical) advertising? Even though I cannot tell you what criteria make an advertisement 'wrong' and what it is that should be done against it (censorship, anyone?), I say we bring an end to the lustful, idiotic representation of women in the media. Yes, dream on Hansi. May be we could ask Barbie to remove her silicons first? Oh, you mean they are real? I couldn't have guessed.
Feminism, as I understand it, has expanded and diversified so much over the last century, and has at times even become unrealistic and self-contradictory. Further evolutions are to be expected, but if feminism and the women's rights movement (two inter-related yet subtely different ideologies) are to stand true to their cause some knots will need untangling.
The woman who fought to have an equal opportunity to work has been shoved into a rat-race chasing unrealistic dreams of material wealth with no power for mental and spiritual wellbeing. As Phlips explains, have we become the generation of "daughters seduced by the images of the television soapies where the single, working girl, sexy and clever, with money in her pocket outshone the sickly, sweet mom"? I feel that at times a woman's need to live a family-oriented life with fewer material goals is frowned upon by hard-core feminists, a view directly in contrast to the freedom they advocate. Women today are chastised by society's desire for alpha-females, straining the feminine psyche. Similarily, the ban of the niqab in France, a move made to 'free women of oppressive religious dogma' is also a direct attack on a woman's right to freedom, to practice religion and dress the way she likes.
I am no fortune teller and I know not what the future will hold for us x-chromosomed humans. But change is inevitable (I can smell it in the air), and one thing is certain, whether you like it or not, we are all part of History.
