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The New Face Of Feminism

Nov 23, 2015
by Caroline Miller
alpha males, being Macho, feminism, gender roles, Jennifer Baumdardner, Millennials embrace human potntial, What A Feminist Looks Like
4 Comments

One of my blog readers is a baby boomer. We’ve never met but sometimes he comments on a blog, particularly in support of  women’s issues.   Being curious,  I emailed him one day to ask how he came to be so sensitive to the goals of feminism.  His answer: “I’ve got daughters.”

I laughed at what might have seemed an obvious answer, except fathers have had daughters for centuries and still women have been oppressed. I applaud this baby boomer’s understanding of what’s at stake, but the thaw I sense toward feminism may stem from men’s growing awareness that they benefit, too.  Slowly, almost painfully, the bonds of traditional masculinity may be breaking.  As Jennifer Baumgardner outlines in, “This Is What A Feminist Looks Like,” men are no longer valued for being alpha males — aggressive, invulnerable, daring, or successful — a change which is welcome.  Aggression as a state of mind can result in “poor psychological and physical health” and leave men with anger as the sole, acceptable emotion.  (More, October 2015 pgs. 92.) 

Macho values may account for why “boys in the U. S. are more likely than girls to be diagnosed with behavior disorders, given drugs to control that behavior, engage in binge drinking, commit more violent crimes and have a higher rate of suicide….” (Ibid pg. 92)  

If there’s one gift baby boomers have given to their children, it’s confidence and that confidence has allowed them to see that people are more complex than the narrow roles society has carved out for the sexes. Millennials have an openness to human potential and a kindness of spirit which may yet free us all — in spite of  our fear of change.

As one professor recently said of his students, “I believe that young people [today] have more experience with interpersonal gender equality than any generation in history.” (Ibid pg. 93.)   Feminism may at last have its standard bearers, not only among women but among an entire generation of the young. (See Blog 11/2/15 & 11/21/15.)

Diversity

Courtesy of photobucket.com

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4 Comments
  1. Susan November 23, 2015 at 9:36 am Reply
    I am firmly convinced that fundamentalist religion's emphasis on diminishing women's role in the politics and culture skews the men toward the anger you reference in your piece. I would also agree with you that there are many more balanced men around now than there were fifty years ago. Balanced women as well.
    • Caroline Miller November 23, 2015 at 9:55 am Reply
      So the world isn't entirely falling apart. Good trends afoot.
  2. Bill Whitlatch November 23, 2015 at 9:54 pm Reply
    https://scontent.fsnc1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1453491_10151721955206752_1697029771_n.jpg?oh=0149e6f144c5dc5fef0e8dafcf2f444b&oe=56E5FC1E
    • Caroline Miller November 24, 2015 at 8:01 am Reply
      Thanks for sending the picture Bill. Hope others can enjoy it, too.

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Contact Caroline at

carolinemiller11@yahoo.com

Portland, Oregon author Caroline Miller had distinguished careers as an educator, union president, elected official and artist/advocate.

Her play, Woman on the Scarlet Beast, was performed at the Post5 Theatre, Portland, OR, January/February 2015

Caroline published a serialized novelette, Marie Eau-Claire, on the website, The Colored Lens.  She also published the story Gustav Pavel,  a parable about ordinary lives, choice and alternate potential, on the website Fixional.co.

Caroline has published four novels

  • Ballet Noir
  • Trompe l’Oeil
  • Gothic Spring
  • Heart Land

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