What are Feminist Goals?

One article actually finally tells me what feminist goals are.
1. Men are accountable for rape
2. Gender equality in the classroom

Gender equality in the classroom - no brainer, I'm there. I am so there I believe in true equality. The ultimate goal is no special treatment. No quotas. Have I gone too far?

On principle I don't disagree with men are accountable for rape. There's more nuance to it.

Dena's Rape
So Jacob moves to a new place. Dena, the only daughter mentioned with his 12 sons, decides to check out the new town. She comes across a bunch of guys at the local hangout. The town leader has sex with her. Dena was independant and had something special. Independant because she ventured out on her own - her brother's always did. And had something special because the town leader wanted to marry her. In an Orthodox Jewish Day School, we learned it was rape. Her family finds out and the town leader tells her father that he wants to marry her. Jacobs says he can marry her only if he agrees to circumcision. The town leader not only agrees, but requires every man in the town to undergo the operation. While the town is recovering from the operation, Dena's brothers, Shimeon and Levi murdered everyone in the town. Jacob was not pleased that his son's defamed his word that on his deathbed he mentioned the crime and did not bless them as he did his other sons.

We brushed over this and many other stories in 4th grade. We revisited it in highschool. By that time my opinions were set. We were told to dress modestly because boys may desire you. I felt it was their problem. We shouldn't go out in strange neighborhoods unescorted. Excuse me - if a guy can do it I can do it.

Yes, we have to change the system. It's been around for 3000 years. We've made some progress in the western world. We have a way to go. If it was up to me - everything would be gender neutral. I saw a Star Trek episode on that. It didn't work out so well. But I still believe it. Perhaps, we should look east.

Back to cutie face - She will be going to an egalitarian Jewish School. I hope she will learn torah, talmud and philosphy as I did. She needs to learn enough to think for herself and be her own person.

Bitchfest

Yesterday I roller-bladed to the Nyack Library to see if they had The Feminine Mistake by Leslie Bennett. They didn't - it's on order. I walked away with 3 books, Bitchfest - 10 years of of Bitch magazine - 1996- 2005, You're Wearing That - converstaions between mother and daughters, and (I can't remember the third about the joys of stay at home women)

I somehow missed Bitch Magazine. I was busy working on the Enron account and falling in love with financial matters. Yes, the web allowed me to do my first stock trade and I loved tracking companies and making money.

I started reading the Mother Daughter book and put it down after the first chapter. I took Bitchfest with me on the train. I feel like I missed out on Bitch Mag. But I think if I had it instead of the WSF and FT, I wouldn't be where I am today.

When I was 18, I got a fundraising mailer from ERAmerica. They were an organization to extend the passage of the Equal Right Amendment for another three years. I didn't have any money so I sent an letter asking to be a summer intern at their Washington, DC offices. That summer, 1981, President Reagan nominated Sandra Day O'Conner to the Supreme Court. This was a highlight of my summer. I called the State offices in AZ and spoke with her secretary. I reported back she was one of us. And as history has shown - she was pretty close to me. I've moved a little left with the latest Supreme Court. Now I identify with Ginsberg.

I realized that summer that the women in the office still really wanted a husband. I found a boyfriend (law clerk) within two weeks of being in WDC. I was also surprised they were so into Diana's wedding that summer. I couldn't have cared less. I even thought Diana's dress was downright ugly. So not aa fashion girl.

Playing Softball on the mall that summer and working DNC parties, I noticed a particular Congresswomen making all the rounds. I was doing the party thing and she was everywhere. I wanted to come back to WDC to be with my BF and to work for her on Capital Hill. I was selected to be an intern for Geraldine Ferraro. I didn't really like her. We parted ways before my internship was over. However, her AA got me an internship at the DNC. I was a decent softball player and being female actually helped.

As I read Bitchfest I will be adding ruminations. Mainly about who I am and how I want to raise of my daughter. She's 2-1/2 now and into the princess thing. I grew up in the 60's and always hated the fact that girls and boys were treated differently. My tomboy passion of the 70's and 80's stems from this inequality. I hoped it would have changed by now. It hasn't.