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Radfem bible was published in 1949
Since then women have won their financial independence and access to birth control
Still, almost everything de Beauvoir writes about is still relevant today...women are financially independent but still subjugated by men everywhere
Women's condition is desperately stagnant or am I too pessimistic? Why financial independence has not ended patriarchy?
I just bought this book and it’s in my list of waiting titles. I haven’t loved contemporary French feminism but the 1970s authors (De Beauvoir, Irigaray) remain fastidiously relevant.
Women’s increased participation in the capitalist asset-owner run work sphere (where we continue to be underpaid for the same, if not more labor) hasn’t liberated us. We continue to be exploited for our unpaid labor as child bearers and house slaves.
The foundation of this country (the US where I live) beginning with Puritanism and leading to chattel slavery, was fundamentally positioned to exploit female labor. In fact, it formed the basis of chattel slavery itself, which is the worst form of human debasement ever invented.
Our liberation isn’t over and it sure as hell won’t be won over a few more cents on the man’s dollar.
Lol women's condition isn't stagnant. Financial dependence didn't end patriarchy (wouldn't it be so easy if it did)
Women's condition is based in men extorting women's labor by overvaluing their own. That dynamic hasn't gone away- look to women's labor to see how much has changed. Is housekeeping seen as culturally valuable? Is it a well paid profession? Is childcare valued? Are women able to stop working to provide childcare and still seen as contributing value?
To all these answers I'd say no, women are not better off. If anything women's work has been even more devalued as women prioritize seeking value in the male sphere.
Feminism has always been about women's right to say 'no' to refuse the male default, the and male expectations of women's behavior. Absolutely no headway has been made in that regard.
Liberal feminism would have you believe that we are all equal and empowered and rising up. These are lies. The generation of liberal feminists who are in charge now were and still are full of internalized misogyny.