Women's History Month: The Feminist Feud: How We Won, Where We Failed & What’s Next

"I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves.”

Mary Wollstonecraft.

What does that last statement mean to you?

To me, it seems that Western society has been secretly singing the same tune since 1792.

Why do you think a woman living 233 years ago would even dare to say something like that?

Was she some sort of evil, conniving feminist?

If you could drop that question into an imaginary "Western Society Drop Box," I’m pretty sure the Evangelicals would give that a wholehearted amen.

Because that’s what Western society’s foundation is built on—the Industrial Revolution, the Age of Enlightenment, Evangelicalism, capitalism, the rise of the middle class, and the middle-class bourgeoisie.

(Side Bar: "conniving feminist" is purely for dramatic effect)

If you are unaware of Mary Wollstonecraft’s work, she is famously known for writing A Vindication of the Rights of Women, in which she chose to take a stand on how society views women and how women view other women in society.

My own sex, I hope will excuse me, if I treat them like rational creatures, instead of flattering their fascinating graces, and viewing them as if they were in a state of perpetual childhood, unable to stand alone. Contending for the rights of women, my main argument is built on this simple principle, that if she be not prepared by education to become the companion of man, she will stop the progress of knowledge and virtue:  for truth must be common to all.

Ok, so, my next question to you is why was it so important for women to socially act like pathetic pansies?

This is where Evangelicalism comes in.

Among many things, the effect of the Industrial Revolution bred a class of people. The middle-class bourgeois was built on a foundation of morally strong Evangelicalists that ‘pilloried’ the aristocratic values, and the term ‘Angel in the household’ was coined. A core belief of Victorian ideology was the 'separate spheres' concept: women belonged to the domestic sphere—home and family—while men operated in the public sphere of work and politics. The rise of the bourgeois lifestyle brought a whole new rulebook for women. Their moral code was to fight against the evils of society 

(think drinking, slavery, men behaving badly, and women working outside the home). 

But was expected to be modest, unassuming, submissive—seen as physically and mentally weaker —and therefore 'unfit' for most jobs (except domestic duties of course).

If that went right over your head, picture this: 

Take a piece of paper and draw two circles overlapping each other, with George Banks's face on the right and Winifred Banks on the left (from the movie Mary Poppins), and in the middle where this a little bit of a ‘gray’ area that's where they met (primarily over a martini and a slice of meatloaf) would be a perfect description of the term separate sphere ideology. 

The problem?

Since society insisted that the only place for a woman was in the home, these unrealistic expectations didn’t translate to the working-class ladies.

Enter feminism and the right to vote.

Yes, women were indeed fed up with the fact that they had no voice or power in the public sphere, but half needed a voice because they had mouths to feed and no one or government to help them and the other half saw a need to reform society and make it a purer place. 

Are you picking up what I’m putting down?

Our fight for a voice in the public sphere was split into two equally important, but totally opposite schools of Feminist thought.

Instead of banding together and forming the biggest and baddest ‘all women’s social elite team,’ attacking society's problems based on the fundamental needs of society, instead of its wants, they split into two.

Maternal Feminists (aka Winifred Banks): was based on strong Christian morals that wanted a voice in the public sphere to ‘transform daily life, based on the belief of universality of sin (that you’re born evil) and the need for a constant struggle against it,’ however, resisted the idea of women joining the public workforce.

Equal Rights Feminists (aka The Bra Burning Beasts): fought against unfair laws and attitudes that encouraged discrimination against women.

(which was basically everything.)

Ok, so here’s the part that I love.

Even though we were having our own internal conflict - and things were really bad - we still managed to get what we needed.

Here’s where I feel we missed the mark.

First, we need to acknowledge that being a Western woman is a privilege. Our foremothers have fought hard for our freedom and although there have been incredible changes for us over the last 20 years, that freedom is being compromised.

We need to draw a line in the sand - and it starts with supporting one another (even when you don’t want to). I’m not rallying for grandiose gestures, but to pay attention to those past narratives that held us back and be the change we want to see.

We owe it to our past and the future of all humankind.

What do you think?

Click below and let me know!

Until Next Week,

Stay Wild.