In case you missed it, August was “National Breastfeeding Month.” I find it incredible that so many celebrity moms banded together to tell women how to raise their babies and no one really took notice.  We should be thankful that celebrities are out there willing to tell us that it is okay to breastfeed.  If we ignore them, they might stop telling us who to vote for or even worse, how many sheets of toilet paper we should use!  Back to reality.  Did they think that millions of American women would not perform one of the most natural acts in the herstory of womynkind until the girl from that Doritos commercial says it’s okay to whip ‘em out?   

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According to this latest PSA from TheBump.com, breastfeeding could save the US government some ridiculous amount of money each year in healthcare costs. First of all, no one can save the government money because the government doesn’t know how to save money. I’m curious: I wonder how much money the government will save if everyone stopped smoking. 

Gisele Bundechen, the Brazilian civil rights hero, I mean supermodel, recently pronounced “I think there should be a worldwide law, in my opinion, that mothers should breastfeed their babies for six months.” And what happens if we don’t Gisele? Do we get thrown in a Nipple Nazi lactation prison? 

Sure, breastfeeding is one of the most primitive and natural things a woman can do, similar to giving birth or going to the bathroom. But what happens to women who choose not to or can’t breastfeed? Are they to be considered as less of a mother?  Why do celebrities want to make women who can’t or choose not to breastfeed feel like they are incomplete mothers?  (more…)

“Feminism is a Crock – and Other True Stories.” That’s the title for a book I’d like to write someday. The reason I say feminism is a crock is because it has morphed from “equal rights for all” to “women are better than men, and if you disagree you’re a sexist pig who should be castrated.” It’s also morphed into a sexual free-for-all: what used to be sauce for the gander (and those ganders were usually considered cads) is now sauce for the goose. This image is being perpetuated by pop culture and entertainment, and women are more and more frequently being portrayed as strong through their sexuality, not through their actual accomplishments. Is this the standard to which we want our daughters to aspire?

Early feminists fought against the centuries-old image of a “woman on a pedestal.” Gloria Steinem (she of the “a woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle” who in later years ended up getting married anyway) once said, “A pedestal is as much a prison as any small, confined space.” I suppose a bra is also a small, confined space, which might explain the bra burnings of the 1960s. But the early feminists had a point – to a point. If a woman wants to be put on a pedestal and admired and adored, fine. But if she doesn’t, she should have the right to do with her life as she chooses. She should be free to pursue any vocation for which she is qualified, either as a single or married woman, children or no children.

But one of the problems with the new feminism was the annoying little fact that children could get in the way of this brave new world. Having to either stay at home with the little tykes or find daycare for them – not to mention all of the discomfort and disfiguration that comes with pregnancy itself – sure put a damper on Gloria Steinem’s idea of a “liberated woman” being “one who has sex before marriage and a job after.” Unbridled sex does, after all, have consequences. And so, according to historian Elaine Tyler May, birth control was “an important tool to gain control over their lives.” (more…)

According to my wife, I have a tendency to state my opinion as fact.  She suggests that I begin my sentences by saying “It’s only my opinion, but…” and go on from there.  It’s my opinion, however, that people already understand that it’s my opinion and that they share it if they’re smart, or don’t, if they’re not.  Furthermore, I don’t see my main function as a communicator to convince liberals, who are notoriously as blind as bats, to see the light, but to provide my fellow conservatives with ammunition to use against left-wingers and, whenever possible, to amuse. 

Gloria Steinem

In any case, in the spirit of compromise, let us pretend that each of the following paragraphs begins “It’s only my opinion, but…” 

When Gloria Steinem, who had been lionized by the ladies of NOW for her rather dumb remark about women needing men like fish needed bicycles, finally got married at the age of 66, I thought people should have sent her greeting cards complimenting her on having belatedly grown gills.  (more…)

I knew Jane Fonda’s blog would be a treasure-trove of fun information! 

Last night was the first preview for “33 Variations” at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, and to celebrate her triumphant return to the Great White Way, Blog-erella posted pics of all of the very, very important people who came to see and support her.  I suggest you check it out and look at the pics…  It is a veritable “Jurassic Park” of feminist raptors! (more…)