Are we feminists or going back to the 1950s?

Question

A few decades ago women burned their bras and fought for equality with men. Today we are almost equal.

Why is it that so many women want to stay home? Their goal in life is "to be hot", to find a "husband" and "to be a good wife"?!?

What is going on?

I am not giving my personal views in this question. Please do not assume that I am a feminist or the opposite of a feminist - whatever that might be. I am only asking for opinions and information - not judgment.

I do not hate men! And I do not like bashing men. This question is about women and how the views of the current generation have changed somewhat that books such as the "Feminine Mistake" have been published explaining the dangers of staying at home.

Ok - there was no bra burning. Sorry for the reference. What I meant was the liberation of women and not so much a literal pile of burning bras.

I am a scientist not a historian and I admit, I should have researched this particular point before posting.

Again, all I want are opinions.

Answer 1

Well wasn't that the point, that women should be able to choose, but a lot of jobs were closed off to woman and you are right a lot of jobs and professions have opened for women.

If a woman's choice was only to work and not be allowed to choose to be a wife and mother then would not that be just as wrong as not allowing them to work?

Answer 2

A couple of points to make here:
1) As a boy, I watched the news on TV of feminists burning bras; it was on NBC, nationwide. This is how feminism works: take a fact and try to create a fable. I watched it so unless it was staged and performed by paid actors, it happened. (I guess it happened either way, huh?)
2) Women's rights surpassed men's over a decade past so in a way, you're right, we're not equal. Just not the way you infer.

To answer the question, "no". Feminists are not going back to the 50's. If you feel left behind, maybe it's because more women realize they play a bigger part in society and are integral part of what constitutes a "family" by being a wife and mother than those making unrealistic demands on the rest of society who are only self-important.

Answer 3

There is nothing wrong with being a "domestic technician"--i detest the terms stay at home mom or housewife--if that's what a woman wants to do. The key here is the fact that she has that choice today! I don't choose to do that, but I don't take anything away from a woman who CHOOSES to work a 24 hour 7 day a week job for little pay, no raises, and no promotions. My hat goes off to them, actually. I know I couldn't do it!! I'd rather work outside the home any day...no matter how much I complain! LOL

Answer 4

Ya'll are nuts and NOT equal. We're Different. Equal PAY for equal WORK, YES. No problem. But as far as being equal to a man or a man being equal to a woman = forget it. I'm not the nurturing type, that's a womans strength. You can have a stay home mom situation, it just boils down to what standard of living are you willing to accept? Start a turnkey home business. Figure it out for yourself, or get a man to figure things out for you. Men Lead and bring home the bacon, our women stay home and raise the kids, take care of the home. That's the deal. It's worked for over 4,000 years quite nicely.
The gal's say they want choices, and then complain that they can't have it all. Typical. I can't stay home and swill beer either. Someone has to pay the bills, that's my job, honor, duty. Get over being fickle and get a man, obey, and all will be well in the garden (provided you chose a man of character and stay hot for him).

Answer 5

Well, if we're headed back to the 1950's, I'd like a first class ticket! Seriously, I believe women have reached the goal of equality only to find they liked it better the other way. With equality comes issues that most women don't want to deal with. Questions arise such as: If the US reissues the draft, shouldn't women be drafted as well as men (now that we're all equal)? Personally, I'm glad we can vote, I'm glad we have the option to work out of the home, and I'm glad we are respected in our society for the jobs we do. BUT I'd rather be home raising a family, taking care of my husband, and making sure my kids don't watch too much TV...give me that life any day.

Answer 6

These women are continually bombarded with messages attacking the concept of leading a balanced life. They are told to choose, and to choose home. Their view of feminism is only legal and political, and they think those rights have already been totally won. (They mostly have, but there's still more to do.) They don't care about being treated equally on a personal level.

At least, this is the scene in the popular media. In reality, women are breaking down barriers the world over and still finding time to have families.

By the way, bra-burning is a myth. They threw some girdles into trash cans, but nobody burned a bra.

Answer 7

i was a stay at home mom for 6 years, i loved almost every minute of it but i felt that i was looked down upon because i choose to stay at home. for one it was more economical for me to stay at home but also with having a child with spacial needs it was in her best interest, i don't understand why women can't support each other we finally have the choice to decided what is best for our family but we tend to degrade the mother that make a different choice than ours. if we are true feminist then we should be happy that women are now allowed to choose. i support totally the women who work outside the home , i don't know how they do it all, but i also recognize the difficulties the stay at home moms faces. when women as a whole start to support each other than that's when true feminism will be realized

Answer 8

Hmm well as one who has chosen to *stay at home*, heres my response.
I fell in love at a young age and got married young. I am not stupid, I have brains. I just made a choice at a young age to follow my heart. That being said, I do read, and continue to learn outside of that. I follow the news and try to keep update about world events, etc. Now that my children are old enough I am going back to college, and getting a degree so I can contribute monetarily to my family.
Why is it that you consider a woman who chooses to have a family, and stay at home less than you? Because of your efforts, I can feel free to express my opinion to my husband. Because of the sacrifices feminists made, my husband respects me yet we are equal to each other in our minds because we are both sacrificing to care for our children. He by being the *breadwinner* and me by being the caretaker.
I grew up in a home where my mother was single and a free spirit. I was raised by babysitters and schoolsystems. I feel that the efforts that were made by my Mothers and Grandmothers, did make improvements in the quality of my life. They allowed me the ability to think of what I wanted for MYSELF and noone else.

Answer 9

What is going on is simple. I am one of those stay at home obedient wives, yes you did hear me I did say obedient wives.
Yes my goal in life is to be hot I have found a husband and that is why it is my goal to be hot and to continue staying hot.
Yes, I am a good wife who is human and has made a few mistakes along the way; all I do is just pick myself up and jaunt on. Bra burning? If that were true, perhaps the men hidden in the trees and bushes had an eye full? Hmmm?

Answer 10

I wish I WAS living in the 50s!

I think bra-burning is stupid. Guess they don't mind sagging.

My goal was to find a husband and have children--what's wrong with that? I have a husband and we have a child.

My husband has told me that where he works, he's seen women who came back to work after having a baby and every single one of them really wanted to be home with their child!