Every time I thought I was out... they pulled me back in. But anyway...After some of us spent a little time debunking various points in Raphael's hyperbolically-titled post, "The Rise of Feminism and the Fall of the Family", some conclusions:
1. RA's assertion that women in the work force is a cause of lower birthrates is correct (although it's far from the only cause). And so what? Lower birth rate, despite what the scare-mongers would have us believe, doesn't equal the imminent collapse of the nuclear family, and with it, civilization. It only means the family construct is adapting and evolving, as is society in general.
2. As anyone possessing a uterus (past or present) can attest to, RA's assumption that there's some kind of biological imperative for women to "do their duty" and contribute to "population replacement" is a stenchy, steaming load. Just because we can doesn't mean we have to, or even want to. Certainly we have no patriotic obligation to breed. Anyway, feminism didn't convince women to take a pass on breeding -- it only showed us we had other options, which many of us were only too happy to choose.
3. RA is way off in his tangent that supposes the social conservatism of the middle east means less of the societal ailments that plague the feminist-infested west. Dave explains.
4. RA's assertion that the nuclear family is somehow superior to other family constructs is mistaken. Family structure evolves according to the demands made on it by the ambient economy. The nuclear family evolved out of modern-day luxury and will continue to evolve in response to economic demand.
5. RA has a valid point in that parenthood isn't as highly valued as career. Who wants to line up with the kids for an allowance every Friday? Who wants to be financially beholden to anyone? (Hint: not me.) But does he realize that paying stay-at-home parents for their work was an early feminist proposal? The notion was rejected primarily because it ran counter to corporate interest -- which is having a huge pool of available labour to drive down labour costs and break unions. (For the same reason, Xenophobes should assign blame for what they see as an "immigration problem" squarely on major corporations, not on feminists refusing to breed.)
6. Wise up RA, it's a new day (and didn't I say this 30 years ago?) Women long ago discovered that they too can follow their bliss and be the best they can be -- whether it's as a homemaker or a hematologist, mother or mechanic. Or all. If it means less kids in the scenario, tough. If men want more kids than women are willing to deliver, they should lobby medical research to find a way for men to get pregnant, 'cause we ain't goin' back, baby.
Now stop bothering me, I've got a top-end engine rebuild to finish.
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