Phyllis Schlafly held a campaign in the early seventies to prevent the Equal Rights Amendment from being passed. Schlafly’s support of the rejection of the Equal Right amendment along with her negative opinions in regards to feminism support essentialist values. Through an interview that was made for NPR, Martin asks Schlafly a series of questions in regards to race, equality, and gender role issues. Schlafly then gives her opinions on the topics and in doing so she can be defined as an essentialist as she believes that all women should stay bound to the house as the main support for her family rather than having a life of her own. She then goes to further discuss why she is so strongly opposed to the Equal Rights Amendment.
The interview began …show more content…
She supports the original gender roles that served as the foundation for essentialism. Her beliefs involve the man of the household is the sole supporter of the entire family and the woman should remain within the private sphere. Women should also ignore their interests and instead dedicate their time to their family. She asserts that if the Equal Rights Amendment was passed that women would have to fend for themselves as they would not keep their husbands interested in them. Without the actual role of being the breadwinner, the man would abandon the household as Schlafly later asserts in regards to African American families. In regards to race, she claims that race is not the issue within the feminist movement, but rather that once these families rely on the government the man would leave the household as his role was no longer necessary. Through completely disregarding the race issues that occurred throughout history and are currently still taking place, she claims that the issue of families being split from divorced parents is solely due to financial affairs. When arguing this she supports her original assertion by stating that households that are run by …show more content…
She believes that women who are feminist are ignoring their proper role within society and these women claim that the gender differences were simply made up, meaning that men and women should be created equal. However, this clashes with Schlafly’s opinion as she believes that women in nature are meant to bear children and therefore should appreciate their privilege, especially women in America. Clearly, women in America have the freedom to do anything they wish so long as they have permission from their husbands and their goal is not an executive or higher paying job that women should leave for the men. Women are miserable and living mundane lives as a result of feminism, according to Schlafly, mothers being depressed from being trapped in the household has nothing to do with women being oppressed for a majority of our history and at this time only recently getting the right to even vote. Clearly, women who are sorrowful are so as a result of relying on the government instead of their husbands. Also, Schlafly believes most feminists refuse to raise their children and that men should first find out if the person they are interested in is a feminist because if they are they might not want to care for their children. Obviously, women are fortunate and should appreciate what is within the home while the men make the home appealing to her. Yet, she
The interview began …show more content…
She supports the original gender roles that served as the foundation for essentialism. Her beliefs involve the man of the household is the sole supporter of the entire family and the woman should remain within the private sphere. Women should also ignore their interests and instead dedicate their time to their family. She asserts that if the Equal Rights Amendment was passed that women would have to fend for themselves as they would not keep their husbands interested in them. Without the actual role of being the breadwinner, the man would abandon the household as Schlafly later asserts in regards to African American families. In regards to race, she claims that race is not the issue within the feminist movement, but rather that once these families rely on the government the man would leave the household as his role was no longer necessary. Through completely disregarding the race issues that occurred throughout history and are currently still taking place, she claims that the issue of families being split from divorced parents is solely due to financial affairs. When arguing this she supports her original assertion by stating that households that are run by …show more content…
She believes that women who are feminist are ignoring their proper role within society and these women claim that the gender differences were simply made up, meaning that men and women should be created equal. However, this clashes with Schlafly’s opinion as she believes that women in nature are meant to bear children and therefore should appreciate their privilege, especially women in America. Clearly, women in America have the freedom to do anything they wish so long as they have permission from their husbands and their goal is not an executive or higher paying job that women should leave for the men. Women are miserable and living mundane lives as a result of feminism, according to Schlafly, mothers being depressed from being trapped in the household has nothing to do with women being oppressed for a majority of our history and at this time only recently getting the right to even vote. Clearly, women who are sorrowful are so as a result of relying on the government instead of their husbands. Also, Schlafly believes most feminists refuse to raise their children and that men should first find out if the person they are interested in is a feminist because if they are they might not want to care for their children. Obviously, women are fortunate and should appreciate what is within the home while the men make the home appealing to her. Yet, she