There are some in feminism who think that all differences between men and women are a result of socialization. In fact there are natural differences between men and women. Women can bear children; men can’t. Women are naturally kinder, prettier and less violent than men. Feminism should affirm these differences, as they work in favor of women.
My mother had a sign on her fridge that said “Women who want to be equal to men lack ambition.” Here is a smart, strong and successful woman who is also very feminine. There is no contradiction between the two.
What feminists are right about is that it’s wrong to socialize all women the same way. There are differences between men and women; there are also differences among men and women. Brittney Spears is very different from Phyllis Schaffly or Ayn Rand. There is individuality among women as there is individuality among men, and that should be affirmed likewise.
So we have asinine comments such as H.L. Mencken with “Love is an illusion that one woman is different from others.” Oh yeah, and all women are the same. So are men. You are the same as Genghis Khan.
Unbelievable what foolishness people come up with.
Once again, there are differences between men and women; there are also differences among men and women. Some things are common to women and some are not. It is valid to affirm individuality in women just as much as it is valid to affirm individuality in men. However it works for nobody’s benefit to deny legitimate, natural differences between men and women.
It should be possible for women to both be women and themselves. It should be possible for them to have the benefit of both femininity and individuality. If feminism really seeks to improve things for women, then this is the direction that it will take. Affirm differences between men and women especially as they favor the women; and also affirm women’s individuality.
That being done, feminism will actually do the work that it claims to be seeking to do.