Letters: Did feminism make women miserable? - Salon

When exactly was the golden age when everyone was happy?

It certainly wasn't before the feminist era. What if feminism really has nothing to do with women's levels of unhappiness and the real factor is being human, having human problems, having particular human outlooks? Do those twits who wrote that study really believe there was ever some sort of golden age when everyone was just all peachy-keen delirious with glee? Was it for maybe a few years during the "Happy Days" era of the late 1950s and early '60s? Both of my grandmothers had to work back then, not because they were "feminists" eager to force their way into the "men's world" but because they'd lost their husbands, one to death, the other to divorce, and they had to make ends meet to put food on the table, pay the rent and raise their kids. Heck, even before they became single moms, they had to do a lot of work, and according to tales I've heard from my mother, her mother was never particularly happy and even if she had been rich and didn't have to do any work at all, she might've still found something to feel miserable about.

Yeah, that's just one anecdote. Doesn't prove anything. But I'd say feminism has certainly given women more choices in how to live their lives. Happiness isn't guaranteed to anyone under any circumstances.

-- morphred62

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Permalink Flag Wednesday, October 14, 2009 07:51 PM

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"...... I'd say feminism has certainly given women more choices in how to live their lives. Happiness isn't guaranteed to anyone under any circumstances."

-- morphred62

[Read morphred62's other letters]

Permalink Flag Wednesday, October 14, 2009 07:51 PM

Thanks morphred62, very nicely put ...think along the same lines and similar experience/history with the women in this family and noted find same in others when 'life experiences" shared in conversations. Have always tried to figure out just WHEN was there a time when 'women" were NOT part of the "work-fore" in the centuries of mere "life/civilizationing" itself. WILL admit disgusted with the matterings such as "equal pay for equal work" etc's found and still abounding but the constant portrayal as ever VICTIM's is a mythical in REALITY of life. Basics= WITHOUT "women" there would indeed be NO MEN WHATSOEVER is the first, foremost and most obvious factor....there ever remains co-dependency factors...without one or other =neither , ANY of our basic life forms would just never-ever BE !! As to happiness factorings...those factors are in constant state of lux and morph as various "factors" change/morph and etc, etc and our life is what WE determine it to be --and that determinationing morphs and experiences fluxes as well...Nice if we can indeed get to old age and find some contentments with our life experiences but there will always be interjections of of discontentments and if only's and what if's that need reconcilliation but is up to each individual to make peace with those reflectives--no matter if female or male, is universal human nature and both are capable /prone to claiming to have been " victimized" by circumstances out of ones own control along the way.....to each, their own life justificationary is the best one can allow themselves or others but should not be arbitrarily imposed on others --they are free to be whatever THEY choose to be --happy, sad, mad, discontented or contented --a lifelong w-h-a-t-e-v-r-i-n-g !

In order to GET to action, "talk" is necessary...words help to expand conversations , inspire further conversations which CAN lead to action...The guy has HAD the reins for a mere nine months , but if an honest assesment was allowed/made...he has indeed accomplished quite a bit and the groundwork for future "accomplishments" is being laid--It can NOT occure overnight, nor JUST by him "conversing" --If want a chilling thought, let you mind wander to a WHAT IF, ...the 'what if" Mac and P had somehow prevailed and they and their cohorts were holding the reins...What can be imagined if such had occurred--where would the national or GLOBAL economy straits be at THIS point--where would our relations in regard to others in this wide world --ones we do indeed NEED to interact with for better or worse ....Give it thought...Give thought too to how much effort has sallied forth and boiled over and out and about , determined in partisan political bents and great effort to NOT allow much progress to "BE" "allowed" --imagine had such energy been set to the task of seeing what "COULD BE" done to fix at the very least SOME of our ills ....Obama himself never claimed to walk on water nor have a magic wand to wave all the various troubles away--He has set out with the task of doing what he can--he is NOT perfect--but a whole hellava lot better than our other options were for very, very sure and remains so!!! SOme of the OUTRAGEOUS nonsense has been beyond utterly appalling and due to our 24/7 access, it SEEMS at times as IF the outrageous IS the prevelent regard. IT IS NOT..the TRUE majority are NOT irrationa;l sorts and far more balnced and reality based , especially more the hyping and tripeing that goes on in MSM coverage. A goodly majority KNOW there are NO EASY FIXES but do appreciate hard, sincere effort. Yeah, for sure doubts arise but they do NOT overwhelm--thankfully for when such are alloed to overwhelm, the mucky mire that arises makes it even ever more diffult !!