Christina Hoff Sommers

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Christina Hoff Sommers (born 1950) is a self-declared feminist (though third-parties[1] typically refer to her as an anti-feminist) author, and philosopher, who personally coined the term "equity feminist". She believed in the feminist movement in the 70s and 80s, but made an abrupt about-turn, splitting with mainstream feminist thought in more modern times, in favour of a more conservative view on gender equality.[2] She criticizes adherents to third-wave and post-structural feminism as "gender-focused ideologues", inventing the phrase "gender feminism" to describe them (against which her "equity feminism" is placed in contrast) and characterizing them as a "movement that has abandoned equality in order to recruit for the struggle against the 'patriarchy'[3]

Contents

[edit] Career and credentials

Christina Sommers earned her B.A. from New York University, and her Ph.D. in Philosophy from Brandeis University. She is also a board member of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, a stealth-conservative organization that promotes "intellectual diversity" (which means their aims is to dismantle the so-called "liberal bias") on university campuses.[4], and a member of the conservative think tank the American Enterprise Institute. The National Women's Political Caucus, an organization that seeks to promote women in the political sphere, awarded her the "2013 Exceptional Merit in Media Award", for an article she wrote for the New York Times, "The Boys at the Back"[5] Her writings have been quoted on occasion by MRA sites, including A Voice For Men. She is also positively referred to by the notorious mass-murderer and anti-feminist[6] Anders Behring Breivik in his manifesto.[7]

[edit] Views on contemporary feminism

Sommers has taken a critical stance on contemporary feminism, and published two books, Who Stole Feminism, and The War Against Boys, both which claim that modern feminism, by viewing societal constructs on privilege and power through a gender-based lens, has abandoned gender equality for a nebulously defined "justice" that does more harm than good. In particular, her second book, The War Against Boys makes it explicit the damage she believes contemporary feminism is doing, and identifies a generation of vilified males as the victim. However, examined carefully, Sommers's case does not hold up well. She persistently misrepresents scholarly debate, ignores evidence that contradicts her assertions, and directs intense scrutiny at studies she opposes while giving a free critical ride to research she supports.[8]

[edit] On the AAUW

Sommers harshly criticizes women's organizations like the American Association of University Women (AAUW) in her book Who Stole Feminism, in publications like The National Review, and in public forums. She writes of the AAUW:

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) issued two reports in the early Nineties that were harmfully wrong. AAUW researchers claimed to show how "our gender biased" classrooms were damaging the self-esteem of the nation’s girls and holding them back academically. That was simply not true... If the AAUW were serious about improving the climate on campus, it could start by looking for ways to reason with the V-Day enthusiasts to discourage their antics... Campuses need effective policies against genuine harassment. They do not need the divisive gender politics of the AAUW spin sisters. The AAUW’s statistically challenged, chronically mistaken, and relentlessly male-averse "studies" should not be taken seriously.

Sommer's criticisms prompted a response by the AAUW:

Unfortunately, Who Stole Feminism? is not about making positive societal change or changing behavior to create a more equitable society for women and girls. Rather, AAUW perceives the book to be an attack on scholars, women's organizations, and higher education. Contrary to what Sommers contends, there is nothing in any of our research about terms she uses—domination, subjugation, victimization, or oppression... Ours is not a radical agenda despite Sommers' characterization of AAUW. We are about positive societal change... Our research looks for solutions and is based on facts, not anecdotes or soundbites. The important thing to remember is that this debate is not about AAUW; it's about the children in this country. What is important is that our daughters and sons reach their full potential.[9]

[edit] On affirmative action

Christina Sommers has a particular dislike of the methods used to promote the percentage-values of women in traditionally male dominated fields. On the contentious application of Title IX in relation to female representation in STEM, she says

Title IX programs in the sciences could stigmatize women and cheapen their hard-earned achievements.
Regarding women's studies departments, which often promote female representation in traditionally male fields, she claims "The professors peddle a skewed and inflammatory message 'Women are from Venus, men are from Hell'".[10]

[edit] On abortion

Sommers was a strong proponent of abortion rights in the 70s and 80s, but has moderated her support for abortion in more recent times.[11] Her primary concern with abortion is what she perceives to be an all-encompassing "agenda" promoting abortion even when the woman herself, due to religious or personal values, disagrees. Another, tangential reason for her lukewarm support for abortion rights is a perceived notion that third-wave feminists have somehow hijacked the movement, in another move to solidify "privileges" above the median for women.

When the debate turned to abortion rights, Hoff-Sommers cited polling data showing that while 34% of American women believe that abortion is morally acceptable, 51% of American women believe that abortion is morally wrong. “The nation is engaged in a contentious argument over a moral dilemma,” said Hoff Sommers, who identified herself as pro-choice. “I find it appalling that there is such a disregard for what is in fact a majority of our countrymen who view it differently, and some passionately. Rather than attack them as somehow engaged in some kind of dark conspiracy against women’s bodies, we have to understand why they hold these positions… and why it’s not going away as a moral question.”

In fact, the only time Sommers says anything supporting women's rights is when she's chiding feminists for not doing more for women in developing countries. Not that she ever speaks about those things herself, or does any advocacy. She just uses it to attack "gender feminists", which is no different from the other MRAs.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. * Antifeminist - Modern Misogyny: Anti-Feminism in a Post-Feminist Era by Kristin J. Anderson. Published by Oxford University Press. "Anti-feminist boy-crisis trailblazer Christina Hoff Sommers helped solidify the industry with her 2000 The War Against Boys..."
  2. Sommers, C. (1994). Who stole feminism?: How women have betrayed women (p. 22). New York: Simon & Schuster.
  3. Who Stole Feminism? page 23.
  4. sourcewatch.org
  5. Christina Hoff Sommers, "The Boys at the Back" New York Times, Feb. 2, 2013
  6. Jones, Jane Clare. Anders Breivik's chilling anti-feminism, The Guardian, 27 July 2011.
  7. 2083: A European Declaration of Independence; page 339.
  8. [1] The War Against Boys: How Misguided Feminism Is Harming Our Young Men; Reviewed by E. Anthony Rotundo, who is the author of "American Manhood: Transformations in Masculinity from the Revolution to the Modern Era." He also teaches at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass. Washington Post; July 2, 2000
  9. American Association of University Women Memorandum March 1995
  10. Houppert, Karen (November 7, 2002). "Wanted: a Few Good Girls". The Nation. Archived from the original on February 1, 2012. Retrieved 2012-02-01.
  11. http://www.law.nyu.edu/news/ESTLUND_WOMENS_ISSUES_2012_ELECTION she mentions this about halfway through.
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