WGST 1808 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Susan Faludi, Wgst, Social Forces
18 Feb 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Mari-Lisa Mank
WGST 1808
Monday, January 11, 2016
1
‘BACKLASH’ AGAINST FEMINISM: A DISEMPOWERING METAPHOR
JANICE NEWSON
Newson seeks to eliminate the use of the word “backlash” as a metaphorical account of resistance &
opposition to women’s efforts to advance in society
Shed light on nature of our struggle w/ social forces
Create a world that more closely approximates our language
“Backlash” puts focus on opposition/resistance rather than on forward motion
“Regime of rationality”
Male shooters described as “irrational” to camouflage the relationship b/w his actions and the
“rational” practices that maintain male privilege/power
“Intention” fueled by irrational hatred nothing could’ve been done
However much men try to disassociate from “irrational” shooters, shooters associate themselves
w/ them
Energy diverted from arguing where we have already gone, rather than where we have got to go
Easy to perceive women as “victims”
Debating who or what is “responsible” for backlash
“Backlash” suggests that jarring reaction & what that is a reaction to, are all part of the same, unified
motion can be seen in a cause-effect way
Better model = 2 lines (women’s struggles & male privilege/power) that are independently propelled, being
rooted in different, often contradictory & opposing social processes
BACKLASH: BLAME IT ON FEMINISM
SUSAN FALUDI
Claim that women’s fight for equality has been won
Celebration of American woman’s victory celebrated endlessly
Conflicting message despair for women
Professional women – “burnout”; “infertility epidemic”
Single women – “man shortage”
Childless women – “depressed & confused”
Unwed women – “hysterical”; “profound crisis of confidence”
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Newson seeks to eliminate the use of the word backlash as a metaphorical account of resistance & opposition to women"s efforts to advance in society. Shed light on nature of our struggle w/ social forces. Create a world that more closely approximates our language. Backlash puts focus on opposition/resistance rather than on forward motion. Male shooters described as irrational to camouflage the relationship b/w his actions and the. Intention fueled by irrational hatred nothing could"ve been done. However much men try to disassociate from irrational shooters, shooters associate themselves w/ them. Energy diverted from arguing where we have already gone, rather than where we have got to go. Debating who or what is responsible for backlash. Backlash suggests that jarring reaction & what that is a reaction to, are all part of the same, unified motion can be seen in a cause-effect way.
