Reclaiming The Mainstream:Individualist Feminism Rediscoveredby Joan Kennedy Taylor Book review by Janet M. Martini
Reclaiming The Mainstream starts with an historical overview of what we now call feminism, from the early Nineteenth Century to the present. The concept of women's rights developed from an earlier social and political ideal: Emancipation. Taylor cites historical figures (male and female) on their opinions of women's roles and rights. These intellectuals questioned the legal condition of woman, first a dependent of her father, then a chattel of her husband. Some of the social reforms that developed from this idealism were "protective"-designed to prevent exploitation or injury, but also restricting women's freedom. She states that there have always been opposing principles in this struggle for parity with men: individualism and collectivism. Also, there have been important changes in women's roles since the movement began. Feminism is wide and diverse. Most of today's feminists are non-Marxist, non-socialist, non-radical, heterosexual, and female. What should be done to improve the status of women? Taylor addresses: sexual harassment, spousal and date rape, pregnancy, abortion and childbirth issues, prostitution and sexual surrogacy, bias in sex education materials, and anti-pornography campaigns, giving suggestions on each of these problems. She quotes Betty Friedan's book The Second Stage. Friedan expresses disappointment with the political polarization between "feminism" and "the family" and encourages consensus. Taylor cites an opposing viewpoint of Englishwoman Sylvia Ann Hewlett suggesting that the American women's movement abandon goals of individual rights, and join those democracies that substitute entitlements for rights. Taylor then lays out her own suggestions of what feminists should do in the future. She believes that individual rights are most important idealistically and practically. Group benefits and entitlements are costly and demeaning. The Equal Rights Amendment was lost, in her opinion, by turning "away from the vision of equal rights to search for political dominance; to get a large enough voting bloc to wrest privileges from society". A personal note. I was born in 1940, married at age 21, raised two children, and stayed home. I always voted, but was not politically active. I read The Feminine Mystique in the early 1970s, ten years after its original publication. Although Friedan's book did not condemn my "stay-at-home" role, I felt a twinge of inadequacy, since many women I knew were managing both home and paid work roles. Now, I think I was lucky that we were able and willing to "afford it". I have thought of myself as a liberal (as in "liberal Democrat"). I was raised in a non-religious household, yet absorbed the Judeo-Christian cultural conditioning of our society. I think Taylor's statements make sense. I agree with most of her recommendations as to what direction the women's movement might take to include those who have been repelled by some of the extremes voiced by "feminist spokeswomen". Her individual rights agenda focuses on granting personal power, allowing considerable freedom of choice. Prometheus Books, © 1992, hard-cover, 260 pages, $24.95. 700 E. Amherst Street, Buffalo, NY 14215. 1-800-421-0351.
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