Extreme Feminism : How my mother’s fanatical views tore us apart
I’ve always said that extremism is never good.
It’s again proven, painfully so, by Rebecca Walker. She was disowned by her own mother, a rabid feminist, revered by thousands others.
Quoted :
You see, my mum taught me that children enslave women. I grew up believing that children are millstones around your neck, and the idea that motherhood can make you blissfully happy is a complete fairytale.
This is the poisonous thinking that Alice Walker, Rebecca’s mother, is spewing to her followers.
Children, when raised properly, are blessing to the mothers.
I’m a man, so I will not be able to fully experience the same joy experienced by a woman. However, the little joy I experienced so far is simply heaven on earth.
I could only envy and imagine the happiness that a good mother enjoys every day.
Rebecca concludes in her long article :
It’s been almost four years since I have had any contact with my mother, but it’s for the best - not only for my self-protection but for my son’s well-being. I’ve done all I can to be a loyal, loving daughter, but I can no longer have this poisonous relationship destroy my life.
I know many women are shocked by my views. They expect the daughter of Alice Walker to deliver a very different message. Yes, feminism has undoubtedly given women opportunities. It’s helped open the doors for us at schools, universities and in the workplace. But what about the problems it’s caused for my contemporaries?
What about the children?
The ease with which people can get divorced these days doesn’t take into account the toll on children. That’s all part of the unfinished business of feminism.
Then there is the issue of not having children. Even now, I meet women in their 30s who are ambivalent about having a family. They say things like: ‘I’d like a child. If it happens, it happens.’ I tell them: ‘Go home and get on with it because your window of opportunity is very small.’ As I know only too well.
Then I meet women in their 40s who are devastated because they spent two decades working on a PhD or becoming a partner in a law firm, and they missed out on having a family. Thanks to the feminist movement, they discounted their biological clocks. They’ve missed the opportunity and they’re bereft.
Feminism has betrayed an entire generation of women into childlessness. It is devastating.
But far from taking responsibility for any of this, the leaders of the women’s movement close ranks against anyone who dares to question them - as I have learned to my cost. I don’t want to hurt my mother, but I cannot stay silent. I believe feminism is an experiment, and all experiments need to be assessed on their results. Then, when you see huge mistakes have been paid, you need to make alterations.
I hope that my mother and I will be reconciled one day. Tenzin deserves to have a grandmother. But I am just so relieved that my viewpoint is no longer so utterly coloured by my mother’s.
I am my own woman and I have discovered what really matters - a happy family.
Fully agree with her on this. Both man & woman will need to forego their egos, and put their efforts on the truly important thing: their family.
They will experience hardships along the way, but at the end, they will reap the harvest - true happiness.
Here’s hoping the best to Rebecca and those important to her. Thank you for giving us another perspective on the topic.
June 18th, 2008 15:03
Well, well, well…
Any kind of extremism is a travesty of ideals. Fundamentalist feminists seem to act just like all fundamentalists: exclusive thinking and a closed mind which is made possible by the (false)conviction that they have the absolute truth in their possession. In the name of the ideals of a better world they justify the harm they do to other individuals. IN the process they do harm to the mainstream of their movement also and provide the opponents and enemies of the moderates with ‘ammunition’ to fight them. The same kind of harm fundamentalists with a totally other set of ideals do to their moderate fellow idealists.
I think feminism is primarily about emancipation. There is a need for it. Badly so. In many ways and in many realms of almost all societies women are still behind men. To me therefore feminism means strong, independent, confident, assertive, active persons who are striving to close the gap. This implies the ideal of gender equality also. It takes strong, independent, confident, assertive, active men as well to bring this situation about. Men who, for instance, share on a 50 - 50 basis the burden of household and raising children (I’ve to admit i personally fell short on this one).
The case of Rebecca Walker is proof of the many ways the relation between parents and children can go wrong. It does not, in my opinion, tarnish the ideals of feminism. I’ve got a strong feeling that if it hadn’t been for ‘feminism’ another factor would have had the same effect on this particular parent-child relation.
June 18th, 2008 17:11
GKBK fr “I hope that my mother and I will be reconciled one day”… gdddd….
June 18th, 2008 20:21
doh.. maksudnya apa ya
June 19th, 2008 20:22
@colson - welcome back pak
I was hoping you’d show up and share your thoughts in this topic.
like taking them to the theme park at non-holidays (so they can have the rides for themselves), and other such perks. Otherwise they’ll make sure that I’m completely pulverized 
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The case of Rebecca Walker is proof of the many ways the relation between parents and children can go wrong. It does not, in my opinion, tarnish the ideals of feminism. I’ve got a strong feeling that if it hadn’t been for ‘feminism’ another factor would have had the same effect on this particular parent-child relation.
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Fully agree with you.
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Personally I think feminism should be the norm, and there’s no need to even name it.
The ideals of feminism are all simply common sense. IMHO.
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Rights, justice, and honour for women. Just as we, men, would like it as well.
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I think feminism is primarily about emancipation. There is a need for it. Badly so. In many ways and in many realms of almost all societies women are still behind men.
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That seems to be the case indeed.
Although less so in my tribe (Minangkabau). For starters, it’s a matrilineal culture. Women passes down land & heritage to their daughters.
Father’s (men’s) role in the family are further lessened by stronger role of uncles (mamak) from the mother’s side in the family.
So women are quite empowered in this particular culture.
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So yes, perhaps I’d be in a position where I’d not be able to fully understand the issues related to feminism (me being a man & member of Minang tribe). Do be gentle with me
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But I’ve seen extreme cases where women are badly abused.
Example: some cultures in Pakistan & India allow forced marriage. This alone has caused deaths, and even more, life-long misery. Women can be sold to the highest bidder as bride. Etc.
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In these cases, there’s genuine need to put things back to its tracks. This is where feminist movement are relevant, and indeed important.
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In Pakistan and other muslim culture, this caused the muslimah feminism movement. Since women rights are already upheld & guaranteed in Islam, it is important to make sure that it’s actually implemented in the daily life.
I’m not too familiar though about this particular / specific feminism branch. I know only people like Mulia or Amellie.
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But of course then there will be extremists. Such as the one mentioned in this article.
Also there are extreme muslimah feminists. Usually they were abused, then they took revenge on the religion - instead of realizing that it’s a cultural issue.
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To me therefore feminism means strong, independent, confident, assertive, active persons who are striving to close the gap. This implies the ideal of gender equality also. It takes strong, independent, confident, assertive, active m e n as well to bring this situation about. Men who, for instance, share on a 50 - 50 basis the burden of household and raising children (I’ve to admit i personally fell short on this one).
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Bullseye again. That’s my personal experience as well.
Without strong leadership in a family, the family risked being thrown around anywhere life is bringing them, or unbalancedly (is there such word?? grin) dominated by just one party.
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There’s the need for balance in everything, even more so in a family.
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I think I’m even worse than you in this case, at times I must work at weekends ! The kids (and my wife) were screaming at first. But I hope they understand now (I’m at middle phase of building my own company).
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I do need to “bribe” them from time to time though
In any case, great fun.
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Whoops, got lost there - ok, back to the topic !
June 19th, 2008 20:46
@colson
fundamentalism is not extreme. Don’t be confused and mix that word.
June 20th, 2008 21:33
@sufehmi: The pleasure is reciprocal. That’s for one.
The “Do be gentle with me” is a line I especially like ( we boys will be boys, don’t we). And I am familiar with this kind of “bribes” you mentioned too ( although occasionally it could have been considered blackmail on the part of my wife as well - my bad conscious and all that bullshit, you know.)
Anyhow (1) as a belated answer to a question I hereby declare that in retrospect I’m satisfied with the number (and the personalities) of my (three) children and that I hope for three of four grandchildren and (2) that I wish you all kinds of the success you want and all the luck you need in building your company.
@tazlucu: Those are different words, so probably you’re right: different meanings. Whatever the name, I wanted to refer to people who, based on their particular revelations or ideology, have the characteristics of a closed mind, exclusive thinking and are convinced of having found the universal, absolute, unchanging truths. And who want others to live accordingly. Which, in my book is quite extreme. And quite fundamentalist for that matter,
August 7th, 2008 14:12
Hi, for me this is nice to see such thing. I think feminism is primarily about emancipation. There is a need for it. Badly so. In many ways and in many realms of almost all societies women are still behind men. I could only envy and imagine the happiness that a good mother enjoys every day. The case of Rebeca Walker is proof of the many ways the relation between parents and children can go wrong. It does not, in my opinion, tarnish the ideals of feminism. Even I can say There’s the need for balance in everything, even more so in a family. concluding to point is that feminism is primarily about emancipation.
August 7th, 2008 14:15
Hi, for me this is nice to see such thing. I think feminism is primarily about emancipation. There is a need for it. Badly so. In many ways and in many realms of almost all societies women are still behind men. I could only envy and imagine the happiness that a good mother enjoys every day. The case of Rebeca Walker is proof of the many ways the relation between parents and children can go wrong. It does not, in my opinion, tarnish the ideals of feminism. Even I can say There’s the need for balance in everything, even more so in a family. concluding to point is that feminism is primarily about emancipation. ….