Harvard sophomore says feminism is so 1975

We can go to Harvard! We can stay home with the kids! We can achieve orgasm! What more do we want?

Published December 20, 2005 9:03PM (EST)

This just in: Some women at elite colleges say they're doing just fine, thank you, so the world probably doesn't need feminism anymore. Okey-dokey!

Virginia A. Fisher, Harvard class of 2008, made the case in a piece titled "Fie, Feminism!" in last week's Harvard Crimson. (Thanks to Feministing for the tip!)

Here's Fisher's take: "We're comfortable enough in the workforce that women are choosing to stay home with their children. Wildly popular seminars are held to teach people how to make us orgasm," she notes. "Given these developments, it's not unreasonable to wonder about the purpose of a unified feminism in today's society."

Argh. Not to beat a much-flogged horse here, but even if we assume women are staying home in greater numbers -- Fisher seems to be referring to a much-criticized New York Times piece on young women at Yale who predicted they'd want to stay home with the kids -- why is that necessarily a sign that they're feeling more comfortable in the workplace? Also, some dudes decide it's cool to attend a "How to make her come six times and beg for more" seminar, and presto, we've attained equality for all women?

Fisher goes on to critique the "swarm" of criticism Harvard prez Lawrence Summers received from the "feminist hornet's nest" when he hypothesized that there are fewer female science professors because women as a gender may be less scientifically inclined. Maybe women are better at cooking, and men better at plumbing and lawn mowing, Fisher says. Plus, she writes, the people in her acquaintance aren't having any trouble getting jobs: "The individuals I've met are busy trying to prove themselves with real work, rather than making excuses about irrelevant factors like gender."

Sigh. It's a relief to hear that Fisher's pals at Harvard aren't suffering under any stigma. I was getting pretty worried about them.

But, before we get too high and mighty, we must say this: It's also a great relief to all of us at Broadsheet that our own college journalism isn't available on the Internet.


By Page Rockwell

Page Rockwell is Salon's editorial project manager.

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