What’s Wrong with Equal Rights?

Guest essay by Anne Schlafly Cori

Replace #MeToo with #NoWay

Would the episodes of male bosses sexually harassing young women in the office be different if more women were in power? Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Sheryl Sandberg have said, “Yes!” and argue that female bosses would prevent sexual harassment. Nonsense! Women, just by their presence, do not necessarily create a peaceful environment and nor do all women think alike.

Take a look at Hillary Clinton, who enabled her husband to harass interns. She covered for his bad-boy behavior. She is just as culpable as Bill Clinton since the cover-up can be as bad as the crime. If Hillary Clinton had been elected president in November 2016, none of the sexual harassment stories about powerful men would have been published in 2017. The feminists and their fellow travelers in the media would have been too vested in protecting the Clintons in the White House—as they protected the Clintons in the 1990s.

Feminism was the most looked up word online in 2017 and was dubbed the “Word of the Year” by Merriam-Webster. Feminism is defined as the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes. But for the younger generations that missed the feminism of the 1970s, what does feminism really mean and what do feminists really want?

The promise of feminism was an end to the battle of the sexes and the creation of a brave new world where men and women would be interchangeable in any job. No accommodations should be made for differences in biology since both men and women would be enlightened now that the sexes are proclaimed as equal.

What went wrong that so many liberal and “enlightened” men abused their positions of power and influence, to use women as their sexual playthings? How did it become acceptable behavior for enablers to look the other way as bad bosses physically assaulted their employees? Media, arts, and universities were supposed to be the higher bastions that recognized the intrinsic value of women and did not objectify women. Except, that is, for the “artistic freedom” that soft-pedaled pornography and exploited women’s bodies.

Today, we are reaping the results of fifty years of the myth of feminism. The feminist ideology pushed for a breakdown in social mores. No longer were women—our mothers and grandmothers to be placed on a pedestal. Men would not be allowed, much less expected, to open doors for women, to give women their seats, to show their respect in a myriad of ways. Sexual fidelity was mocked rather than emulated. Men were no longer expected to protect and provide for women. The sexual predators were able to get away with their criminal behavior for years with a wink and a nod. No wonder that the sexual predators, now caught with their pants down, are surprised that public opinion has changed and their behavior is wrong.

The sexual predators were able to act as though sex had no consequences—because for fifty years, feminism has preached that for women to be equal with men, sex cannot have any consequences on women. Abortion became a socially accepted procedure and women were taught to ignore any resulting emotional and physical trauma. Feminist ideology does not allow that men and women have differences in the bedroom or anywhere else, even including athletic competition and military combat. Clearly, some men have conveniently used their support of feminism as a shield so that they could engage in bad-boy behavior without repercussions.

My mother, Phyllis Schlafly, was famous for her provocative quotes about feminism and the relationship between the sexes. Her famous quote on sexual harassment is: “Noncriminal sexual harassment on the job is not a problem for the virtuous woman except in the rarest of cases.” My mother taught me a great power: the power of No. She instilled in me self-confidence and she taught me to be direct in communications. She taught me to say No to bad bosses and No to bad boyfriends. I wish that every woman had a mother who instilled in her daughter the power of No. My mother used the old-fashioned term virtuous, but substitute the word strong in her quote and few would disagree: “Noncriminal sexual harassment on the job is not a problem for the strong woman except in the rarest of cases.” Like other predators, sexual predators prey upon the weak and vulnerable.

A strong woman with moral standards would no more flirt with her male boss than she would accept a quid pro quo. A professional woman of strong character is not threatened by sexual predators. Predators prefer easier targets: women who dress provocatively, who are desperate to get ahead, and who are willing to do whatever it takes to get there.

Feminists try to sell the notion that its liberal ideology is all about empowering women. But the women who reject feminism are the ones who embody female strength. Why? Because they refuse to be victims.

Another Phyllis Schlafly quote explains feminism: “The feminist movement is not about success for women. It is about treating women as victims and about telling women that you can ‘t succeed because society is unfair to you, and I think that’s a very unfortunate idea to put in the minds of young women because I believe women can do whatever they want.” Feminism does not teach the powerful lessons of self-confidence and of saying No because feminism applauds victims. There is no joy in victimhood. Since feminism denies that there are biological differences between men and women, young women are shocked and surprised when a night of drinking alcohol with the boys yields terrible results that are especially harmful to the women.

This classic Phyllis Schlafly quote says: “Feminism is doomed to failure because it is based on an attempt to repeal and restructure human nature.” In the 1970s, the rallying cry of feminists was, “a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.” Feminism tried, and failed, to deny that it is the essential differences between men and women that are fundamental to the magnetic attractions between the sexes. We do not want to be interchangeable with men; nor do we want a world ruled only by women. A confident woman is not afraid of men nor is she at war with men.

Feminists have promoted the idea that all men are potential predators, which may unfortunately be true in their social circles. As Phyllis Schlafly said, “There is a war on men, and [feminists] are very open about it. They don’t conceal it; they brag about it. You read all of their material—they ‘re always saying they want to abolish the patriarchy. They said that husbands are not necessary in a marriage; they ‘re not necessary in raising children.”

Feminism has tried to destroy the fabric of society by undermining the fundamental building block of society: a man and a woman married to each other. Feminism has never been about the accomplishments of successful women, but the purpose is to elevate victims and destroy anyone who disagrees with the feminist ideology.

Many women chimed in with #MeToo on sexual harassment. While we must hold true predators accountable in a timely manner, we should never indulge in victimhood. Instead, women should use #No Way to respond to sexual harassment. Any rude behavior by slobs of either sex should never intimidate us. Whining and complaining never wins. Confident women know that the best response is to do and to achieve results that bring respect.

This article comes from the March 2018 issue of the monthly Eagle Forum Report, Volume 2, Number 3.

Anne Schlafly Cori is Chairman of Eagle Forum and has served on Eagle Forum boards of directors for ten years. Mrs. Cori is the daughter of Eagle Forum founder the late Phyllis Schlafly. Mrs. Schlafly’s ministry included traditional American Christian morals, sanctity of life, and Christian education.

© 2018 Used by Permission