Linda C. McClain
* LindaC.McClain INTRODUCINGTHEPROBLEM IntheUnitedStates,evidenceofthesuccessoflegalfeminismsequalityprojectisvisibleinthe constitutionalcommitmenttoequalopportunityandprohibitionsagainstlegislatingbasedonfixed notionsaboutgenderroles(Case2009;UnitedStatesv.Virginia1996)andinthemovetowardgreater sexequalityinfamilylawandotherareasofprivatelaw(McClain2006).However,sexinequality persists,andsubstantiveequalityremainselusive(Fineman2001,2009;McClainandGrossman2009). Socialcooperationbetweenwomenandmeninvariousdomainsofsocietyisassumedtobea fundamentalandnecessarybuildingblockofsociety,butitproveshardtosecureontermsofequality. Whyissexequalitysohardtoachieve?Oneansweristhatfeministquestsforequalityinprivate
* LindaC.McClainisaProfessorofLawandPaulM.SiskindResearchScholarattheBostonUniversitySchoolofLaw.
thesexesthatisupsetwhensexroleschangeordifferencesareminimized.However,evenascritiques offeministsocialengineeringinvokenatureandculture,problemsposedbynaturefeatureasareason toembracesocialengineeringintheformofthesocialinstitutionofmarriage.Thisviewofnatureis distinctfromtheconservativereligiousargumentthatbecausemarriagethenaturalfamilyreflects thecreatedorder,feministsocialengineeringofthefamilyisdangerous(McClain2009). APPEALSTONATURE Maleandfemalebrainsandevolutionarypsychology Theappealtonatureasaconstraintonequalityenlistsbrainscienceandevolutionarypsychology, whichreportedlyfindsalientdifferencesbetweenwomenandmen,linkedtodifferentreproductive biologyandreproductivestrategies.Thesedifferenceslimitwhatsocialengineeringcanachieve. Inthe1990s,aflurryofbooks,includingRobertWrightsTheMoralAnimal(1995)andDavid
BusssTheEvolutionofDesire(1994)introducedbasicconceptsofevolutionarypsychologyand sociobiology,proposingthatscienceshedlightonsexdifference,whymenandwomenhaddifferent viewsabouttheharmofrapeandsexualharassment,andwhytheymadedifferentchoicesaboutwork familybalance(Wright1994).Wrightcriticizedfeministlegaltheoristsforavoidingscience.Heargued that: [M]anyofthedifferencesbetweenmenandwomenaremorestubbornthanmostfeminists wouldlike,andcomplicatethequestforeventhedefinitionofsocialequalitybetweenthe sexes. (Wright1994:34) Intheearlytwentyfirstcentury,brainsciencerivetspopularattention.Onceagain,evolutionpresents limitstosocialengineeringandaffirmssexdifference.EnthusingaboutneuropsychiatristLouann Brizendinesworkinpopularscience,TheFemaleBrain(2006),journalistDavidBrooksopines,Once radicalsdreamedofnewwaysofliving,butnowhappinessseemstoconsistoflivinginharmonywith thepatternsthatnatureandevolutionlaiddownlong,longago(2006:14).
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Whatarethesedifferencesandwhatpatternsdotheyprescribe?Brizendine(2006:1)declares,
morethan99percentofmaleandfemalegeneticcodingisexactlythesame,buttheonepercent differenceinfluenceseverysinglecellinourbodies.Theinsideflapofthebookcoverpromises neurologicalexplanationsforsuchsexdifferencesas: Awomanusesabout20,000wordsperday,whileamanusesabout7,000. Awomanknowswhatpeoplearefeeling,whileamancantspotanemotionunlesssomebody criesorthreatensbodilyharm. Thoughtsaboutsexenterawomansbrainonceeverycoupleofdaysbutenteramansbrain aboutonceeveryminute. Brizendineturnstoevolutionarytheorytoexplaintherootsofbraindifferences.Howeversheisnot quietistabouthumannature.Biologyneednotbedestinyifweunderstandhowevolutionary,biological, andculturalforcesshapeus(2006).Socialengineeringinformedbybiologyholdspromise: Biologypowerfullyaffectsusbutdoesnotlockinourreality.Wecanalterthatrealityanduse ourintelligenceanddeterminationbothtocelebrateand,whennecessary,tochangetheeffects ofsexhormonesonbrainstructure,behavior,reality,creativityanddestiny. (Brizendine2006:6) Whatdoesthisinterplayofbiologyandhumanwillsuggestaboutsocialcooperationontermsof equality?IfocusonBrizendinesuseofevolutionarytheorytointerpretbraindifferenceandits implicationsforintimateandfamilylife.IdonotassesswhetherBrizendinegetsthescienceofbrain differenceright,thoughsomescientistsargueshedoesnot(Liberman2006;RiversandBarnett2007). Scientistscautionagainstlettingdubioussciencegivecredibilitytostereotypesandignoredecadesof legitimatefindingsaboutmaleandfemalesimilarity(RiversandBarnett2007).Inflatedclaimsof genderdifferences,theywarn,havecoststochildren,adults,andsociety,astheyreifystereotypes, limitopportunity,andignorethatmalesandfemalesaresimilaronmost,butnotall,psychological variables(Hyde2005:58189).Theseconcernsechoquestionsaboutsameness,difference,and
stereotypeslongposedbyfeministlegaltheory(MississippiUniversityforWomenv.Hogan1982; Littleton1987). STONEAGEBRAINS Contemporaryfemales,Brizendine(2006:42)asserts,inherittheancientcircuitryofourmost successfulforemothers.Teenagegirlsdriveforsocialconnectionwitheachotherhasbiologicaland hormonalreasons.Intimacyactivatesthepleasurecentersinagirlsbrain,triggeringanearorgasmic majordopamineandoxytocinrush(37).Girlsaremotivatedonamolecularandaneurologicallevel toeaseandevenpreventsocialconflictandtomaintainingtherelationshipatallcosts(40).These findingssoundsimilartothosemadebyCarolGilliganandhercolleagues(1990)onhowgirlsworkto maintainconnection. Connectionamongfemaleshasevolutionaryrootsasastrategyofprotectionagainstaggressive
menseekinmates.Womenarelessconcernedwithapotentialhusbandsvisualappealandmore interestedinhismaterialresourcesandsocialstatusandpreferaslightlyolderpartner(Brizendine
femalemateselectionasasoundinvestmentstrategystemmingfromtheirlimitednumberofeggsand greaterinvestmentthanmeninbearingandraisingchildren.Amancanimpregnateawomanwithone actofintercourseandwalkaway;awomanisleftwithninemonthsofpregnancy,theperilsof childbirth,monthsofbreastfeeding,andtryingtoensurethatchildssurvival(Brizendine2006:62). Ancientnecessitiesledfemalestoseeklongtermmalepartnerstoensurereproductivesuccess;those whofacedthesechallengesalonewerelesslikelytohavebeensuccessfulinpropagatingtheirgenes (62).Brizendineisskepticalaboutwhethercontemporarysinglemotherhood...willsucceed,noting that,eventoday,insomeprimitivecultures,afatherspresenceenhancesachildssurvivalrates, makingafemalessafestbetalongtermmalepartnertoofferprotectionandimprovedaccessto food,shelterandotherresources(62).Ineffect,womensneedforprotectionandprovisionexplains thesocalledsexcontractpositedbyevolutionarytheorists. Mensancientbraincircuitry,accordingtoBuss,leadsthemtoseekwiveswhoarephysically
Malesexualjealousy,thus,hasevolutionaryrootsandadaptivefunctionspreventing
infidelityandensuringpaternity(Buss1994:12529;Posner1992:97;Wright2005:6672);italsohas enormouscosts,evidentindomesticviolence(Buss1994).Drawingonevolutionaryscience,Judge RichardPosner(1992:97,112)arguesthebiologyofsexexplainsmensmateguardingbehaviorssuch asphysicalsequestrationofwives,disparagementoffemalesexuality,andfemalegenitalmutilation. Thesexesareinconflictratherthanincooperation;thesemalebehaviorssubvertfemalechoice(Batten 1994). EVOLUTIONARYPSYCHOLOGYANDMARRIAGELAWANDPOLICY Twowaysevolutionarypsychologyandsociobiologyfeatureincontemporarydiscussionsoffamilylaw andpolicyare(1)argumentsaboutwhypromotinghealthymarriageandrestoringamarriage cultureareanappropriatetaskforgovernment;and(2)argumentsagainstredefiningmarriageto includesamesexmarriage.1Thisembraceofsocialengineeringisintriguing:becausethesocial institutionofmarriageisnecessarytoaddressbasicproblemspresentedbynature,lawandculture shouldreinforceit.Marriageisfundamental,yetfragile.Thus,marriagemovement2authorscriticize worklikemineforignoringsexdifferenceandthepurposesofmarriage(Browning2007). Theseauthorsarguethatmarriagecivilizesmenbychannelingthemintosociallyproductive
MassachusettsSupremeJudicialCourtopenedthedoortosamesexmarriage.TheGoodridgemajority rejectedthestatesargumentthatbecauseprocreationwasthecentralpurposeofmarriageexcluding samesexcouplesfrommarriagewasrational.Itidentifiedexclusiveandpermanentcommitment, ratherthanprocreation,asmarriagesindispensablefeature(Goodridge2003:961).Themajorityargued thatthestatehadfacilitatedavenuesotherthanmaritalsexforbringingchildrenintoafamily(961 62).Dissenting,JusticeCordycontendedthattheinstitutionofmarriagehassystematicallyprovidedfor theregulationofheterosexualbehavior,broughtordertotheresultingprocreation,andensureda stablefamilystructureinwhichchildrenwillbereared,educated,andsocialized(995).Althoughin contemporarysocietyheterosexualintercourse,procreation,andchildcarearenotnecessarily conjoined,anorderlysocietyrequiressomemechanismforcopingwiththefactthatsexual intercoursecommonlyresultsinpregnancyandchildbirth(995). Theinstitutionofmarriageis,ineffect,aformofsocialengineeringthatfillsavoidinnature:a
fragilityalsofeatureinLewisv.Harris(2005),wheretheAppellateDivisionofNewJerseyrejectedthe constitutionalchallengebroughtbyseveralsamesexcouples.3JudgeParrillo,concurring,wrotethatthe purposeofmarriageisnottomandateprocreationbuttocontrolorameliorateitsconsequencesand thatthedeeplogicofgendershouldremainasanecessarycomponentofmarriage(Lewis2005: 27678).QuotingmarriagemovementscholarDanielCere,ParrillocontendedthatGoodridges characterizationoftheessenceofmarriageasapermanentandexclusivecommitmentmissesthat, historically,marriagehasembraced: thefundamentalfacetsof[traditional]conjugallife:thefactofsexualdifference;theenormous tideofheterosexualdesireinhumanlife,themassivesignificanceofmalefemalebondingin humanlife;theprocreativityofheterosexualbonding;theuniquesocialecologyofheterosexual parentingwhichbondschildrentotheirbiologicalparents;andtherichgenealogicalnatureof heterosexualfamilyties. (Lewis2005:276) Marriageisconjugal,notjustaclosepersonalrelationshipbecauseofpairbondingsevolutionary significance.Allowingsamesexcouplestomarrywouldstripmarriageofthisrichermeaningsothatit wouldbecomenonrecognizableandunabletoperformitsvitalfunction(276).
3 TheNewJerseySupremeCourtoverturnedtheappellatecourt(Lewisv.Harris2006),andthelegislatureenactedacivilunion lawinresponsetothatruling.
Theseargumentsagainstsamesexmarriagearenotpersuasive(McClain2007).Theyreston
assumptionsaboutsamenessanddifferencebetweenmenandwomenandbetweenoppositesexand samesexcouples.Allegedly,marriageamelioratessexdifferenceforthesakeofchildrenandhas nothingtodowithsexualitythatdoesnothavenaturalreproductiveconsequences.Butcourtsruling infavorofopeningupcivilmarriagereachdifferentconclusionsaboutsamenessanddifferenceand eschewsuchanarrowfocusonmarriagespurposes.InHernandez(2006:32),ChiefJusticeJudithKaye dissentedthatthestateplainlyhasalegitimateinterestinthewelfareofchildrenandappropriately linkstangiblelegalprotectionsandeconomicbenefitstomarriage.Thestatesinterestinastable societyisrationallyadvancedwhenfamiliesareestablishedandremainintactirrespectiveofthegender ofthespouses(32).Familylawschannelingfunctionisservedbyexpandingthereachofmarriageto samesexparents. Theseissuesalsofeatureinthenewestwaveofchallengestostatemarriagelaws:whetherthe
creationofalegalstatusalternativetomarriage,suchascivilunions,providesequalitytosamesex couples.InKerriganv.CommissionerofPublicHealth(2008),theSupremeCourtofConnecticut concludedthatcivilunionsdidnotaffordsamesexcouplesequalprotectionandthattheirexclusion fromcivilmarriagelackedconstitutionaljustification.Thecourtdeterminedthatsamesexcouples sharethesameinterestinacommittedandlovingrelationshipandinhavingafamilyandraising theirchildreninalovingandsupportiveenvironmentasoppositesexcouples(Kerrigan2008:424).The legislaturerecognizedtheseoverridingsimilaritieswhenitenactedthecivilunionlaw(424),andeven thoughsamesexcouplescannotengageinprocreativesexualconduct,themethodofconceiving childrenisaninsufficientdifferencetonegatefundamentalandoverridingsimilarities(424,note19). Notably,thestatedidnotappealtoprocreationoroptimalchildrearingasrationales.However,
Thisexaminationofcaselawandofmarriagemovementwritingsillustrateshowbiology,sex
difference,andevolutionareusedtoargueagainstexpandingthedefinitionofmarriage.Because marriageisaformofsocialengineeringthataddressesproblemsposedbynature,itisafundamental andfragileinstitution.Inowturntoconsiderationofhowsomeworkinevolutionarysciencethatmore squarelyasksthewomanquestion(Bartlett1990)mayaidfeministlegaltheoristsponderinghowbest torespondtothesekindsofarguments.Thisscientificworkmayhelpwithidentifyingdifferentfacts abouthumannatureandhumansociety. NATUREANDTHEPOLITICSOFPREHISTORY Inthischapter,Icanonlysketchafewwaysthatfeministorfemalecenteredworkonevolutionary sciencemaychallengethepresentationofnatureandevolutioninpopularizingaccountsandinpublic policyarguments.Feministlegaltheoryshouldheedthepoliticsofprehistory,orhowcertaingender biasesorstereotypesmayshapethestudyofhumanoriginsandimposeapaleolithicglassceiling (Zihlman1997:91).Toooften,femalesfeatureonlyaspassiveparticipantsinaccountsofhumanorigins ratherthanasagentsofevolutionarychange(Hager1997:ix).Asmorefemalescientistsstudyhuman origins,theyhavecorrectedthismisconceptionandhelpinevaluatingcontemporaryappealsto evolutionbothtoopposeandtosupportsocialengineering. Forexample,themarriagemovementstressesthepairbond,notingfemaleandinfant
dependencyonmalehelp,justasevolutionarysciencehasassertedfemaledependencyuponmale provisioning(Hager1997).However,theassumptionofaprehistoricpairbondisaprojectionbackin timetoanarrowWesternviewofmarriageandmating,aformulationtoorigidtoaccountforthe variationthatexistscrossculturally(Zihlman1997:99).TheManasProvisionerthesisassumedthatto increasethehumanpopulationbyhavingalesserintervalbetweenbirths,femalesreducedtheir mobility,stayednearahomebase,andbecamedependentuponmaleswhoprovisionedtheirown matesandoffspring,sincetheycouldberelativelycertainaboutpaternity(102).Thismodelseems preoccupiedwithquestions/anxietiesaboutmalesexuality,attheexpenseofrecognizingfemales rolesinhumanevolution(Falk1997:115).Femalescientistshavenotedflawsinthismodel,inlightof fossilevidenceandstudiesofcontemporaryprimateandhumanhuntergatherersocieties(Zihlman 1997).Thepairbondmayhavelesstodowithmaleprovisioningthanwithsolvingtheproblemofmale matecompetition,freeingafemaletocareforheroffspring.
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Asprimatologistsputfemalesmoreatthecenterofevolutionarystudy,theimageoffemale
ownperplexingparadox: Ifmensinvestmentinchildrenissoimportant,whyhasntnaturalselectionproducedfathersas singlemindedanddevotedtochildrenas[insomespecies]?Andgiventhatmalecareisso idiosyncraticallyandcontingentlyexpressed,howcouldnaturalselectionhavefavoredhuman motherswhoinvariablyproducedoffspringbeyondtheirmeanstorearalone? (Hrdy2009:162) Whilethemarriagemovementstressestheproblemoffatherlessnessandlookstomarriageasthe solution,Hrdylooksatthewaythathumanandnonhumanmothersenlistalloparentstoassistinraising young.Thesealloparentalsafetynetsprovidedtheconditionsinwhichhighlyvariablepaternal commitmentcouldevolve(166).Evolutionaryinterpretationsofmalebehaviorhaveanobsessive focusoncertaintyofpaternityasaprerequisitetopaternalinvestment,butthereiswidevariation amongmenwithrelativelyhighcertaintyofpaternityintermsofactuallyengagingindirectcareof infantsaswellasinstanceswheremenwhodonotshareachildsgenesinvestinchildcare(16768).
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Evolutionarytheorytendstoprojectthenuclearfamilybackintime.Bycontrast,Hrdy(2009:
166)describesthetypicalornaturalPleistocenefamilyaskinbased,childcentered,opportunistic, mobile,andvery,veryflexible.LikeBrizendine,shewouldworryaboutsinglemothersbutwouldlook tothevitalroleofalloparentsandsocialsupports,insteadofassumingmaleprotectionandprovisionas thebestoption.Indeed,thepreeminenceofthemanthehunter/sexcontractparadigm,withits accompanyingstereotypesaboutnuclearfamiliesandmaternalcaregivinghavebeenobstaclesto recognizingtheevolutionofcooperativebreeding(23940).Removingtheseobstaclescameinpart fromtheeffortsofHrdyandothersociobiologists(manyofuswomen)toexpandevolutionarytheory toincludeselectionpressuresonbothsexes,includingpostmenopausalfemales(258).The grandmotherhypothesis,isthatnewopportunitiestohelpkingeneratedselectionpressuresfavoring longerlifespansamongpostmenopausalwomen(255). Assumingthathominidsandearlyhumanswerepatrilocalhashinderedappreciationofthe
extenttowhichearlyresidencepatternsmayhavebeenmatrilocal(24143).Asstartingassumptionsof evolutionarymindedanthropologistsaboutresidentialpatternschanged,itbecamepossibletoask newquestionsaboutcooperativebreedingandtheroleofalloparents(245).Studiesindicatethe preeminenceofgrandmothersamongalloparents:havingagrandmothernearbyhasasignificant impactonthechildrearingsuccessofyoungerkinandmaysometimesmoregreatlyenhancechildwell beingthanthepresenceofafather(253,261).Inpatrilocalsocieties,apaternalgrandmothers contributionmaybemoretohersonssuccess,measuredinshorterintervalsbetweenbirths;the presenceofmaternalgrandmothersseemstocorrelatemorewithgreaterchildwellbeing(26164). Hrdyalsoreferstoyounghumanfemalesadeptnessatcommunicationandmakingfriends,linkingitnot onlytotendingandbefriendingtoobtainsupport,butalsoasawaytomanufactureallomothers: Whetherconsciouslyornot,womenseeksisterswithwhomtosharecareofourchildren(271). Ontheconflictbetweenmaleandfemalereproductiveinterests,Hrdy(26465)speaksof
being.Whilethemarriagemovementstressesintegratingsexualandparentingbonds,somefeminist legaltheorists(e.g.Fineman1995,2004)arguethatfocusingonthesexualfamilydivertsattention fromthefamilysimportantintergenerationalcaretakingfunction.Ittakes,Hrdyparaphrases, alloparentstoraiseachild.Aprominentcontemporaryexampleisavailable:FirstLadyMichelle ObamasmothermovedintotheWhiteHousebecauseofhercrucialrolecaringfortheObamachildren (Swarns2009).Hrdysemphasisontheroleofalloparentscouldsupportargumentsmadeinfavorof greaterfamilydiversityitisnotthegenetictiesomuchasprovidingnurturetochildrenthat contributestotheirwellbeing. CULTURE:RESISTINGEQUALITY Cultureisanotherreasonoftengivenforthedifficultyofachievingsexequality.Womenandmen reportedlyworrythatsexequalitypushesbeyondculturallimitsbyrequiringakindofandrogynyor samenessthatdeniestheirgenderedidentities.FeministlegaltheoristWendyWilliams(1982)identified theproblemofculturallimitsdecadesago,askingfeministstothinkasdeeplyastheycanaboutwhat wewantthefutureofwomenandmentobeequalityofthesexesorjusticefortwokindsof beingswhoarefundamentallydifferent.Inhisrecentbook,Manliness,HarveyMansfield(2006:13) arguesthatthereisagapbetweentheofficialcommitmenttoagenderneutralsocietyandmensand womensunofficialdesire.Ifocusbrieflyontwoexamplesofculturalresistancetosocialcooperation ontermsofsexequality:thepossibilityofegalitarianmarriageandpopularculturedepictionsof heterosexualromance. Doesmaritalhappinessrequireinequality?Evolutionaryaccountsofmateselectionstressmens
offeredbyconservativeselfhelpauthor,Dr.LauraSchlessinger.StunningherhostontheTodayshow, Schlesingerlaidtheproblemofmenscheatingatthedoorofanywifewhofailedtomakeherhusband feellikeaman...likeasuccess...likeherhero,sothathewasverysusceptibletothecharmofsome otherwoman.Schlessingerholdswomenaccountablefornotgivingperfectlygoodmenthelove, kindness,respect,andattentiontheyneed,chargingthatthesedays,womendontspendalotoftime thinkingabouthowtheycangivetheirmenwhattheyneed...(Armstrong2008).4InSildaWallSpitzers case,thisdiagnosisseemsparticularlyinapt,giventhatsheputherowncareerasidetohelpher husbandinhis.Butitdoessuggestculturalresistancetoequality.Dr.Lauraisaprovocateurandher commentsdrewcriticism;however,sheisalsoapopularauthor.Herbook,TheProperCareandFeeding ofHusbands(2004:3),indictsthewomensmovementasacoredestructiveinfluenceandadvises wivestotreattheirhusbandswithrespect,reinforcethemasheadofthehousehold,andcelebrate difference.Admirationanddeferencewillyieldawifemorepowerandhappinessthandirectchallenge. Mansfield(2006:18)alsospeaksaboutadmirationlook[ing]uptosomeoneincontrolasaproper responsetomanliness. Inthisview,equalityisaturnoff.Inequalityissexy.Inthewakeofrecentinfidelityscandals
involvingprominentpoliticians,somecommentatorslooktoevolutionaryscienceshypothesisthat mensphilanderingincreasestheirreproductivesuccess(Porter2009).TheSpitzerscandalalsoplayed
4
Readersmayviewtheshowatwww.msnbc.msn.com/id./235752221/.
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thanwomens.Somefeministtheoristsarguethatinsteadofpushingthestateformorepublicpolicy, wivesandmothersshoulddirecttheirenergytowardpersuadingmentochange(Hirschmann2008). LegalfeministMaryAnneCase(2001)arguesfordirectingefforttowardaredistributionofresponsibility fromwomentomenratherthantoemployersorthestate.Certainly,governmentisnottheonly relevantactorwhenitcomestoadvancingsexequality.Thus,politicaltheoristNancyHirschmann(2008) raisesausefulquestion:howcanmenbepersuadedtochangeandhowcanwomenbepersuadedto insistonthatchange?ThisisabasicpremiseofhowtobookssuchasJoshuaColemansTheLazy Husband:HowtoGetMentoDoMoreParentingandHousework(2005).WhileDr.Laurasbook promisesmaritalhappinessbyacceptingroledifferentiationandresistingfeministideology,Colemans bookpromisestosavemarriagesandincreasemaritalhappinessbyincreasingequality. Mansfieldproposesadifferentculturallimit:manliness.Manlymenhaveadisdainforwomens
work,includinghousework.Manlinesspreventsmenfromgivingequalhonortowomen:thisisthe
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BettyFriedan,somecommentatorsaskediffeminismwasafailurebecausewomenwerechoosingto stayhomeratherthanjugglecareerandfamily.Oneresponsewasthatwomenweremakingachoice, andwasntfeminism,afterall,aboutwomenbeingabletomakechoices?No,saidfeministscholarLinda Hirshman(2005,2006),arguingthatwomenwhowereoptingoutwereinfactmakingbadchoicesnot tobecelebratedasafeministtriumph.Thisdebateaboutfeminismsgoalssuggestsonecomplicationin theorizingandachievingequality.Friedansemphasisonwomengettingoutofthehomeandhaving careers,whilepaidhouseholdworkerstookuptheslack,riskeddevaluingtheimportanceoffamilyand homelifeandsuggestedonlyonemodelofagoodlifetowhichwomenshouldaspire.However,when feministsassesstheissueofchoice,issueslikehowculturalexpectationsforboysandgirlsshapetheir lifeprospects,whethersocialinstitutionsmakeitequallypossibleforwomenandmentopursuecertain lifeplans,andwhetherproblemsofunequalbargainingpowerconstraintheexerciseofchoiceare appropriateconcerns. Popularcultureoffersexamplesofculturalresistancetosexequalityevenasitsuggests
suchsuperachieversthattheirhusbandsfeelthreatened.Replacingthemwithrobotsrestoresthe genderequilibrium.Theprotagonistwife(NicoleKidman)isaruthlessentertainmentexecutive,whose proposedrealitytelevisionshowisabattleofthesexesshow,withthepremisethatanythingmencan do,womencandobetter.Shelosesherjobwhenahumiliatedhusbandkillshiswifeandtriesto assassinateher.Sheandherhusband(MatthewBroderick)relocatetoanewcommunitywhere averagelookinghusbandshavepleasant,compliantwiveswearingfloraldresses.Broderickisonthe vergeofreplacinghiswifewitharobotbecause,asheputsit,sheissuperiortohimineveryway.By contrasttotheoriginalfilm,hecannotgothroughwithitbecause,asKidmantellshimpleadingly,a robotcantsay,Iloveyou,andmeanit. Inmerelythreedecades,thebattleofthesexeshasshiftedfromhusbandsmadeuneasyby
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AsanAustenfan,IfindthetrajectoryfromElizabethtoBridgetdistressing.Ininterviews,
Fieldinghassaidthathernovelisironic.BridgetJonesisreallyabouttryingtoohard,tryingtobetoo perfecttohaveitall;itsokaytobelikeBridget,normalandfun(Penguin.com2009).Perhaps. Butanotherreadingmaybethatsexequalityisabore,andsexinequalityismorefunandsexier.Bridget seemstooflawedtoendupwiththeexemplaryMarkDarcy.Awashinselfhelpbooks,catalogingdaily herexcessiveintakeofalcoholandcigarettes,Bridgetmakesfoolishchoiceafterfoolishchoice.She seemsamuchdiminishedElizabethBennett.InPrideandPrejudice,Mr.Darcycanthelphisattraction toElizabethdespiteherclassstandingandembarrassingfamily;hercriticismofhimultimatelyhumbles himenoughtoreformhispridebettertorevealhisbasicgoodcharacter.Bycontrast,Bridget embarrassesherselfandseemstobetheonlyoneinneedofreform,evenasherhaplessquestforself improvementamusesreadersandfilmviewers. ThebookinspiredapopularfilmthatfurtherheightensthedistancebetweenBridgetandMark
aboutnotlookingforloveontermsofequality?
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