Dworkin observes that the Right offers women a deal: safety, rules, love in exchange for obedience, sex, & childbearing. Women accept that bargain as the best bet against their real fears of violence and poverty. Coming from Right-Winglandia, this rings true, describes the reality that raised me. - ThreadSky

claimnoshame.bsky.social • 63 days ago

Dworkin observes that the Right offers women a deal: safety, rules, love in exchange for obedience, sex, & childbearing. Women accept that bargain as the best bet against their real fears of violence and poverty.

Coming from Right-Winglandia, this rings true, describes the reality that raised me.

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claimnoshame.bsky.social•63 days ago

The Right is not honest about upholding its end of the bargain, big part of why I didn't stick around.

But I left thinking about the bargain feminism can offer women as an alternative.

petiteviolette.bsky.social•61 days ago

To me the bargain is self-worth, truth, and community. Patriarchy lies about women's abilities, motivations, and worth, and tries to keep us from supporting each other. Feminism makes me feel like my life is meaningful and based in reality, and like I have a community to both give to and take from.

petiteviolette.bsky.social•61 days ago

Highlighting the strength of feminist communities (and organizing to make them better) could offer an alternative, especially to isolated women who are dependent on an abusive husband and overwhelmed by care responsibilities.

claimnoshame.bsky.social•63 days ago

Refreshingly, Dworkin doesn't condescend to right-wing women, but is overly generous re: their agency in accepting the bargain. Especially of the way women seek power over others by becoming willing agents of patriarchy (e.g., Schlafley, Malia Shirley).

claimnoshame.bsky.social•63 days ago

A comment from a woman in the audience got me thinking about "native" right-wing women (raised and isolated in conservative environments) vs. converts to the ideology. Do they warrant different understanding and different approaches?

janetherevelator.bsky.social•63 days ago

I would say yes, as it seems like different rhetoric is required for people on the other end of the spectrum who are native left vs. "acquired" left (like us)

samuelosinaike.bsky.social•62 days ago

Does the book also cover alt-right women like trad wives?

claimnoshame.bsky.social•62 days ago

This was first published in 1983, so the trad wives of Instagram & Tik Tok did not yet exist, but they are definitely modern examples of the type.

Rothfeld's review does a good job applying Dworkin's analysis to one modern example.

https://wapo.st/3DC5rlt

janetherevelator.bsky.social•63 days ago

This feels true for me as well, it matches my observations

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