This has been a banner month for feminism on the internet. Between Kim Hall's rant about teen girls and social media and Hanna Rosin's claims that "the patriarchy is dead", we thought we'd seen the worst of it.
But then one blog came along to top them all!
"6 Reasons (+2) to NOT Send Your Daughter to College."Oh boy. Author Raylan Alleman writes:
"She will attract the wrong types of men. I share the common concern addressed to us, again mainly by angry women, that there are so many lazy men in our society ... those lazy men who are looking for a mother-figure in a wife are very attracted to this responsible, organized, smart woman who has it all together along with a steady paying job with benefits."
Oh yes, because more education and financial independence definitely makes women MORE likely to be taken advantage of, not less. And smart, successful men clearly love when a women is totally financial dependent on them!
In fact, over two-thirds of married women are employed. And more women than ever are their households' primary breadwinners. There's no data on how many of them are mother figures to their lazy husbands, but we're willing to bet it's much lower than Raylan Alleman thinks.
"She will not learn to be a wife and mother. Nothing that is taught in a college curriculum is geared toward domestic homemaking. On the contrary, it is training in a very masculine role of a professional career."
Having a job. So manly. Look at all these masculine women who have jobs and probably have no idea how to cook or throw a decent birthday party!
The author also charges that women will "regret" going to college. Yes, some people regret going to college after being saddled with massive amounts of debt. And, yes, college is not for everyone; some people are better suited for vocational training. But by and large, education and, more specifically, a college degree is a GOOD thing. College graduates report making more money, having more career options, and being more satisfied with their jobs in general. Plus, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most of the fastest-growing occupations require a post-high school degree of some kind.
Two of the most common occupations for women, according to the Department Of Labor, are nursing and teaching-- two jobs that require advanced degrees.
The author presents going to college and having a happy family as mutually exclusive choices-- something we know isn't true. Time and time again, studies have shown that working mothers are generally happier, healthier mothers and wives.
The post was met with a barrage of criticism. One commenter quipped, "As a woman, I am now 8% less educated for having read this. Now I have to go find a thesaurus or something." "So, please, what is an 18yo girl to do then? Bag groceries till a prince charming comes along to give a few kids?"
Others raised concerns based on their own experiences. "The job I do at a church? That came from a college degree in Music. So you can go chew on my religious vocation," said one woman.
Check out the blog yourself and let us know what you think in the comments section.