Feminism v. Sexual Politics

Today there is ample discussion about women’s full equality and the direction of feminism. Many question whether feminism has been achieved, forgotten, or simply redefined. In my opinion, feminism is anything but dead, there is simply more work to be done. That being said, the refocus of feminist’s values proposes a problem. The theory of feminism, rooted in “creation and acquiescence” has been remolded to concentrate on “destruction and refusal.” (Halberstam) This drastic change in values has hindered the progress of the feminist movement. As early as the second wave of feminism, Betty Friedan identified the issues we face today in relation to feminist’s goals. Friedan first separated herself from other feminists, including Gloria Steinem, during the Kate Millet protest. Millet was under scrutiny for coming out as a bisexual woman. While Steinem thought, “it (was) not a woman’s sexual experience that (was) under attack-it (was) the freedom of all women to openly state values that fundamentally challenge the patriarchy.” (p. 706 Taylor & Tress) Friedan saw it as a mistake to engage in “sexual politics”. As sexual politics seemingly took over the feminist movement, Friedan criticized feminist advocates like Steinem even further, stating, “If the women’s movement had not been diverted by sexual politics, it would have been able to address the pressing economic concerns of women.” (p. 709-710 Taylor & Tress) Friedan was correct in this assessment. Clearly, she was well beyond her years in predicting that the increasing radical face of feminism would engender a backlash. This is easily seen in today’s society.. Young women often put their sexuality above traditional feminist principles. As a result, the rights these early feminists worked so hard to gain, such as equal professional opportunities, have been taken for granted. “The new feminism, in its preoccupation with the sexual harm inflicted on women by men—pornography, sexual harassment, and rape (all of