Positive Woman

In The Power of the Positive Woman, author Phyllis Schlafly sets out to redefine the dogmas of womanhood and introduce the Positive Woman, defined as someone who recognizes that women and men are different, and that those differences “provide the key to her success and fulfillment as a woman.” Rather than trying to eliminate the degradation of women, she claims that these dogmas have the opposite effect and demean women even more. On the contrary, Schlafly argues that these same differences some are trying to get rid of are essential and practical. In fact, the human race itself could not have evolved and thrived to the current scale without these sexual differences. Instead of the desire for uniformity, Schlafly encourages the recognition and benefit from diversity.

Jerry Falwell’s 1980 article, “Jerry Falwell Sees a Threat to the American Family” discusses just that—a quickly emerging attack on the idealisms of American families. According to Falwell, family is the basis of society and has allowed the nation to maintain prosperous. Since the 1960s, however, conditions have shifted. Through the broadcasting of non-traditional family situations, homosexuality, and adultery, as well as the ongoing feminine revolution the “cult of the playboy,” there has
become a “vicious assault upon the American family.” As a result, Falwell argues that America must take action to preserve family heritage, suggesting the country must find a genuine relationship with God to “right our families of our nation.”

Ronald Reagan emphasizes his support of a smaller government in his 1964 Goldwater campaign speech, “A Time for Choosing.” Amidst many political and economic conflicts, such as the Vietnam aftermath and the economy’s plunge, it is time for voters to make a choice: to decide whether or not the country believes in self-government or the reliance on the Capitol to plan citizens’ lives. Reagan does make it a point to mention that the current issues do not apply to one certain political party, but rather “cross party lines.” Reagan ends his speech by encouraging voters to take a stand and reminding them that they have the ability to determine their “own destiny.”

Reagan’s Revolution: Analysis/Opinion

Social conservatism is present in Schlafly’s The Power of the Positive Woman, Falwell’s “Threat to the American Family,” and Reagan’s 1964 Goldwater campaign speech, A Time for Choosing.

First, Schlafly mentions societal changes when she discusses the evolution of women’s roles. Her challenge of conservative beliefs is evident throughout Positive Woman, such as her opposition to the women’s liberationists ideas that it is a handicap to be a woman, or that the fact that only women bear children is very cruel and oppressive. Schlafly is against the desire to preserve traditional values and instead argues that the very differences viewed negatively as a “result of centuries of restraints imposed by a male-dominated society and sex-stereotyped schooling” will lead to women’s long overdue “acquisition of power.” However, she assumes liberationists want women to take over for men and neglect the traditional roles of being the raiser of children, when in reality, the women’s liberation movement is about allowing women to have the option to have an additional career outside of the home. Schlafly also fails to recognize that women’s roles have always been evolving. As time has gone on, women have become more involved with things outside the home, most recently, Hillary Clinton’s candidacy, and will surely continue to be in the future.

Falwell, on the other hand, conveys his conservative beliefs in “Threat to the American Family,” his analysis of the “vicious assault” on the idealistic American family.
He argues that television has exposed society to non-traditional family situations, which led to the breakdowns of traditional values. By basing his theory on a religious doctrine, Falwell basically sets out to impose the Bible’s values on society as a whole, despite instituted laws that uphold the separation of church and state. Furthermore, Falwell fails to mention or maybe does not realize that just because certain ideologies have been around so long does not always mean it is one and that time changes, and society must eventually change with
it.

Reagan, in contrast, shares both his support of social conservatism but his disapproval of many government programs at the time. Reagan addresses the nation by basically asking them to rethink the involvement of government in society. By stressing the importance of a smaller government, Reagan tries to maintain traditional values of democracy and freedom, which reveals his conservative ideologies. Nevertheless, he does go on to express his objection to several political issues, such as the decline in the farm economy, the farmers losing their land, and debt caused by federal regulations, going against his conservative views. However, many, if not most, campaign speeches contain misleading statements and arguments that are not well-rounded. Reagan does not hesitate to blame the issue of the farm economy and the decrease in farmers on the government. However, the situation is not about the removal of farmers, but the inevitable changes from the age of technology; it now requires a lesser amount of people to complete the same work. This can be related to current presidential candidate Donald Trump, and his recent generalization of minorities as criminals, racists, and murderers.