Nic, Isn't this freedom of choice, girl power, pick and choose, move on if it stinks, what Feminism fought for?

Why is it that some of the most ardent Feminists are also miserably lonely people?

No, don't get me wrong. Feminism highlighted much of the institutional, legal and social discrimination against women but it also entrenched a false consciousness that women were and could be free just by adopting a radical feminist mind set. It was always going to be tougher road than this.

Hence they've become 'future speculators', whereby changing partners, jobs and careers is now considered "the norm", if not the desired rhetoric of cultural 'fashion'.

Some crash and burn around 35, and then worry about being able to have kids (not necessarily having a partner) around 40.

However, statistics suggest that there is a growing population of post 40 year old women who have made it, have no need for a man to keep them, have no children, and who are incredibly happy.

For women of low socio economic status the above choice is not as accessible.

So I don't think this can all be attributed to 'loooove'.

Rainier

Your post reads like a cut-and-paste from the ‘Femophobic’s Guide to the Backlash’ or ‘Anti-feminism for Dummies’.

‘Isn't this freedom of choice, girl power, pick and choose, move on if it stinks, what Feminism fought for?’

No … it wasn’t. And it still isn’t. You’re confusing feminism with tacky tampon commercials.

Really interesting, Nic. Are you implying that young people now are so mediainfluenced, their minds and culture are much like TV, rapid fire plot twists, superficial, cut to an ad, mmm yes, I'd like that, ooh, yes, ACA is right, don't like that sort of person, mmm feel like chocolate, ooh mobile's ringing, love my new dial tone, if that [expletive] is ringing up to apologize, etc. It would be phenomenal/ological to do a James Joyce rendition of the day in the mind of one of your subjects. [Likely read much like mine at that age. Very few of us are capable of the Buddhist "think before you think" at that age, if ever.]

As an old coot now, with children in the young 20's range, with heavy drinking, drug availability, suicide by motor vehicle or other deliberate means, normalised promiscuity, uncertainty about commitment to anything, in their immediate environment/culture, I truly worry about some life-affirming values that will get them through. My Dad did too. He freaked when I burned incense in the house. "You'll be on drugs next." So now I am in my father's position. I want my children to be sane, happy, fulfilled, safe, good people, "their own people" not clones of me. But the seeming stability of religious dogma put forward by a few commentators, you

cannot force people to believe. I generally feel the purpose of human life is human life: our fellow human beings, experience, knowledge, love and hurt, the whole show. It is good to wonder. To wonder about the purpose of it all, to wonder about religious explanations. Ultimately no-one KNOWS. It's called faith. No-one can force feed their faith on others like a pate goose, or fool them. The attempt leads to damage. That certainly tears us apart! I doubt if secular humanism is as guilty as religion across the centuries in inspiring people to hate and kill.

PS Is it ironic that the celebate pope is pushing sex and reproduction as the inviolate norm and saying any deviation from that "remains sterile and does not produce a future”?

No … it wasn’t. And it still isn’t. You’re confusing feminism with tacky tampon commercials.

Watch it! I've got hairy legs too!

runner ".God help kids who might have you loving them one moment and then dumping them the next."

Ah the only "kids" I love are my daughters and they are never dumped. we have a saying - how many times do I love you -

once, from the moment they were born, ongoing, eternal, never withheld, never negotiated.

I can understand your confusion, runner.

From the bitterness of most of your posts it is obvious "love" is an experience which has eluded you.

As for the women in my life, well they are grown ups, the rules are different, we have met, enjoyed the 'moment' and then moved on to new 'moments', all part of lifes rich tapestry (as the old KFC commericals used to go - "and its finger lickin' good").

the words "love will tear us apart" was it Ian Curtis way of referring to the love and dedication of his band is what will tear him away from his wife? Its not the love that he has for his wife but her obsession and love that that will lead them further apart. Maybe this is the bleeding obvious but i kinda want it to be confirmed...thanx