fractelle:"There are those whose insecurities lead them to believe everything that is wrong with their lives is someone else’s fault and feminism is a convenient scapegoat simply because women are still not full participants in the power structure of our world."

Please tell me what opportunities are denied women in "our world"? I'm not referring to the third world where disadvantage is rife, but to the world that you and I inhabit.

As for the rest, I disagree strongly that feminism is a "scapegoat". The feminist movement has achieved some remarkable things in relation to redressing the imbalance of opportunity between the genders, but in so doing has rendered itself obsolete. As a consequence, it has morphed into something much less worthy, which exists largely to feather the nests of those women who want to have power. These women will do anything to pander to what they see as their constituency, which is other women and the easiest way for them to do so is to attack men. Some powerful men have assisted this process in an effort to be seen as having the same constituency.

Far from being a "scapegoat", the feminist movement has become an oppressor of many for the benefit of the few. It's nothing to be proud of any more.

Feminst values? - "equality and justice, choice and respect".

I applaud the women who make the choice, for whatever reason, to refuse the label of a 'feminist' as part of how they articulate their identity.

I chose to call myself a feminist - I 'respect' (not expect) those who make a 'choice' not to. That reespect and choice is part of those feminist values too.

:)

Recent events in the US indicate that times have changed and have taken a self-serving feminist elite by surprise. Feminist demands for all women to vote for Hilary Clinton because she was a woman were greeted with incredulity and well-deserved disdain. As is only to be expected of a feminist her age, Hilary claimed her loss was due to 'sexism', a pill that only a zealot could take without gagging.

The words of Obama supporter Kate Michelman, the former head of the abortion-rights group NARAL Pro-Choice America make a lot of sense:

"We're at a time and place where we don't have to base everything we think about in terms of gender, and that's a sign of progress. This rigid view that when any woman runs, we have to all fall into line - that's contradictory to what I consider feminism to be about."

For anyone with an open mind, those words could give a lead as to why young women flee screaming from the nagging of feminists. It will be a red rag to those who obtain personal benefit from continuing the gender war, but that is only to be expected.

Usual Suspect, I wonder whether the figures that you mention of 70% of women wanting to be at home are constructed. Certainly almost all women I know suffer "mother guilt", particularly working women. I dont believe on anecdotal evidence that men suffer the same level of guilt. I would question whether this is biological, or whether its conditioned. That said, I know my father used to feel guilty that he couldnt help us more with homework and such, and was always very quick to correct anyone who praised him on our academic successes, that we had made any achievements entirely off our own back. So I think that perhaps its more social conditioning than biological.

Cornflower, thanks for acknowledging that you understand the point I was trying to make - it makes for peaceful discussion! I agree that the attitudes of today's men (young men in particular) can be blamed as much on their mothers as their fathers. My marriage was a real shock to the system, as my family has always insisted that the girls are capable of fending for themselves and the boys capable of looking after themselves. A family habit of not marrying until quite late has enforced the need for those of both gender to be reasonably self-sufficient! The influence of mothers I think also has had an impact on what new mothers feel is their role (which US alluded to). How much still comes from the day that the mothering role was the only role available and women dug their claws into the few powerbases that they could, and has been taught by association or inference.

I guess I dont believe that roles and talents are biological - they are individual.

I guess if the feminists wanted to promote their gender, they would all support Sarah Palin on the McCain/Palin ticket.

But somehow, I think the "feminists" consider ex-beauty Queen, Sarah the wrong sort of "female"

They would, presumably, sooner vote for a two males straddling a Mule (Hee Haw), than a fellow 'sister' and McCain riding high on an Elephant.

Is that an example of "female logic"?

CountryGal,

'Certainly almost all women I know suffer "mother guilt", particularly working women'
I'm sure they do. But how come nobody ever talks of any mother guilt in not providing financially for their children. I read an article today in the smh, that men were shirking their caring responsibilities and it was time to encourage 'father guilt'.An article on OLO, about the new fatherhood, with males atarting to take on more of the caring role, saying males are finally starting to be 'committed' and 'responsible' fathers.

Nobody ever talks this way about women in regards to the financial aspect of caring for children. SOMEBODY has to earn the money. Imagine articles about how women are now finally staring to be committed and responsible enough to contribute financially to their children. How women are shirking their financial responsibilities for their children and leaving it to men.

I keep hearing this undervalued and unappreciated claim about the caring role, but really the same could just as easily be said for the financial providing role when you look at attitudes shown in these type of articles.

Families need money to survive, and it's pretty offensive to men who are more commonly the majority provider to hear they are 'neglecting' their children because they happen to be away putting food on the table.