| Christina Hoff Sommers |
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Christina Hoff Sommers argues that " Gender Feminism " is opposed to " Equity Feminism " (she coined these terms). "Gender feminism", which she sees represented in academic Feminism and the mainstream Feminist Movement , says that a change in Gender Role s and the Patriarchal structures of society is needed to achieve true gender equality. "Equity feminism", conversely, is the form associated with the ideas of equal legal and civil rights and many of the original goals of the First Wave of the Women's Movement : the establishment of women's right to work, vote, etc. Christina Hoff Sommers says that most American women are satisfied with these developments, simply desiring legal and civil equality with men, and that this equality has been established in the United States. Although Christina Hoff Sommers is considered by some to be opposed to mainstream feminism, she considers her own views to be mainstream. She argues, "Most American women subscribe philosophically to that older 'First Wave' kind of feminism whose main goal is equity, especially in politics and education. A First Wave, 'mainstream,' or 'equity' feminist wants for women what she wants for everyone: fair treatment, without discrimination". Sommers recognizes, however, that the view she considers mainstream is not the loudest voice in feminism. Referring to a gender feminist meeting she had attended, Sommers criticized those involved as part of a general problem she perceives in academic feminism: The women at the Heilbrun conference are the New Feminists: articulate, prone to self-dramatization, and chronically offended. Many of the women on the "Anger" panel were tenured professors at prestigious universities. All had fine and expensive educations. Yet, listening to them one would never guess that they live in a country whose women are legally as free as the men and whose institutions of higher learning now have more female than male students. Since the publication of ''Who Stole Feminism?'' much controversy has surrounded Sommers. In particular, her political orientation is often the subject of debate. Sommers identifies herself as an equity feminist and a moderate liberal. However, she is frequently labeled 'conservative' and her ideas are seen as opposed to the ideas of many other feminists. In addition, she works for a conservative Think Tank , and some of her books were subsidized in part by conservative groups (A history of grants provided to Sommers is available through MediaTransparency , an organization that tracks conservative funding projects). Although Sommers calls herself feminist, her critics see her as Antifeminist , saying she attacks basic claims of feminism , . BOOKS
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