why do we fear strong women?
October 31st 2006 10:03
Recently acquired by the Art Gallery of NSW is a series of sculptures by Anslem Kiefer, entitled Women of Antiquity: Myrtis, Hypatia, Candidia. The body of work depicts three women who were brilliant thinkers of classical mythology, who transgressed the boundaries of their times, and who were executed or stoned to death. Strong women with independent minds have always existed but have been burdened by their exceptionality. The figures suffer a lack of identity as the heavy objects on their shoulders leave them faceless. Like the Eve, Lilith, Pandora, and countless other female artists, political figures and thinkers, Kiefer’s women of antiquity instigated change and were subsequently alienated and demonised by male dominated history.
Even after all the radical ideas and action of the 1920s, and then 60s/70s, we are still afraid of women who transgress the boundaries of womanhood. We have come a long way in some areas but pretending women have the same possibilities as men is pointless.
On the business/financial news website Forbes.com, Michael Noer wrote an article entitled Don’t Marry Career Women. In it, he cites experts who say professional women are more likely to get divorced, more likely to cheat and less likely to have children: “they will be unhappy if they make more money than you do … you will be unhappy if they make more money than you do … you will be more likely to fall ill … even your house will be dirtier.”
He suggests that when both spouses have careers, labour specialisation in the marriage decreases and the overall value of the marriage is lower for both partners because there is work that doesn’t get done. One can only assume that by this he means domestic duties are neglected and spouses don’t have specialised roles that are defined well enough.
The implication here is that women should stick to doing the housework. He certainly doesn’t suggest that in two-career couples there is a possibility that the man could ease the tension by doing more of the domestic duties, and he completely overlooks the fact that with two incomes it is more likely that a clearner could be afforded.
What he does say is “marrying these women is asking for trouble.”
He frets that higher-educated people are more likely to cheat, as are higher-income-earners, and “when your spouse works outside the home, chances increase that he or she will meet someone more likable than you.” He concludes from this that ‘career’ women are to be avoided, but is blind to the fact that ‘career’ men are included in the statistics and many women also don’t like being cheated on. It’s an attitude that exemplifies how the patriarchy remains threatened by independent or successful women, because those women shake the stability of male power and identity.
To read Michael Noer's article in full, and a counterpoint piece from his college Elizabeth Corcoran, see Forbes.com. Kiefer’s sculptural work is currently on display at AGNSW.
"Marriage is a bribe to make a housekeeper think she's a householder."
Thornton Wilder (1897 - 1975)
Image: AGNSW
| 82 |
| Vote |
Comments (5)
Add Comments
Read More
