Teenagers, Crazy Feminism, and Old Women (USA)

My 16 year old son recently asked me for my perspective on 'this whole crazy feminist thing.' 

I gave him the look- the deadstop, eyelock, WhatAreYouSaying? look. 

"Wait a second," I told him, "you might need to start over and rephrase that, because I have a whole different understanding here...".

"No, that's what I mean," he said. "There's all these crazy teenage girls on YouTube provoking guys and screaming at them, and making all of these outrageous demands. So I wanted to ask your perspective on this, like what's the deal with feminism?"

For me, this is one of the best kind of moments with my kids. That my teenage son would come to me on purpose and ask my opinion on issues of substance is...well, really it is what I strive for as a parent; an open dialogue, and inquiring young adults. 

Even though I haven't seen much of what's going on with young radical feminists on YouTube, I understand immediately what he's getting at: these girls look crazy and they're angry at men (which he is fast becoming).

I cut to the chase. 

"Look- men used to own women as property by law, it was legal for men to beat their wives, and women were not allowed to have careers, or even go out on the town for an evening without adequate supervision."

I could see that he hadn't known this history, he took it in and understood it immediately. The conversation led into the right to vote, abortion issues, political under-representation, the ability to make money as a mother with the responsibilities of caring for children, and even what it means to be a man in a reality with these women. 

I asked him, "Does this mean that you should feel guilty for being a man? No, you didn't personally do any of this to women. But what does it mean for a man of your generation? What is your response to this?"

He paused at this question. And so did I. 

Because this is really the space where we go off and find ourselves a little further in the world.

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My kids and I have watched Iron Jawed Angels together, which is grabbing enough as a movie for them to stay interested. It's about Alice Paul's amazing fight to gain the right to vote (suffrage). Not only does it shine a light on how much women have actually Fought for their rights, it left a fantastic impression on me of how smart, strong and determined Alice Paul was.

watch full movie- Iron Jawed Angels

And recently I found the PBS series Makers: Women Who Make America. The first three episodes are on the womens movement, from the 60's until now. They did a really great job of reviewing a huge era. It's exciting, frustrating, and completely thought provoking. 

watch full episode- Makers: Episode 1

Makers covers the womens movement in three episodes, and followed with a season 2, that has six more episodes of women makers in different fields.

Robert Redford is Hopeful about Women Getting Involved in the World

"Well I'm pretty preoccupied with the idea, 'what are we in this generation gonna provide for future generations to work with?' We have a planet that's shrinking, depending on how you look at it, and what are we gonna leave for them to breathe, what kind of air to breathe, water to drink, and so forth. So when I look at it that way, I say 'where's the hope?' I mean, we have to have hope, otherwise we become acidic. 
And to me the hope, maybe this is gonna sound a little politically correct, I'm hopeful that the role women are going to play will increase. Also that the young people that are just coming on...it seems to me that these kids are really interested, because we're going to be passing them the reigns and they want to have something to work with. So they're getting involved, and to me that's where the hope is."
-Robert Redford

From  NY Times Talks, full interview of the movie Truth with Cate Blanchett, Mary Mapes, Robert Redford and Dan Rather.At 1:09:42, an audience member asks Robert Redford the question, "...I'm wondering what your take is on what the next generation is bringing us because I think there are a lot of good things that are gonna happen."
Robert Redford answers.

“I think the future—and this is just my opinion—but for us to move out of where we are now, and to move to something more sustainable and exciting, I think it will be in the hands of women and young people."
-Robert Redford, again answering an audience question at the Sundance Film Festival.