The Death of Feminism

The Death of Feminism: What’s Next in the Struggle for Women’s Freedom by Phyllis Chesler, Palgrave Macmillan, 2005. 

Chesler describes how the feminist movement has become corrupted by other agendas, and how it has ostracized traditional femists, who focus on women's rights.

Embracing Other Agendas

Chesler believes that mainstream American feminists have in large part abandoned their main goal of protecting women from misogyny in order to embrace other agendas: 

• Multiculturalism: Because of multiculturalism, the philosophy that all cultures are equal, feminists feel that they must respect Islam and not interfere with its culture.

• Anti-Colonialism: Mainstream feminists are reluctant to criticize Arab societies, because it conflicts with their anti-colonial agenda, where Arabs are seen as victims of Western powers

• Anti-Zionism: Mainstream feminists criticize Zionism and Israel

• Anti-Americanism: Chesler criticizes mainstream feminists and European intellectuals for their anti-Americanism

• Pornography and Prostitution: To gain favor with men, gays and the political Left, modern feminists have abandoned their fight against pornography and prostitution. Chesler describes the situation of University of Rhode Island Professor Donna M. Hughes, who has gotten into trouble with the feminist movement, because she strongly opposes prostitution. 

Ostracism

It is difficult for people who think for themselves to find an intellectual home. Any group they attempt to join will suspect them of disloyalty whenever they utter a thought that contradicts the party platform. Some feminists criticized Chesler for publicly debating individuals who were critical of feminism. Talking with the enemy was seen as treasonous. The author was ostracized by mainstream feminists, because she disagreed with some of their positions, and voted for a Republican. Not merely excluded from their political activities, but also dropped as a friend.