The Looking-glass World of Feminist Politics

By Esther Cameron

Islam is surely the worst thing for women since the witch persecutions in Europe.  Yet it seems lately that whenever Islamic purposes are to be furthered, some perky if empty-eyed female is always there to give a pleasant spin on it.  


Ever since the debacle of Geraldine Ferraro’s vice-presidential candidacy in 1984, I had been convinced that the American electorate would never let a woman anywhere near the presidency. Thus I never doubted that Obama would defeat Hilary for the Democratic nomination, and John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as a running mate seemed to me downright suicidal. And when it became clear that Hilary would be the candidate this time around, my thought was, “Well, at least that means we’ll have a Republican president this time.”

But I have begun to fear that even misogyny will not save us this time. “America will never elect a woman president” has come into conflict with “When you want to push something through that really hurts women, get a woman to promote it.” Like Alice in the garden of Looking-glass House, feminists always seem to be walking in the opposite direction from where they really meant to go....... More