The attack on male authority

Paul T. writes:

I agree with your correspondent who suggested that “matriarchy” is preferable to “gyneocracy,” a term that really does have contemptuous overtones—somewhat like calling a woman by any of the names popularly applied to female genitals.

The real puzzle for me is how men so quickly allowed themselves to be bullied out of exhibiting traditional masculine traits and virtues. I suppose that once they drank the liberal Kool-Aid the rest was bound to follow, but it still seems odd, since in other contexts men still react strongly when accused of being unmasculine. Or is that just an unprincipled exception?

It used to be said that behind every great man there was a woman. When I hear some loopy feminist, my first thought is of the half-men behind her who, at the least, permitted her to become like that. Feminism obviously derives from Marxism and liberalism, but I think it just as true to say that it’s the product of failed masculine authority.

There was a news report the other day about a study showing that male testosterone levels have dropped noticeably in the last 35 years. I guess that would be since the publication of The Female Eunuch. Coincidence? I’m not so sure.

LA replies:

In fact, the normal male response to being accused of being unmasculine is a perfect example of the unprincipled exception. The unprincipled exception is a non-liberal attitude that is not backed up by a non-liberal principle; it is a vestige of traditional social order that is not explicitly defended any more but still exists as habit and instinct—as non-liberal habit and instinct that keep the society (temporarily) alive despite its liberal principles.

The attack on normal masculinity and male authority is central to the project of modern Western society to destroy whatever remains of traditional Western society. So, is feminism a product of failed masculine authority, or the cause of it?

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Gintas J. writes:

The pattern is established with Adam and Eve. Adam is head over Eve, he excercises benevolent authority, and they are perfectly complementary. Adam’s weakness is a desire to avoid the responsibility of authority. Eve’s weakness is complementary: in the absence of male authority, grab the bull by the horns. Disaster ensues.

Restoring the proper order of things will have to be with men reasserting their God-given place, which would be a disaster for liberalism and all its flunkies.

Also, to answer your question, “Is feminism a product of failed masculine authority, or the cause of it?” I would say initially it was a product. Once in place in force, it has kept things the way they are.

I suspect there is a strong connection between the sexual revolution and feminism (as we know it today) as cause-and-effect.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at November 26, 2006 01:53 PM | Send