Muutto vapaan ajattelun New Yorkiin

New York Silences Southern Belle:

But my new college, New York University, wasn't exactly open-minded. My classmates were the first critics. They saw me as an exotic species: a Southerner who had yet to enjoy the benefits of women's liberation. Their suspicions were directed toward my husband: Does he make you wash dishes? Yes. Did you take his last name? Yes.

Over the course of several weeks and months, they explained that I had been victimized by the patriarchy, that I was a heterosexist, and probably a little racist to boot. Mostly, though, they represented that I was imprisoned in a birdcage of missed opportunities. I might not realize this, but this was because I had never known freedom. Nearly all these advisers were females, mostly from the New York area, but there was one male.

One particularly disturbing day, my professor said, "All of you who are victims of rape or attempted rape raise your hands." As more than half the class raised their hands, I began to think weird thoughts. I wondered if my college required a solid SAT score and emergency room records for admission.

It took me weeks to realize their definition of rape was not exactly Webster's. We began to study Andrea Dworkin who said, "Romance is rape embellished with meaningful looks." And Catherine MacKinnon who said, "Politically, I call it rape whenever a woman has sex and feels violated." And Marilyn French, who famously said, "All men are rapists and that's all they are."

None of this was ever challenged by my classmates, who grew impatient at my perpetual confusion. Once, when I said I was against abortion, several students wept before storming out of the class. The rest accused me of being a "cafeteria-style" feminist, a traitor to my gender. In other words, my college was not the place to "explore feminism," but was rather a "feminism bootcamp" and unbelievers were not tolerated. What I kept wondering was: who were these people?

The big list: Female teachers with students. Young victims mostly male, while penalties often hand slap.

Älykäs, komea, vapaa ja onnellinen?