Who-Stole-Feminism.-How-Women-Have-Betrayed-Women

THE FEMINIST CLASSROOM 117Toni McNaron, professor of English at the University of Minnesota,expresses the confidence of many when she predicts in the Women'sReview of Books that gender feminist academics will transform the "academicestablishment" in the nineties. 49She makes the customary comparisonbetween recent feminist theory and the scientific breakthrough madeby Copernicus. But her exultant mood is laced with gloom. She remindsus that "proponents of Coperaican theory were drummed out of theiruniversities or, in extreme cases, excommunicated, jailed, and evenkilled." Acknowledging that contemporary feminists are not likely to sufferthe more extreme retributions, she nevertheless warns of impendingattacks. She exhorts feminist academics to "stand and resist whereverpossible the onslaughts" of those who find fault with the feminist agenda.Professor McNaron's remarks were brought to my attention because shementions me as one of the persecutors of the new Copernicans.By now, feminists have a well-deserved reputation for being good atdishing it out but completely unable to take it. Many are known to dealwith opponents by ad hominem or ad feminam counterattacks: accusationsof misogyny, racism, homophobia, or opposition to diversity orinclusiveness. Some would-be critics fear for their very jobs. In thesecircumstances a critic may find himself suddenly alone. Others, watching,learn to keep a low profile. It is now quite clear that a self-protectingAmerican faculty has been seriously derelict in its duty to defend theliberal traditions of the American academy.Students are quick to learn that open criticism of the feminist classroomwill not win them support from teachers who privately agree withthem. The lesson they learn from the cravenness of their teachers is neverlost on them: keep clear of controversy. Conformity is safest: practice it.That is a terrible lesson to convey to one's students and the antithesis ofwhat the college experience should be.In the story "The Emperor's New Clothes," the boy at the parade whodared to declare that the emperor had nothing on was immediately joinedby his elders, who were grateful that someone had given voice to thatinnocent and obvious truth. Sadly, the story is not true to life. In real lifethe boy is more likely to be shunted aside by parading functionaries forfailing to perceive the emperor's finery. In real life, the spectators do nottake the boy's side. At Minnesota, Northwestern, Michigan, Wooster, NewHampshire, Harvard, and on campuses across the country, the genderfeminists are unchallenged because the faculties have so far found itpolitic to look the other way.