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

THE SELF-ESTEEM STUDY 155of the Washington Post, the event "took off like Mother's Day." 61 Whatwas Steinem's galvanizing comment? "At age 11, girls are sure of whatthey know. . . . But at 12 or 13, when they take on the feminine role, theybecome uncertain. They begin to say, T don't know.' Their true selves gounderground." 62 Steinem added that this makes girls vulnerable todepression, teenage pregnancy, and even eating disorders. From the dayher comments appeared in Parade, the Ms. Foundation says it was inundatedwith calls—more than five hundred per day. The event quicklydeveloped into a national happening. The foundation prepared informationkits, a teacher's guide, leaflets, fliers, and pamphlets, even a "minimagazine"and T-shirts. The advisory committee established to helporganize the day included some of the New Feminism's brightest stars:Mario Thomas, Gloria Steinem, Carol Gilligan, Naomi Wolf, and CallieKhouri (the scriptwriter of Thelma and Louise). 63The theme of the event was that for one day, at least, girls would be"visible, valued, and heard." As for the boys left behind at school, the Ms.Foundation suggested they spend the day doing exercises to help themunderstand how our society shortchanges women. 64The teacher's guidesuggests that boys ponder the question "In the classroom, who speaksmore, boys or girls?" Using "guided imagery," the teacher is supposed toask them to imagine themselves living inside a box:Describe the box to them: its size, airholes and light (if any). Askthem to reach out and touch the roof and the sides with their hands.Now make the box even smaller. While their eyes are still closed askthem: "What if you want to get out of the box and you can't?. . .What do people say to girls to keep them in a box? What happensto girls who step outside of the box?"The object is to get boys "to experience the limitations defined bygender." 65So the girls are off for a fun day with their parents, being "visible,valued, and heard," and the boys are left behind to learn their lesson. Iam not opposed to the idea of taking a child to work (though I think itshould be done in the summer, to avoid missing a school day). I am suremany parents and daughters had a good experience. But if having childrenjoin parents for a day at work is a good idea, then boys must not beexcluded. Of course, boys must learn to be thoughtful and respectful ofgirls, but they are not culprits; they are not silencing girls or loweringtheir self-esteem, and no one should be sending the boys the message that