The Rise of Neoliberal Feminism

Viac o knihe

High-powered women like Hillary Clinton, Ivanka Trump, Emma Watson, and Beyonce are increasingly identifying as feminists in mainstream media, signaling a rise in feminism's visibility and urgency. However, Catherine Rottenberg analyzes recent feminist manifestos, popular mommy blogs, and shows like The Good Wife, revealing that a variant known as neoliberal feminism has dominated the cultural landscape. This form of feminism prioritizes a happy work-family balance over a mass women's movement or social justice struggles. "Aspirational women" are encouraged to seek equilibrium between child-rearing and professional goals, sidelining traditional feminist objectives like equal rights and liberation. Rottenberg argues that neoliberalism, reducing issues to market calculations, co-opts feminism to address problems related to reproduction and care. She highlights how women of color and economically disadvantaged women often serve as unrecognized caregivers, enabling professional women to pursue balance, while neoliberal feminism legitimizes their exploitation and weakens structural critiques. This new feminist discourse has aligned with conservative agendas, as seen in Europe and the U.S., where women's rights have been misappropriated for anti-immigrant and military interventions. Despite movements like #MeToo and #TimesUp, Rottenberg concludes by questioning how feminism can be reoriented and reclaimed as a genuine social justice