Feminist Manifesto, Loy pg 1502-1505

While reading the modernist manifesto, I can understand to some extent Loy's point of view. Some think that women should be equal in every sense. I think of men and women as equal but different. We both have strengths and weaknesses( I am sure there are many that would disagree with me and say that women can do whatever men can do). My question is, do the majority of women truely want the exact same benefits and male status? In my experience, women want the ability to choose what is right for them, but I know very few that want their man in a sterotypical female role, while they pursue a stereotypical male role. In fact, I know of no one.

Even the women that want the same rights in business, and the same paycheck as a man, do not seem to want the responsibility that comes with that right. Yet, Loy does not seem to state the common opinion of feminists, she states that woman is not the equal of man, because man conforms to a social code, and that is feminine, and not masculine(1503) I believe that she should have named this the Individualist Manifesto, since feminist doesn't seem broad enough. I understand that when this was written, women were considered to be property of men in many cases and that women didn't even havethe right to vote at the time.

I do not think however, that most women agreed with the statement on 1503, where Loy writes,"Men and women are enemies," She goes on,"The only point at which the interests of the sexes merge-is the sexual embrace". I am sure that many women did feel very squished and controlled during the time, but I do not think sex was the only shared interest.

Honestly, I do not understand her thought saying that women must destroy in themselves, the desire to be loved. I think if someone says they do not want to be loved by anyone, they are lying. I think the importance should be stressed on loving yourself first, and knowing who you are, so that you can be genuine to who you want to be.

I understand her take on sex and that she felt that sexual freedom belonged to every woman, I agree that women should have the same rights as men, and I agree that there is nothing impure in sex. I think that both men and women should decide what is best for themselves, but I personally think that excessive casual sex is dangerous, mentally and it can also be damaging physically. Sex itself is not impure. It can be wonderful and studies show that married people enjoy it more often over a lifetime than unmarried.