In her March 4 guest column, “The year of the frightening female,” Caryl Rivers denounces the objectification of women. In doing so, however, she reduces men to the same hated object.
Believe it or not, the authors of “Body of Evidence,” “The Temp,” “Damage,” “The Amy Fisher Story,” etc., did not consult all men before they wrote them. And they do not represent the opinions of all or, I presume, even the majority of men. To use these films as examples of men’s alleged hatred and fear of women is ludicrous.
Toward the end Ms. Rivers says, “Some argue that male fear of women is rooted in early memories of the powerful mother. Others say that men see women’s sexual power as so compelling that they wonder: If women get political power as well, will men have anything left? Susan Faludi argues fear of change and a worry on the part of white males of losing power are what creates backlash.” Well, well. If unnamed “others” and Susan Faludi say it, it must be true, mustn’t it?
To solve their problems, men and women must establish real and meaningful dialogues. Condescension and the assumption that generalities and psychobabble are universal truths will solve nothing.
