The Cost of Chasing It All

It is no secret that in recent years men and women have become increasingly politically divided, with more of America’s sons voting for Republicans while her daughters support Democrats. For this reason, one of the greatest challenges — and opportunities — facing the Right today is to put forward an attractive vision of womanhood without attacking men. Unfortunately, conservatives are not well prepared to meet this challenge, and a recent New York Times article focused on the work of the Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women demonstrates why. 

On its face, the piece is another attack against the growing popularity of the “manosphere.” But just below the surface, the piece actually attempts to conflate the worst elements of this online phenomenon with many young people’s genuine support for traditional gender roles. This should come as no surprise from the Grey Lady, of course. But some readers may have been shocked to see an organization for conservative women advocating such a worldview. 

I wasn’t. Living in and around Washington, DC, I have come to learn that many of the institutions that cater to conservative women tend to reject, or at least discourage, traditional arrangements in which wives and mothers are “firmly planted at home,” to quote the Times article. These groups are quick to point out that they believe motherhood is good, of course, but they are just as quick to say that it ought to be seasonal and take turns with a career. In the end, they argue that the choice between a high-powered career and staying at home is a false one and insist that conservative women can and should pursue both.