The Women's Freedom Network (WFN) is a political advocacy group founded by sociologist Rita Simon and journalist Cathy Young.[1] Founded in 1993 in Washington, D.C.,[2] The group aims to provide an alternative to "extremist, ideological feminism" as well as to "antifeminist traditionalism".[3]
Elayne Rapping writes that the group's board has had "an impressive range of professional women [...] who are well connected to powerful institutions".[1] Board members have included former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Jeane Kirkpatrick, lawyer and television personality Rikki Klieman, author and philosopher Christina Hoff Sommers, writer and editor Edith Kurzweil, Harvard University law professor Mary Ann Glendon, political columnist Mona Charen, and academics Jean Bethke Elshtain and Elizabeth Fox-Genovese.[1]
According to the Historical Dictionary of Feminism, feminists view the WFN as "faux feminist" due to its financial support from prominent conservative foundations.[4] Historian Debra L. Schultz writes that the group represents mostly "conservative ideologues in the political correctness debates".[3] The group's members have been involved with the conservative women's organizations Concerned Women for America and Independent Women's Forum.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c Rapping, Elayne (Spring 1996). "The Ladies Who Lynch". On The Issues. 5 (2): 7–9, 56. ISSN 0895-6014.
- ^ Rosen, Ruth (1997). "Neither Victim Nor Enemy: Women's Freedom Network Looks at Gender in America, edited by Rita J. Simon". Contemporary Sociology (book review). 26 (1): 19–20. doi:10.2307/2076573. ISSN 1939-8638. JSTOR 2076573.
- ^ a b Schultz, Debra L. (2000). "Women's Studies: Backlash". In Kramarae, Cheris; Spender, Dale (eds.). Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women: Global Women's Issues and Knowledge. New York: Routledge. p. 2072. ISBN 978-1-135-96315-6.
- ^ Boles, Janet K.; Hoeveler, Diane Long (2004). Historical Dictionary of Feminism (2nd ed.). Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. p. 348. ISBN 978-0-8108-4946-4.
- ^ Schreiber, Ronnee (2008). "Conservative Women's Political Activism". Righting Feminism: Conservative Women and American Politics. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 22. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331813.003.0002. ISBN 978-0-1998-5182-9.