Woman Between Islam and Western Society
4. The Problems Facing Modern Civilization
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Socialist feminism, which takes into account the
intrinsic differences between men and women, is
the call of the hour, Ms. Lerman believes. We have
had an excess of the American dream — of a
husband who works, a house in the suburbs, two
children, two cars and a mother who stays at home
and bakes cookies. With the family structure falling
apart, she feels that only government support in the
form of day-care centers, maternity leave benefits
and subsidies to override the economic limitations
of single women can hold the social fabric together.
“Otherwise, our victories will be merely Pyrrhic
victories,”
34
she predicts, similar, perhaps to the
freedom experienced on the funeral pyre.’
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The feminist leader has acknowledged that the
successes of feminism are little short of Pyrrhic
victories. This is the most appropriate word to
describe the victory of modem woman. She secured
“equality” after a long and hard struggle. In the
process, however, of achieving this imaginary
equality, she has lost everything. Ms. Lerman feels
that only large-scale government support can
compensate for the deprivation of western women.
This means placing herself under the guardianship
