Christopher Hitchens gets called sexist for saying that he his wife shouldn't have to work if she doesn't want to

das_masterful · 2012-01-04T04:46:06+00:00

The woman interviewer, not the interviewee, is completely in the wrong.

Modern day women have a choice - it is something that original feminism worked for - a choice of either to have children or to work. If they wish to have children, nobody has a right to hold that against them. If the mother chooses to return to work after raising children to an acceptable age (old enough to go to childcare) then it is her choice.

If she chooses not to return to work and take care of the children, then nobody has the right to hold it against her. The interviewer cannot understand this concept, which is the concept of free choice. She is wrong. In her mind, the woman HAS to return to work after children. No if, no buts.

Christopher Hitchens is correct - he's giving the woman in his life a choice - whether to work or not after children come along. It's entirely her choice. It would be sexist if it was him making the decision for her on the basis that she is a woman, regardless of children or not.

ThePigman · 2012-01-03T23:52:44+00:00

[permanently deleted]

devotedpupa · 2012-01-03T23:16:06+00:00

Are you fucking kidding me? The guy supports everything that we stand against! Not only did he say that most men don't know how to deal with babies, he said it's your job to support women.

Jesus.

ExpendableOne · 2012-01-04T15:11:32+00:00

I really appreciate Hitchen's views on religions but when it comes to gender politics, he was about as old-school as they come; reinforcing both gender roles and sexist views. This particular principle is still kind of sexist because, really, no matter what you make everyone should still always be expected to pay their own way and a man's income really shouldn't be taken for granted(nor should a woman ever feel entitled to that income). And the belief that a woman shouldn't have to work(or that men shouldn't be handling any home matters) is also completely wrong. On the other hand, the guy has enough money to support himself and any partners could ever meet so, if he wants to use that as a selling point, that's his choice.

IHaveALargePenis · 2012-01-04T00:04:00+00:00

I agree with the woman. Women should work, they should eat shit if it comes down to it, settle for a bad paying job that's absolutely awful (mining, oil-rig worker, garbage collector, etc) and forced to starve if they chose not to, like the other 50% of the population.

The reason I like feminism is because they demanded equality and now women are starting to think "wait, I have it far better now than if I were treated like a man, like having my meals paid for, always having a seat offered to me, etc". Too fucking bad, I'm going to make sure you get that equality if I have to shove it down your throat. Both adults in the household should work and pull their own weight, no if or buts or "I prefer tradition (when it suits me)".

c0mputar · 2012-01-03T22:32:14+00:00

People use misogyny and sexism terms without any care for the definitions. They use it when they feel it makes people uncomfortable and it's related to genders. Some feminists are repulsed by the idea that women want to stay home... Those feminists are not for equality, or freedom for that matter. There is nothing wrong with any gender wanting to stay home, only that no one should be expected to stay home.

It's ironic that feminists, who should be anti gender roles, are so inconsistent in applying that philosophy. Women should not be expected to stay at home.... but, apparently, they should be expected to work. They are usually the same people who call stay-at-home dads deadbeats... So who the fuck is supposed to take care of the children? Have they seen how much attention a newborn requires?

ThePigman · 2012-01-03T23:49:54+00:00

Off topic, but isn't it worrisome how even an advocate for reason can be so illogical when it suits him?

JoeThankYou · 2012-01-04T07:50:02+00:00

There's a huge difference between what Hitchens is saying about what he prefers for his family, with how men and women should be treated under the law.

Hitchens has always been an equal rights advocate. Also, he would never be in favor of any kind of legislation that would force any kind of social engineering with a goal of creating a male chauvinistic society. It's simply his view on what is more natural, and it's the way he chooses to live his life with his family.

chavelah · 2012-01-04T00:36:25+00:00

Totally sexist, but damn, that man was the Grand Master of Not Giving A Fuck. I can't be mad at him any more than I can be mad at Sean Connery for his limited, conditional pro-battery position. I don't agree with either one of them, but I like a man (or woman) who comes right out and tells you what s/he thinks.

ThePigman · 2012-01-04T00:54:25+00:00

You know what? I take back the "Good he's dead" bit. I just woke up, hence wasn't thinking as clearly as usual. Rationally speaking, he did more good as an atheist than he did harm as a misandrist so i guess it does suck that he's dead. Still an asshole, but a useful one. All else i wrote stands.

ThePigman · 2012-01-03T23:42:46+00:00

Well fuck him, now i'm glad he's dead. What the fuck is that crap! Work is a must for men but only an option for women? The Gentle Sex for good reason? Men are awed by women knowing how to look after babies? Holy crap, the guy was the kind of troglodyte that would have made twenty year old men stay on the Titanic while 60 year old wiminz got into the lifeboats. Just goes to show, everything has an upside, including cancer.

Title	Christopher Hitchens gets called sexist for saying that he his wife shouldn't have to work if she doesn't want to
Author	theduude
Upvotes	32
Comments	72
Date	January 3, 2012 10:26 PM UTC (12 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/o1n9f/christopher_hitchens_gets_called_sexist_for/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/christopher-hitchens-gets-called-sexist-for-saying.1029693 https://theredarchive.com/post/1029693