Re: Nationalism is Always Gendered

[Katha Pollitt <kpollitt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I agree that "family values" is not quite the same as "keep them
barefoot and pregnant." As Doug points out, women are big customers for
conservative family ideals. From women's point of view, I think "family
values" often means: keep him sober and home.

About Kris Luker -- I adore her, but i think in that book she fell for
the pro-lifers a bit too much.  I've seen this in lots of anthro and
sociological papproaches to the pro-lifers (Fay Ginzburg for ex). The
sophisticated youngish woman academic who falls in love with the homy
motherly por-lifers. Of her own side she's much more critical, because
it's her world and she can see its flaws close up.
   for instance, Luker is v sympathetic to the pro-lifers acceptance of
lack of control.  But pro-lifers seek medical care as assiduously as
everyone else.  A pregnancy must come to term -- but not a tumor.  they
don't rely on god to pay their mortgage, either.

katha