Saturday, June 18, 2011

Hef versus Friedan

There is a rather tortured bit of journalism in this morning's Globe asking whether Hugh Hefner might be a feminist. Despite having linked to it, I can assure you there isn't a single thing in it that you couldn't have successfully guessed upon being told the title was "Dirty old man or radical feminist?"

And it is rather odd to have this review and the book it is about surface the same week Hef was revealed to actually be a pathetically deluded old loser.

All that said, the joke profile the writer has provided at the tail of the piece is significant:
Unlike most girls at her gym, Toronto writer Rosemary Counter doesn't have a Playboy bunny tattoo.
And that is telling for the real question is not who is or is not a feminist but rather, "Who has had the most lasting influence on young women today?" And by that standard, Hef wins in a walk.

By the way, check out Rosemary Counter's book. No, really, check it out  it's relevant to the question.

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