Hey, what about that war on men?

Author says female empowerment chases guys away

By WND Staff
Published November 30, 2012 at 7:11pm

Michael Thompson

Long have Democrats trumpeted their belief Republicans have a war on women – over abortion and other issues, even though the issue in many cases basically isn't abortion, but who has to pay for it.

But is there a war on men in America?

One author and social critic believes the answer to that question is a firm "yes," publishing a column on FoxNews.com that set the blogosphere on fire this week.

Suzanne Venker, the author of "The Flipside of Feminism" and the soon-to-be released "How to Choose a Husband: And Make Peace with Marriage," wrote:

"The battle of the sexes is alive and well. According to Pew Research Center, the share of women ages eighteen to thirty-four that say having a successful marriage is one of the most important things in their lives rose nine percentage points since 1997 – from 28 percent to 37 percent. For men, the opposite occurred. The share voicing this opinion dropped, from 35 percent to 29 percent.

Believe it or not, modern women want to get married. Trouble is, men don't.

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The so-called dearth of good men (read: marriageable men) has been a hot subject in the media as of late. Much of the coverage has been in response to the fact that for the first time in history, women have become the majority of the U.S. workforce. They're also getting most of the college degrees. The problem? This new phenomenon has changed the dance between men and women."

Venker would write that she has spent "13 years examining social agendas as they pertain to sex, parenting, and gender roles."

She would add: "During this time, I've spoken with hundreds, if not thousands, of men and women. And in doing so, I've accidentally stumbled upon a subculture of men who've told me, in no uncertain terms, that they're never getting married. When I ask them why, the answer is always the same."

"Women aren't women anymore."

"The rise of women in society has ticked off men?" Brian Kilmeade asked Venker on "Fox and Friends."

"This message is not about women going back to their former roles as submissive wives or being docile and obedient. What I'm trying to do is say that the current female empowerment has warped marriage," said Venker.

"You don't have to be in charge all the time; you can depend on a guy. He can be your prince charming, instead of this female empowerment and girl power that dominates the current narrative," Venker told the "Fox and Friends" audience.

Venker also will appear on ABC's "The View" on December 7 to talk about "How to Choose a Husband" and her article, "The War on Men."

"How to Choose a Husband: And Make Peace with Marriage" will be available on February 5, 2013.

The book details that it's been 40 years since the sexual revolution, and the women of America have everything they want. Everything, that is, except a husband. Women may be schooled in the art of sex, but they have failed in the art of love.

The book explains that isn't surprising. The modern generation is living in a culture that isn't the least bit interested in helping them get hitched. For decades women have been taught to sleep around indiscriminately, to pursue an education and career at all costs, and to never depend on a man.

As a result, women delay marriage indefinitely or ignore it altogether – as though marriage has no bearing on their happiness. As though it were a nice idea, or nice accompaniment, to an otherwise satisfying life.

This is an unprecedented worldview. Until recently, women have always mapped out their lives according to what they considered their most important role: wife and mother. Today, women plan their entire futures around big careers. Husband and children come last.

In "How to Choose a Husband," Venker says American women need a detox. If they want to be happy, or just plain satisfied, they must do a 180 when it comes to their attitude toward sex, courtship, and married life.

If they do, marriageable men will reappear – and women will find the love that eludes them.

Venker's "Flipside" book earlier earned high praise from James Dobson, the psychologist who runs FamilyTalk with Dr. James Dobson.

"Certain moments happen in all our lives that seem to be of incredible import. I would venture to say this could be one of those moments," Dobson said as the authors of "The Flipside of Feminism," Venker and Phyllis Schlafly, joined him on his program, FamilyTalk.

The book explains since the 1960s, American feminists have set themselves up as the arbiters of all things female. Their policies have dominated the social and political landscape. The "spin sisters" in the media and their cohorts in academia are committed feminists. Consequently, everything Americans know – or think they know – about marriage, kids, sex, education, politics, gender roles, and work/family balance, has been filtered through a left-wing lens.

But it suggests that it is conservative women who actually are "in the best position to empower American women."

The Fox interview has been linked here.