In 1921 the National Women’s Party announced it would campaign for equal rights for women—to ensconce it in the Constitution, no less. A century later, that still hasn’t happened, and women’s equality remains the fervent goal of feminists nationwide. But what if that’s not the best goal? What if, as Stanford lecturer and cultural critic Dr. Marcie Bianco suggests, “Equality is a lie fed to women to keep us complacent with the patriarchy”? It ignores historic forms of discrimination and oppression, she says, with repercussions for all disenfranchised communities.
If not equality, then what? Freedom. Freedom, as opposed to a fruitless battle for equality, encompasses the lifting of all groups, across gender, racial, and class lines. It’s an awareness of who is free, who is not, and how we can bring freedom to everyone. Dr. Bianco makes the distinction between the two struggles in her new book, Breaking Free: The Lie of Equality and the Feminist Fight for Freedom, and asks: how might shifting our goal transform feminism entirely?
Kepler’s journalist in residence Angie Coiro welcomes Dr. Bianco to our This Is Now series to deconstruct principles of freedom and equality; how they differ; and what’s to be gained by discarding a fruitless battle to take on a better, more hopeful one. Join us for this unique point of view, and bring your own questions and comments!
Dr Bianco will stay to sign books following the event.
Masks are required for everyone over the age of 2 years old and must be worn at all times in the venue, and throughout the duration of the event.