Bay Buchanan Lectures on the Failures of Feminism

Former US Treasurer Bay Buchanan visited the University of Georgia on April 14 to host a lecture sharing her very specific opinions on the effects of feminism in the 21st century. A third floor room at the Zell B. Miller Learning Center had many students lining the walls as the conservative’s strong beliefs and right-wing approach to politics quickly shifted the issue at hand from feminism to the importance of marriage and family.
Buchanan was invited to guest speak by the conservative on-campus book club, Up From Liberalism. Founded by Greg Wilson, the club is based on the idea that students, either conservative or liberal, need a non-partisan venue in which they can cultivate their ideas and educate themselves on the foundations of conservatism in order to inspire debate and learning in the world of politics.
The premise of the lecture was to discuss the evolution of the second feminist wave. Buchanan’s ideas advocate the goal of the movement but confront the one-sided approach to the role of women in family and society in that the movement was founded on the mindset that women cannot be fulfilled while fulfilling duties of the home.
Buchanan first recognized the benefits and positives of the cause, beginning with its successes in bringing women into more educational and occupational opportunities.
You have to look at your opponent’s strengths. You give credit where credit is due,” Buchanan said. There are many strengths in the movement and many things that I think they have done well.”
In quoting Betty Friedan, the author of The Feminist Mystique, Buchanan began her criticism of the movement, saying that it began as a “problem with no name,” in the general recognition that fulfillment and satisfaction comes not from inside the home but from the outside, in the working world alongside men.
“Leaders of the movement regard marriage as slavery and homemaking a cop out,” Buchanan said. “This was a major mistake. In building and creating a movement that had this in mind, I believe enormous harm was done.”
This mindset detracts from the importance of parenthood and homemaking according to Buchanan, who believes that leaders in families are some of the most integral leaders in society. She spoke of broken marriages and single parent families, and how this directly relates to vulnerability and insecurity in our nation’s youths.
“The leaders of this movement take no responsibility for the most part on the things that really hurt women and children,” she said. “There is an anti-marriage, anti-male element to this entire group.”
In the mention of children, the lecture was quickly switched to a discussion on abortion, something Buchanan is avidly against. Her passion for this topic is evident as she describes the long term physical and emotional effects of abortion, a procedure that not only takes the life of a child, but also victimizes the woman as well. While Buchanan understands the uncertainty around the use of the term “child,” though still maintains her complete opposition to it.
“Divorce has been harmful,” she said. “But abortion is tragic.”
At the close of her speech, Buchanan addresses the recent talks that a third feminist wave is upon us. Having found many problems inherent in the first and second wave feminism, she still commented on her welcoming of the next movement, though pointed out its need for voices.
The applause at the end of her discussion was overwhelming and many hands were raised in hopes of exchanging conversation with the political activist.
“I thought she did a great job pointing out some of the discrepancies in feminist philosophy that I've always personally had a problem with such as views on marriage and abortion,” said Kristen Bernhard, vice president of Up From Liberalism. “I was expecting her to focus more on politics, but I liked that she instead focused on areas that feminism has failed women in their everyday lives.”
As the president of The American Cause, an educational organization designed to promote traditional ideas embedded in the conservation of conservative American values, Buchanan continues her daily fight to sustain and encourage a strong following for conservative America. In an effort to inspire debate, something she describes as essential, Buchanan’s lecture was open to all students, who brought different ideas of their own, inciting a series of questions challenging Buchanan’s stance of various issues.