Arguing Among Elites

The WSWS takes a look at the silly Rosen-Romney debate over women's roles. Hilary Rosen, as everybody knows, apologized the other day for making her tactless remarks about Ann Romney never having worked a day in her life. It was a cheap shot the way it came across. More tactfully and accurately, Rosen should have said Romney hasn't held a job outside of the home, and she wouldn't have made a goddamned fool out of herself.

Anyway, it was all a bunch of silliness, for Rosen has a lot more in common with Romney in terms of socioeconomic status than she has with people like me who are struggling in this economy. I have always said the biggest problem feminism or the women's movement had was with the criticism that they were and still are elitists who haven't a clue how the average woman "out there" lives. Much of that criticism came from women who were in minority groups. The criticism hurt because it was true. Feminists always talked about women's need in getting those degrees, making inroads into male-dominated jobs, and "balancing" work and family, and while those were and are worthwhile goals, they aren't terribly relevant to the 90 percent of women who aren't in the elite professions.