Clatterbaugh: Even His Name Sounds Ridiculous.

Does it come at any surprise that I would disagree with Clatterbaugh? However, I chose to read his work mainly because of the name of the chapter, "The Conservative Legacy." I knew it would be stuff I definitely didn't agree with, but I enjoy reading other people's opinions, extreme or not. Just to sum up Clatterbaugh's argument quickly, as shown in class, here's a list of his views on males and females.

Females

• Must bring fetus to term
• Must promote biology by becoming a man’s property
• No erotic power
• Biological interest in child bearing

Males

•  “Male nature is shaped by aggression"
• Have different strategies that women because men produce more sperm than women produce eggs
•  Can fertilize more than one woman to “increase his inclusive fitness”
• Men have sexual power
• Rape is a technique used to maintain sexual power
• Hard to domesticate

Sadly, I know some people who still hold this ideology (I'm sure many of you have as well--I mean, hell, read some news articles about some wacky politicians out there). One of the most upsetting parts about Clatterbough is how he refers to these beliefs as "moral conservatism" throughout the entire chapter.  His definition of conservatism definitely seems very far from moral to me.  

He has a neat way of making things seem pretty reasonable. For example, he begins one of his points by saying, "Whereas male nature is antisocial and empty of values, female nature is filled with promise and the values of civilization." Well, that sounds very in favor of women. However, just two sentences later, he finishes his thought. "Second, women must exercise their erotic power over men; that is, they must offer sexual gratification to the male in exchange for his agreement to her demands for monogamy, marriage, and his roles as provider and protector." At first glance to some, this could see like a trade-off. Women do this, men give them this. Win-win, right? No. Because what the men would be "giving" the women is something that should not have stipulations in order to achieve that. Marriage isn't a gift men give to women; it is a gift to both people. Women should not have to be, essentially, sex slaves in order to get married and not have a man be unfaithful. 

Ridiculousness.