Author and feminist Clementine Ford challenges societal expectations of marriage, discussing its limitations on women's choices and achievements. She explores the exploitative nature of marriage, its historical treatment of women, and the challenges faced when trying to leave. Ford emphasizes the importance of understanding the history of marriage and making informed decisions about relationships.
Marriage has been ingrained in society as an expectation for women, pressuring them to conform to societal norms and sacrifice personal ambitions.
Marriage historically functioned as a means of patriarchal control, relegating women to domestic caretakers and suppressing their autonomy.
Deep dives
Marriage as a societal expectation
The podcast episode discusses how marriage is ingrained in society as an expectation for women since childhood. It challenges the idea that marriage is necessary for happiness and fulfillment, highlighting the pressure women face to conform to societal norms. It explores the issue of sacrificing personal ambitions and desires in favor of the supposed ideal of marriage and motherhood. The podcast also addresses the lack of alternatives presented to women, reinforcing the idea that marriage is the ultimate achievement.
The patriarchal roots of marriage
The podcast delves into the historical origins of marriage and its association with patriarchal control and the subjugation of women. It highlights how marriage functioned as a means of building family ties and consolidating wealth, relegating women to the role of domestic caretakers. The unequal distribution of domestic labor and the loss of autonomy for women within marriage are discussed, emphasizing the continued impact of these patriarchal constructs.
Questioning the benefits of marriage
The episode challenges the assumption that marriage inherently brings happiness and security for women. It explores the financial and emotional impact of marriage, highlighting the potential for exploitation and inequality within marital relationships. The podcast examines the social and cultural pressures that contribute to women feeling trapped in unhappy marriages and encourages reevaluating the importance and value placed on marriage in modern society.
What if we put a stop to marriage...for good? Like, just stop with flouncy white dresses, walking down the aisle and having a dude give us away.
In her new book, I Don’t, Clementine Ford is calling for just that. She reckons that a ring on a finger is a bridal march to losing your identity.
From the moment we come screaming into the world, we’re pushed the line that to find “the one” to get married and settle down is the be all and end all. You might discover a cure for cancer, scale Mt Everest and be a total baddie but if you’re unwed you haven't quite made it in the eyes of society.
Clem Ford talks to Yumi Stynes about her call to arms for us to ditch the bouquets and our man's dirty laundry for a life on our own terms.
Featured in this episode:
Clementine Ford, author and feminist
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