Susan Faludi Backlash Essay

By producing the 1991 book, Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women, from which this excerpt comes, Susan Faludi is tasking herself with setting the records straight. She first attempts to do so by providing a great deal of statistical evidence that demonstrates the general apathy shared by American men for gender equality. She cites several surveys, polls and studies like the American Male Opinion Index, the National Opinion Research Poll and Anthony Astrachan’s seven-year study of American male attitudes in the 1980’s. What is most interesting about her sources is that they in a sense allow men to speak for themselves, presenting their negative attitudes towards feminism by their own admissions. This information is provided quantitatively,

The chauvinistic men are referred to incessantly as “fearful,” “resentful,” and even “fragile.” Faludi points out that various studies on the male condition would suggest that masculinity is much like a “fragile flower—a hothouse orchid in constant need of trellising and nourishment…Nothing seems to crush the masculine petals more than a bit of feminist rain—a few drops are perceived as a downpour” (344). This is a very powerful metaphor in that it turns both stereotypes of femininity and masculinity on their heads. The masculine is thereby rendered delicate and “fragile,” while the feminine is rendered domineering and powerful.

This metaphor is followed by a chronological account of various historical instances where men have shown their delicate, fearful and nervous sides in the face of feminist progress. Faludi moves from 195 BC Rome, to 16th century Europe and then on to the Victorian period (344). These historical accounts of men reacting negatively to feminism suggest that the problem is a perpetual one. It also serves as a provision of background or narration, giving historical facts with regards to the current