Feminism's agenda is basic: it asks that women not be forced to "choose" between public justice and private happiness. It asks that women be free to define themselves-instead of having their identity defined for them, time and again, by their culture and their men.

The women's movement. . . has proved women's own worst enemy.

I write to figure out what I am thinking: What does my life mean?

Self-esteem is the basis for feminism because self-esteem is based on defining yourself and believing in that definition. Self-esteem is regarding yourself as a grown-up.

Gender is really varied and complicated and sort of infinitely individualistic.

In place of equal respect, the nation offered women the Miss America beauty pageant, established in 1920-the same year women won the vote.

The piles of makeup and the insistence on frills and ribbons and bows was not at all attuned to my feminist views.