Women's Freedom Network

The Women's Freedom Network (WFN) is a political advocacy group founded in 1993 by sociologist Rita Simon and journalist Cathy Young.^[1] The groups aims to provide an alternative to "extremist, ideological feminism" as well as to "antifeminist traditionalism".^[2]

According to historian Debra L. Schultz, the group represents mostly "conservative ideologues in the political correctness debates".^[2] The group's board has included former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Jeane Kirkpatrick, lawyer and television personality Rikki Klieman, author and philosopher Christina Hoff Sommers, writer and editor Edith Kurzweil, Harvard University law professor Mary Ann Glendon, political columnist Mona Charen, and academics Jean Bethke Elshtain and Elizabeth Fox-Genovese.^[1]

According to the Historical Dictionary of Feminism, feminists view the WFN as "faux feminist" due to its financial support from prominent conservative foundations.^[3] The group's members have also worked with the conservative women's organizations Concerned Women for America and the Independent Women's Forum.^[4]

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b Rapping, Elayne (Spring 1996). "The Ladies Who Lynch". On The Issues. 5 (2): 7–9, 56. ISSN 0895-6014.
^ ^a ^b Schultz, Debra L. (2000). "Women's Studies: Backlash". In Kramarae, Cheris; Spender, Dale (eds.). Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women: Global Women's Issues and Knowledge. New York: Routledge. p. 2072. ISBN 978-1-135-96315-6.
^ Boles, Janet K.; Hoeveler, Diane Long (2004). Historical Dictionary of Feminism (2nd ed.). Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. p. 348. ISBN 978-0-8108-4946-4.
^ Schreiber, Ronnee (2008). "Conservative Women's Political Activism". Righting Feminism: Conservative Women and American Politics. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 22. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195331813.003.0002. ISBN 978-0-1998-5182-9.

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