Goldberg: Republican women suddenly realize they're surrounded by misogynists

"In 1982, Phyllis Schlafly, perhaps the most important anti-feminist in American history, debated radical feminist law professor Catharine MacKinnon. Schlafly believed that sexism was a thing of the past; to her, if women had different roles in society than men, it was due to their distinct talents and inclinations. She herself, she said, had never experienced discrimination. MacKinnon pointed out that Schlafly, who'd written extensively about defense policy, had wanted a position in Ronald Reagan's Pentagon."

"An ambitious woman who is willing to absolve the right of misogyny can go far, but rarely can she achieve the same status as a man. That's especially true today, in a Republican Party that's increasingly giving itself over to the most retrograde forms of sexism. Recently several Republican women in Congress have been complaining, on and off the record, that their party's leaders, especially Mike Johnson, the House speaker, don't take them seriously."

"It started with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a onetime MAGA icon who is resigning next month. They want women just to go along with whatever they're doing and basically to stand there, smile and clap with approval, whereas they just have their good old boys club, she said in September. It turns out she's not alone in her frustration. Defying the speaker Last week, The New York Times reported"

Phyllis Schlafly claimed sexism was obsolete and attributed different female roles to distinct talents and inclinations, asserting she had never experienced discrimination. Catharine MacKinnon countered that Schlafly's accomplishments would have yielded a Pentagon position if she were a man, showing that ambitious women who absolve the right of misogyny can advance but rarely match men's status. The Republican Party has trended toward increasingly retrograde sexism. Several Republican women in Congress report being sidelined by party leaders, especially Speaker Mike Johnson. Marjorie Taylor Greene said women are expected to smile and clap while a "good old boys" club runs things. Some Republican women are openly defying leadership.

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