January 25, 1979

Male Chauvinist Pig Is In Good Company

There is no use denying it - I'm a male chauvinist pig.

No apology is offered because I have paid my dues.  Yet, it was only last week that the president of the United States a card carrying member – gave me the courage to admit my secret vice.

Jimmy Carter, you will recall, recently fired Miz Bella Abzug as chair person of his Women's Advisory Committee.  The former New York congresswoman and ardent champion of Equal Rights had allowed herself the privilege of standing up the president for one meeting and lecturing him publicly at another.

Mr. Carter, it seems, is less tolerant of bad manners than of bad politics.  He fired her without the usual courtesy of a resignation.

I had gone to Washington, D.C., for the opening of Congress and another lesson in hard-ball politics.  This season opened with emphasis on the ladies.

The State Department admitted that three of its four top-level women executives have resigned in frustration.  The Navy announced it would no longer refer to its ships as "she."  And a young woman in my congressman's luncheon party insisted on picking up the check.

It was a bit much for unreconstructed chauvinists, but the government types carried on with business as usual.  My congressman said, "Thanks," and the president went so far as to appoint a lady judge from his home state to the Federal Court.

Through the courtesy of White House Press Aide Walt Wurfel - who seemed interested in discovering the "Midwest view" - I was invited to a presidential press conference where the Eastern-view press attempted to corner Mr. Carter on women's rights.

"Mr. President, why did you fire Miz Abzug so abruptly?"  With the assurance of a confident chauvinist Mr. Carter replied, "I appointed her and all 40 members of the advisory committee to work WITH ME (emphasis his) in achieving mutual objectives.  Miss Abzug (note the choice of salutatory address) and I could not communicate, and the committee was not well organized.  I will appoint another chair person."

There is the high art of chauvinism as practiced by an expert.  It was a thrill to discover I was in such good company.

Some of the big-name journalists professed to see a resurgence of support for Bella's career and the Equal Rights Amendment in a "backlash" to the president's action.  The half-dozen political observers I talked to privately hold a contrary conclusion.  The arrogance of the women's libbers has just about killed the last chances of ERA, in their opinion.

It is true that there are in the U.S. some vestiges of preemptory male authority.  In the primitive past, and still today in some parts of the world, male dominance was necessary for survival.  Perhaps American society has reached a degree of sophistication that can dispense with such mores.

But we are not sure, and therein lies the stumbling block to whole-hearted acceptance of ERA.  Women are special and benefit and suffer thereby.

There is a difference between the nature, function and purpose of men and women.  Vive le difference.

Women are, after all, the crucible of life.  The gestation period of a human fetus is too long and incapacitating for a woman to live easily unaided.  The rearing time for a child in our complicated society now spans two decades or more, making assistance of a husband essential.

Families are growing smaller - but more important.  Perpetuation of the race falls on fewer numbers.  As our life-style becomes more private and impersonal, our need for the emotional support of kin increases.

Thus, the noblest purpose of life remains the making of a family.  Chauvinism, male and female, delineate the natural roles of marriage partners.

Women are handicapped for so-called "work careers" because they cannot escape the requirements of motherhood.  Few can, or will, make a long term commitment to an outside job.  Those needing other mental challenges have to mesh them with marital duties.

I am a confirmed male chauvinist because my wife is an equally confirmed female chauvinist.  I like working and striving for her because she likes being a natural woman.  She supervises a comfortable house, enjoys preparing food., clothes the children well and comforts us all.

My family looks up to me as king of the work world, a good provider.  In the home, though, my wife is the acknowledged matriarch.  I make all the big decisions - such as whether to recognize Red China and when to cut the prime interest rate.  She makes the little decisions - such as whether to buy a new house and when to call the doctor.

Because there is no confusion or competition in our recognized roles, we have developed a wide range of common interests while pursuing personal interests without resentment.  She is the most intelligent and interesting person I know.

Over the years, therefore, we have become best friends as, well as sweethearts and marriage partners.  It is a mutually satisfying relationship, based on two-way chauvinism.  The pay-off is four loving children.

The true male or female chauvinist defers to the other sex.  I hired women editors because I appreciated their special, womanly qualities.  President Carter has appointed a record number of women to high public office.

The women's liberation crusade has real problems - with that majority of women who revel in the satisfactions of home making, with the law of supply and demand which determines pay scales, and with male egoists who are selfish and conceited.

In the long run, however, male chauvinist pigs will be women's best friends.

Author: Lindsey Williams