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America's model housewife turns feminist as husband abandons her
Guardian Unlimited ^ | January 8, 2006 | Paul Harris

Posted on 01/08/2006 2:24:03 PM PST by Lorianne

It is 25 years since Terry Hekker hailed the housewife, now in a landmark decision the acclaimed author has rejected her past saying she was wrong

Terry Hekker wrote a book in 1980 that made her famous. Ever Since Adam & Eve was a passionate defence of her decision to eschew a career and spend her life as a wife and a mother.

Coming at the end of the Seventies, when feminism was enjoying a renaissance and the career woman was emerging from behind the cooker, Hekker became a celebrated poster child for more old-fashioned values. She wanted her job choice of 'homemaker' to be considered as valid as those of up-and-coming women bankers, bosses and company directors.

Today, Hekker told The Observer, she is planning a follow-up book. Its working, albeit jokey, title is bluntly honest: Disregard First Book. For her life did not turn out as she planned, and she now believes her decision to become a housewife and homemaker should serve as a warning for young American women. 'My anachronistic book was written while I was in a successful marriage that I expected would go on forever. Sadly, it now has little relevance for modern women, except perhaps as a cautionary tale,' Hekker wrote last week as she announced her U-turn.

In a display of spectacular bad taste, Hekker's husband presented her with divorce papers on their 40th wedding anniversary and left her for a younger woman. The divorce left her facing an uncertain financial future, bereft of income and - after spending her adult life bringing up five children - lacking skills to make her attractive in the job market. Despite that, the judge in her divorce case suggested that - at 67 - she go for job training.

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: allherfault; bitterboys; feminism; girlhaters; manthevictim; marriage; men; neanderthals; wimmenrevil; women
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1 posted on 01/08/2006 2:24:05 PM PST by Lorianne
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To: Lorianne

ah, so she wants the rest of the world to base their behavior on her personal bitterness.

Good move!


2 posted on 01/08/2006 2:26:25 PM PST by flashbunny
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To: Lorianne
'My anachronistic book was written while I was in a successful marriage that I expected would go on forever. Sadly, it now has little relevance for modern women, except perhaps as a cautionary tale,' Hekker wrote last week as she announced her U-turn.

So, if she was still married, she'd still hold her original beliefs ?
3 posted on 01/08/2006 2:26:32 PM PST by stylin19a (you can leed Freepers to spelchek, but you can't make 'em use it.)
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To: Lorianne
Sounds as if this lady is consistently 10 years behind the times. Doesn't she know that feminism is sooooo cliche.
4 posted on 01/08/2006 2:28:32 PM PST by colorcountry (I have a BS in B.S.)
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To: flashbunny

She might spare some of her bile for the feminists who insisted that no-fault divorce and free love would be a boon for women.

This climate of easy divorce is good for lowlifes only and hell for everyone else on so many levels.


5 posted on 01/08/2006 2:29:55 PM PST by sinanju
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To: stylin19a

Probably. No reason to change them.


6 posted on 01/08/2006 2:32:32 PM PST by GW and Twins Pawpaw (Sheepdog for Five [My grandkids are way more important than any lefty's feelings!])
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To: Lorianne
America's model housewife turns feminist as husband abandons her

It's a common dynamic, dahlink.

7 posted on 01/08/2006 2:32:42 PM PST by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: Lorianne

This confirms my observation - feminism is the repository for bitteress, hatred of men, and disgust with traditional marriage. The more bitterness and hatred, the more strident the feminist.

What a fine way to get back at the former husband, too - sliming the guy (who appears to have had it coming) on national television and with thousands of books. Revenge is a dish best served before a mass audience!


8 posted on 01/08/2006 2:34:22 PM PST by redpoll (redpoll)
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To: Lorianne
Job training at 67?

Respecting the value of being a homemaker is one thing; expecting to enjoy guaranteed lifetime privileges as a pet is another thing entirely.

Learning useful lifetime skills is a highly recommended idea regardless of one's attitude concerning women's role in home-making.

9 posted on 01/08/2006 2:34:22 PM PST by Publius6961 (The IQ of California voters is about 420........... .............cumulatively)
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To: martin_fierro

Yeah, but this lady gave her husband the gay.


10 posted on 01/08/2006 2:35:21 PM PST by SJSAMPLE
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To: Lorianne

Her first book was narrow and stupid, as will be the sequel.


11 posted on 01/08/2006 2:37:18 PM PST by Casloy
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To: Lorianne
In a display of spectacular bad taste, Hekker's husband presented her with divorce papers on their 40th wedding anniversary and left her for a younger woman.

No doubt a one-sided presentation of the facts.

Interestingly, somewhere around 2/3 of divorces are initiated by the wife. The popular stereotype of the husband dumping the wife for the hot new trophy bride is not usually the reality.

12 posted on 01/08/2006 2:38:02 PM PST by Restorer
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To: Publius6961

At 67 people are generally enjoying retirement. That's not being a pet.


13 posted on 01/08/2006 2:39:37 PM PST by Lorianne
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To: Restorer
Interestingly, somewhere around 2/3 of divorces are initiated by the wife.

Which means, correct me if I am wrong, that the husband initiates divorce proceeding around 1/3 of the time- making her scenario far from unlikely.

14 posted on 01/08/2006 2:40:57 PM PST by LWalk18
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To: Lorianne

Gee, think her new book will get better coverage than her first book.


15 posted on 01/08/2006 2:41:57 PM PST by ansel12
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To: LWalk18

It happens, but my point is that the breakup of the family is generally portrayed on TV and elsewhere in popular culture as being the "fault" of the husband.


16 posted on 01/08/2006 2:43:04 PM PST by Restorer
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To: Lorianne

Her ex-husband is a cretin and a louse. Good riddance to him.


17 posted on 01/08/2006 2:43:13 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Jack Murtha: America's best-known former marine...)
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To: Restorer
Interestingly, somewhere around 2/3 of divorces are initiated by the wife. The popular stereotype of the husband dumping the wife for the hot new trophy bride is not usually the reality.

No, the reality is that that marriages are usually mutually failed, and women get around to the paperwork more often because men would leave it undone for years. They don't have a reason to finish it. Women more often do!

18 posted on 01/08/2006 2:43:24 PM PST by HairOfTheDog (Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/ 1,000 knives and counting!)
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To: Publius6961

What do you mean by "enjoying lifetime privileges as a pet'?
If she did the unglamorous job of running things on the home front so that her husband could spend more time at his job, hasn't she also earned the right to some of his retirement funds?


19 posted on 01/08/2006 2:45:02 PM PST by born in the Bronx
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To: Lorianne
At 67 people are generally enjoying retirement.

I don't know what kind of world you live in, but at 67, I'm still going to have to be working.

20 posted on 01/08/2006 2:46:04 PM PST by paulat
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