In my conversation with Erika, we dove into how the modern feminist movement has become almost unrecognizable - more focused on commodifying women's bodies through practices like surrogacy or sex work than protecting their dignity. But rather than simply critiquing modern feminism, we examined what a meaningful alternative might look like: one that honors both women's capabilities and their unique role in creating life. The conversation challenged the false choice between career-woman feminism and "make me a sandwich" traditionalism, suggesting that real strength might actually lie in embracing vulnerability rather than running from it.
Erika Bachiochi is a legal scholar and a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. She is also the director of the Wollstonecraft Project at the Abigail Adams Institute, the author of The Rights of Women, and editor-in-chief of Fairer Disputations.
A primer on her recent work can be read at Heritage.org.
Chapters
00:00 The Conservative Lens on Feminism
03:00 Defining Feminism and Conservatism
06:00 The Concept of Complementarity
08:59 Integral vs. Fractional Complementarity
11:47 The Role of Men in Family Dynamics
15:05 Trust and Vulnerability in Relationships
17:59 The Impact of Technology and Media
20:47 The Future of Marriage and Divorce Laws
38:57 Cultural Context of Abortion Laws
40:23 Historical Compromises and Human Dignity
41:44 The Sexual Revolution's Impact
43:39 Germany's Approach to Abortion
45:33 Legal Aspirations vs. Human Weakness
48:28 Surrogacy and Feminism's Failures
50:10 The Complexity of Pregnancy
54:56 The Role of Fathers and Family Dynamics
58:18 The Need for a New Feminism
01:01:06 Heroism and Masculinity in Modern Society
01:07:37 Underrated Thinkers and Historical Perspectives
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