Cooking with Feminists
October 24, 2006, 7:01 am
Posted by Cathleen Kaveny
Stephen Colbert (in character) interviews Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem — in the kitchen. He’s his own version of a new feminist.
I suppose it is not fashionable to give credit to Jane and Gloria who are really extraordinary women. Even men who are sympathetic to the movement cite Golda Meir and Hatcher as models ha ha. Not realizing how sexist the statement is.
The reverse would be to look at Rumsfeld, Chaney, Buchanan, Limbaugh, Riley and Donohue, Cardinal Egan and Cardinal Law. Then the intelligence of these two women become even more appealing.
OK, Bill, here’s my reading of Colbert: He’s a an educated center-left Catholic (but a Commonweal Catholic of my generation, which is more concerned to get the substance of the tradtion than older Catholics, becasue we felt like we were caught up in fads. growing up)
I don’t see him as making fun of Jane Fonda and Gloria Stenem, though his character is meant to be a spoof of the guys you mention. I thought Jane and Gloria seemed smart. I thought he made them seem nice –for playing along with him.
Normatively, I think he’s trying to communicate a notion of femnism that’s very attractive to a lot of young people these days. Feminists are can be smart, successful, like men, like nice clothes, and — have a sense of humor. He debunked the stereotype that all feminists are angry all the time through the skit itself.
Colbert plays with categories, plays with conventionalities, plays with other people’s expectations. And he’s not mean. That’s why he’s so much fun.
My dad is 80 years old and dying of emphysema, and one of his pleasures in life is Stephen Colbert.
I could never figure out why, Cathy, until you noted Colbert’s m.o., which was pretty much Dad’s: Pretend to be stupid and unassuming and people will let down their guard and show sides of themselves you don’t often see.
I think Dad also appreciates Colbert’s fine sense of the ridiculous. Dad had to use his inhaler after he got a load of that liturgical dance.
Just wondering, though, if Amy Sedaris provided the hostess aprons for Jane and Gloria.