The Battle of the Sexes in Ancient and Modern Thought

The Battle of the Sexes in Ancient and Modern Thought

The purported goal of modern feminism is to ensure that women are afforded equal rights under the law, and equal treatment in society. Accordingly, many argue that "we should all be feminists." But should we? It has become increasingly clear that contemporary liberal feminism is not interested in equality and peace between the sexes, but rather in the dominance of one over the other - that is to say, of women over men. When men outnumber women in elite professions and social spaces, this is decried as injustice, but when women outnumber men - as they now do, for instance, in high education - this is heralded as a victory. To the extent that liberal feminism seeks an end to the battle of the sexes, it is only through the unconditional surrender of one side. The result is that tensions between the sexes today are at a fever pitch. Men and women are at war with each other, and the battle is bloodier than ever.

The ancients took a very different view of sexual difference, and looked for ways to bring peace between the sexes. They warned of the danger of strife and conflict brought about by pursuing total victory for one side. Taught by Arthur Milikh, Molly Gurdon Pinkoski, and Scott Yenor, this seminar will explore how the ancients and moderns addressed the battle of the sexes.

This seminar is open to undergraduates and graduate students. It is also open to recently graduated students, young professionals working in fields related to the seminar's topic. 

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided.

READINGS 

Please use this link to see the readings.

FEES

To secure your place, please send a $20 nonrefundable deposit to the Zephyr Institute, via PayPal or check (instructions here).

The deadline for registration is October 31st.

FACULTY

Arthur Milikh is the executive director of The Claremont Institute’s Center for the American Way of Life in Washington, D.C. Milikh previously worked at the Heritage Foundation, the Hudson Institute, and on the House Committee on Armed Services. His published works have appeared in a variety of outlets, and he has advised federal and state governments.

Molly Gurdon Pinkoski is a graduate fellow at the Zephyr Institute and a PhD Candidate in moral philosophy at Columbia University.

Scott Yenor is a professor of political science at Boise State University.  He is author of several books, including The Recovery of Family Life: Exposing the Limits of Modern Ideologies (Baylor 2020).  He and his wife have five children, three of whom are married and out of the house.

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This event has been made possible by a generous grant from the Apgar Foundation.