This picture of Rachel's Tomb compliments 
                    of Avrohom Dovid
            http://www.ThirdTemple.com        

CHAPTER THREE
POWER: PUBLIC AND PRIVATE

The feminist movement stemmed from women feeling disempowered. Men clearly controlled (and still control) the reins of power in the political, financial, and judicial spheres, which determine most of the obvious facets of personal and societal existence. Thus, a primary goal of the women's movement has been to demand a share in this power through equal pay and equal employment opportunities.

Power, in essence, is the ability to effect change. If women have financial clout or high political or business positions, it is thought, then they too can determine the changes that will affect their lives and the lives of others.

But the feminist crusade has failed to recognize another, more subtle, form of power: internal power, the ability to affect other people's ethics and values. While external power may procure a high corporate position, internal power will determine whether that corporate executive will be honest or embezzle from the corporation.

Women's quest for external power has left a frightening vacuum in Western society in the area of moral training, where women formerly held sway. Rampant crime, child abuse, kidnapping, and violence against women are symptoms of a society gone amok, where many people have no concept of right and wrong, of honesty, fairness, compassion, or self-control. Only a generation ago, American stores did not have security devices or guards checking bags at every exit; the prevalent sense of honesty made shoplifting a rare occurrence. Such basic morality now seems as outdated as propeller planes or fishnet stockings.

Today's internal decadence is eroding the quality of life in America as fast as external political and technological advances are improving it. A pointed, tragic example is the case of the "Central Park jogger," a woman who had succeeded in the traditionally male field of stock brokerage and who was earning a salary commensurate with her abilities. She was brutally beaten and gang-raped by a group of teenagers who had no idea who she was. They saw their actions not as a political or racial statement, but as a sport.

Violence against women has risen dramatically in America in the last decade. After the 1999 Woodstock concert ended in flames, reports began to come in which found that women were assaulted and raped. The official response, says NOW NYC President Galen Sherwin, has been to deny that the rapes occurred, and to dismiss their importance.

A report published in American College Health (Sept 1997) uncovered a shocking statistic. One out of fifteen young women surveyed reported they had been forced to have sexual intercourse. Clearly, the lot of women cannot be improved by political and financial progress if the inner dimension of society - its morals and compassion - is neglected by the very people who have traditionally been its custodians: women.

If you are interested in helping get this book published, contact davidpax@netvision.net.il.