Andrea Dworkin's 'Right-Wing Women,' reissued after decades, analyzes the antifeminist stances of some conservative women. Dworkin, known for her radical feminist views, surprisingly finds common ground with these women, acknowledging their realistic assessment of a male-dominated world, even while disagreeing with their fatalistic acceptance of it.
Dworkin contrasts the optimistic liberal feminist who believes in incremental change with the right-wing woman who sees the futility of such efforts. She argues the latter's conformity stems from a need for survival in a patriarchal society.
Dworkin examines the views of various right-wing women, including Ruth Carter Stapleton, Marabel Morgan, Anita Bryant, and Phyllis Schlafly. She highlights their shared perception of a threatening world, emphasizing that even though their solutions differ from hers, their experiences and motivations are rooted in the difficulties of being a woman in a patriarchal system.
Dworkin displays unexpected empathy, particularly towards Anita Bryant, connecting her homophobia to her experiences of poverty and a domineering husband. This suggests that Dworkin understands their choices within the context of patriarchal oppression, even while disagreeing with their conclusions.