Phyllis Chesler

Widespread charges that feminists are “anti-family” are simply false, argues Phyllis Chesler in the following viewpoint. Feminists clearly support families, Chesler maintains, but have a nontraditional vision of what an ideal family entails. In the view of feminists, states Chesler, families can be made up of friends, same-sex partners, or men and women; however, feminist families differ from the traditional patriarchal family in that they have less sex-role stereotyping, less authoritarianism, and more sharing of both household and economic tasks. In addition, Chesler warns that the institution of marriage can actually hinder people from finding love, respect, and security, and is often dangerous for women and their children. Chesler is the author of Letters to a Young Feminist, from which the following viewpoint is excerpted.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Chesler, what...