Historically Famous
On January 1st, 1945, the German Luftwaffe launched a secret attack against allied forces meant to cripple the American Air Force during the historically famous “Battle of the Bulge.” This Nazi secret operation was known as Operation Bodenplatte. On the same day, a short film was premiering in the United States called “Time to Kill.” The short film was about a group of US Navy sailors and their dreams for the future. Little did we know that the young woman cast for the role of “Lou’s girl” would go on to become just as (if not more) historically famous as the battle mentioned above.
On New Years’ Eve 2021, Betty White, an American staple and national treasure, passed away peacefully in her sleep. Upon the news of her death, the entire nation collectively wept regardless of political affiliation. An American Icon, Betty White forged a path for women thought impossible, opening the eyes and hearts of hundreds of millions of people throughout a career spanning eight decades. Every single person, young or old, Black or White, male or female, has been touched in some way by Betty White. It is safe to say that every American is heartbroken.
In the title of this article, I label Betty White as the last American Feminist, and for a good reason. Betty White’s legendary existence embodies true feminism, a far cry from the confused extremism sweeping today. My hope is that this article will successfully draw a contrast between what a truly successful woman looks like compared to the broken theories being sold to our young girls and women today on social media and in the public education system. I intend for this article to honor the memory of Betty White while doing some good for the girls and women who need to see it.
A Real Trailblazer
In today’s virally connected world, everyone claims to be a trailblazer. It seems everyone with a cellphone camera claims to be a trailblazing musician, artist, model, or actress. In today’s rap music, this is called flexing for clout. Clout is the new currency and drug that fuels today’s viral atmosphere with young and old people taking as many hits as possible, searching for that high that never seems to last. It seems so easy, doesn’t it? Compared to the world that Betty White came from, it’s worlds apart and galaxies easier. Betty White didn’t take a photo of her plump rump in a G-string and post it on Instagram to get famous nor did she make an “empowering” sex tape and “accidentally” leak it on the internet, she fought for her success during an impossible time for women. What many women consider hard today is laughable compared to the world in which Betty White found her success.
Betty White was born on January 17th, 1922, barely two years after the ratification of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote in the United States of America. In the same year that she was born, the first female U.S. Senator, Rebecca Ann Felton, was appointed (for only two days). When Betty White was 10 years old, Amelia Earhart took her first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. When we say Betty White is synonymous with history, we mean it. This was a time when true gender inequalities existed between men and women in the home, workplace, and out in public. In order for the Rebecca Ann Felton’s, Amelia Earhart’s, Betty White’s of the world to succeed, a true burning determination was required. The ability to mentally walk on burning coals mixed with broken glass was practically a requirement of success for a woman during those times. Think about it like this. Betty White was already modeling and doing cameos in the 1930s yet didn’t land a major television show until “Life with Elizabeth” in 1952. Just one year later, another historically famous woman, Rosa Parks, refuses to give up her seat and helps to spark the American Civil Rights movement.
During the span of her career, Betty White witnessed major positive change for women across America. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Betty fights an anti-woman establishment for television roles and some semblance of success. Just a year before she lands a one time role as Brenda Barlowe on the TV series “Another World,” President Kennedy signs the Equal Pay Act into law, prohibiting sex-based discrimination against women’s pay. In 1972, Republican President Richard Nixon signs Title IX into law, legally ending educational discrimination against women in the United States. Just one year later, Betty would land a role that would launch her into perpetual stardom, playing Sue Ann Nivens on the Mary Tyler Moore Show.
If you do the math and use the short film “Time to Kill” as her first credited role. The road to success and stability literally took Betty 27 years to achieve. If you can show me one young person willing to put in that kind of work today, I will print out this article and eat it on camera. Is it right that she had to fight so long for fame and fortune? Of course not, but it’s both impressive and intimidating by today’s standards for any of the two genders. Shortly after Mary Tyler More, Betty is given her own television show and the rest is history. A star explodes and forges a celestial path for all women in the entertainment industry where one just didn’t exist before. Her career, accomplishments, and influence are so impressive that I could literally write twenty more paragraphs to this section. Betty watched as women fought for and won true equality and she died knowing that dream had been realized by millions and millions of women across the country.
Modern Feminism
In today’s world, the fight for Women’s Rights and Feminism no longer search for equality. They have been redefined by the Left, just like so many other just and righteous causes. The classic definition of feminism is as follows:
“The belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities”
We all believe in this definition and agree that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities, rights and opportunities forged by trailblazers such as Betty White. The problem that we are facing is the silent redefining of what it means to fight for women’s rights or be a feminist. Let me provide you with the modern definition of feminism being taught for the last decade in high schools and colleges across the country:
“Feminism is an interdisciplinary approach to issues of equality and equity based on gender, gender expression, gender identity, sex, and sexuality as understood through social theories and political activism. Historically, feminism has evolved from the critical examination of inequality between the sexes to a more nuanced focus on the social and performative constructions of gender and sexuality.”
Feminism has been turned against women, and if you don’t believe me just ask the University of Pennsylvania women’s swim team how they feel about their transgender teammate, Lia Thomas. Or the mother of the young girl raped in a high school bathroom in Loudoun County, Virginia by a transgender classmate. Under these new definitions, successful women the likes of Betty White will never have a chance to find greatness ever again. If there are no genders, there is no Betty White. If there are no genders, what Betty White and other strong women (from Sojourner Truth to Rosa Parks) have accomplished means nothing. If women don’t exist, women’s rights eventually wither and die.
Betty White Feminism
Betty White was a true Feminist, even if she didn’t consider herself one. She forged a path for women and demonstrated to millions of young girls what a truly strong and independent woman could accomplish and achieve through hard work, determination, and true grit. Now, in this dark hour, forces are trying to destroy her legacy by destroying the hard fought for legacy and rights of women across this great country. As we mourn the loss of an American icon, I ask women to reflect upon the life of this great human being and compare Betty White Feminism to the woke and broken version we see today. As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, Betty White is synonymous with American History and is now herself, a powerful part of that great history, having lived nearly a century long life, set to inspire women for centuries to come. That is, of course, if we can prevent modern Feminism from destroying women entirely.
The choice is up to women.
Fair winds and following seas Betty, my young daughters will know of you and your accomplishments. We will miss your smile and laughter.
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