Why, indeed, can't we accept both women as feminists in their own right?
I actually agree with some of what Schachter argues (the full article is now available on the Commentary site), especially the importance of placing the Purim story within its historical context. Had Esther followed Vashti's example, we probably would have nothing to celebrate on Purim: "the active female defender of the Jews who defeats the more powerful male adviser to her husband by using one of the few means of influence a woman in ancient times might have been able to wield is then bizarrely belittled as passive, a mere tool in the hands of her older male relative."
And yes, the self-defense angle of the story is an integral part of it, even if that's difficult to acknowledge in our current political climate. Likewise, the fact that Esther was Jewish and Vashti wasn't. It is, after all, a Jewish holiday. Unfortunately, Schachter's anger at all things feminist (or at least, that's the impression here) gets in the way of any relevant comments. It's hard to wade through to get to anything worthwhile.
Maybe once the pendulum stops swinging, we'll be able to get past this Esther/Vashti - good/evil dichotomy.
Why, indeed, can't we accept both women as feminists in their own right?
I actually agree with some of what Schachter argues (the full article is now available on the Commentary site), especially the importance of placing the Purim story within its historical context. Had Esther followed Vashti's example, we probably would have nothing to celebrate on Purim: "the active female defender of the Jews who defeats the more powerful male adviser to her husband by using one of the few means of influence a woman in ancient times might have been able to wield is then bizarrely belittled as passive, a mere tool in the hands of her older male relative."
And yes, the self-defense angle of the story is an integral part of it, even if that's difficult to acknowledge in our current political climate. Likewise, the fact that Esther was Jewish and Vashti wasn't. It is, after all, a Jewish holiday. Unfortunately, Schachter's anger at all things feminist (or at least, that's the impression here) gets in the way of any relevant comments. It's hard to wade through to get to anything worthwhile.
Maybe once the pendulum stops swinging, we'll be able to get past this Esther/Vashti - good/evil dichotomy.