Is modern feminism a betrayal of its own classical liberal roots?

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Christina Hoff Sommers, a philosopher and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, argues that contemporary feminism has drifted from its original goal of equal rights into a radical ideology. By distinguishing between equity feminism and gender feminism, she challenges the academic status quo and advocates for a return to classical liberalism.

Born in 1950, Christina Hoff Sommers earned her Ph.D. in philosophy from Brandeis University in 1979. Throughout her career, she has positioned herself as an equity feminist, a perspective she defines as rooted in classical liberalism. This framework prioritizes the protection of individual rights against coercive interference, which she contrasts with what she labels gender feminism—a movement she argues is preoccupied with viewing society through a rigid sex-gender prism to advance specific political agendas.

Sommers gained significant attention in 1994 with her book Who Stole Feminism?, where she critiqued academic feminism for allegedly relying on dubious statistics and portraying women primarily as victims. She later expanded this critique in her 2000 book, The War Against Boys, arguing that educational policies designed to support girls were based on flawed research. She asserted that boys were actually falling behind in key metrics like reading, writing, and college matriculation, a stance that drew both praise for its focus on data and sharp criticism for its polemical tone.

Her work has faced intense scrutiny from other scholars. Critics, including philosopher Marilyn Friedman, have argued that her writings are marred by misrepresentations of feminist literature and inconsistent arguments. While some reviewers praised her for challenging ideological consensus, others, such as child psychiatrist Robert Coles, suggested her work functioned more as a critique of specific psychologists than a comprehensive study of children. Despite these controversies, Sommers remains a prominent voice, hosting the video blog The Factual Feminist and continuing to advocate for a version of feminism she believes aligns with the needs of the average woman.

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