In the life of every budding feminist man or woman, there comes a moment that I like to call the "What The Fuck, Sister?" Moment.

This is the moment when the young feminist first encounters a vehemently anti-feminist woman. What the fuck, says the feminist. Why would a woman want to campaign against her own social and political equality? Why would a woman speak out against the very people who are fighting to protect her basic human dignity?

While there may be some psychological or sociological answers floating around, it remains very difficult for most of us to get inside the head of an anti-feminist woman, just as most people would be hard pressed to really understand the mind of a black KKK supporter. But every once in a while, an anti-feminist women will open a window into her mind and allow us to peer cautiously inside.

One such window can be found in this charming letter from Missouri state Representative Cynthia Davis, an anti-contraception activist who explains to us how all sexually-active women are whores:

When I was listening to the debate last week I wondered what kind of man would want to enjoy free sex and then expect her to provide for her own contraceptives? These are the kind of men who want free whores. Any man who would be so low life as that does not deserve to have any woman love him. Smart women will stay away from men who use them and abuse them.

Why is it that most of the e-mail letters I get on this topic is from men? I have concluded that the chemicals and drugs are their way to have all the goodies and not pay the price. When you encourage this behavior, you create more of it. In other words, if the state starts paying for contraceptives we will have more babies than if we just teach people to not expect free prostitution from poor people. Don't you think having to pay child support for the next 18 years is a suitable disincentive?

...

The irresponsible men love it when women think they are supposed to give away free sex without any consequences.

It may seem obvious to some, but this letter filled in a piece that had been missing for me.

Women like Rep. Davis believe in the virgin-whore dichotomy in such a literal way that I actually never really got it. They believe that any woman who is has sex is a whore, in one way or another, and thus the real crime of a sex-positive feminist is that she's not charging enough.

From their perspective, the real problem with feminism is that it's driving down prices. Every man who is sleeping with a willing, eager, sex-loving woman is one less man participating in the bidding war for the untouched cooters of virtuous anti-feminists. Every man who finds an independent and sexual woman is one less man who can be bribed into life-long providerhood by the promise of some shame-faced, awkward fumblings on the wedding night. If word gets out that women may actually enjoy sex, then how the hell is a gal gonna get paid?

It's not actually about tradition, morality, gender roles, or any of that other crap. It's about a pack of snotty hookers getting pissed off that the bitches on the other corner are undercutting their rates.

So how does that feel, folks? The morality crowd thinks that all women who have sex are whores, and all men who have sex are johns. You're either selling sex or buying it.

For the menfolk, how does it feel to know that no woman ever wants to have sex with you? Women don't want sex, they want to see how high a price they can set before you'll wander off to find cheaper pussy. You think your girlfriend or your wife likes being with you? Well, Rep. Davis and company think her arousal is set by your pocketbook.

For the womenfolk, how does it feel to know that you will be the subject of insults and slurs if you dare to have sex without demanding payment? You better get a diamond ring out of him up front, or else you're a cheap slut who deserves to be punished with STDs and pregnancy. How does it feel to know that your "morality" is defined by the rates you charge?


UPDATE: Posted this as a diary over at DKos, just to see what would happen. Getting some interesting comments so far.