Christina Sommers

Christina Hoff Sommers is an American author and philosopher born in 1950 in Petaluma, California. She is best known for her critique of contemporary feminism and advocacy for what she terms “equity feminism,” which emphasizes legal equality and individual rights over gender-based group politics. Sommers has authored several influential books, including Who Stole Feminism? and The War Against Boys, and is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. She also hosts the video blog The Factual Feminist, where she discusses issues related to gender, culture, and education.

• Studied Philosophy at the University of Paris.
• [1971] : B.A. from New York University.
• [1979] : Ph.D. in Philosophy from Brandeis University in Massachusetts.

Sommers taught philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Boston and Clark University from 1978 to 1997 before joining the American Enterprise Institute. In the mid-1980s, she edited two ethics textbooks that received positive reviews. Beginning in the late 1980s, she published articles criticizing feminist philosophy, arguing that academic feminism promoted radical social change and harmed traditional family structures. In her 1988 article Should the Academy Support Academic Feminism?, she questioned the legitimacy of academic feminism, a theme she expanded on in later writings. These critiques culminated in her 1994 book Who Stole Feminism?, which philosopher Marilyn Friedman criticized for inconsistencies and misrepresentations.

She's written articles for major publications like Time, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. She hosts The Factual Feminist video blog on YouTube and has created content for PragerU. Additionally, she once appeared on the white nationalist podcast Radio 3Fourteen but later stated she was unaware of its affiliation before participating.

• Advocated for a classical liberal or equity feminism perspective, emphasizing equal opportunity over gender-based policies.
• Wrote and spoke against victim-based feminism, arguing that modern feminism often portrayed women as oppressed rather than empowered.
• Contributed to WFN’s publications, panels, and discussions on gender issues, education, and policy.

• Researched, wrote and spoke against critiques regarding modern feminist theories.
• Advocated for a return to objective academic standards.

• Served as a member of the Board of Advisors.
• Guided and supported FIRE’s mission of defending free speech, academic freedom, and due process on college campuses.

• Contributed articles and reports on topics related to feminism, gender politics, and education.
• Participated in IWF events, panels, and discussions advocating for equity feminism and critiquing modern gender policies.
• Represented IWF’s perspective on news programs and debates.

• Served as a speaker and contributor on topics related to gender, feminism, and education policy.
• Participated in discussions that aligned with the center’s mission of promoting conservative policy solutions.