Heather Causnett's piece (Evening Press, April 6) on modern feminism was interesting, if rather confusing. She feels women's liberation is the main cause of the "break up of family life" and of "the present dreadful statistics".

She seems uncomfortable with women who pursue their own aspirations, and sees them as slightly selfish and irresponsible. She claims their modern lifestyles and attitudes create discontent and stress.

What Mrs Causnett overlooks is the discontent, stress and suffering many women, children - and men - have endured during centuries of marriage! That institution has often trapped people with stifling restrictions, incompatibility, lack of fulfilment, frustration, demoralising drudgery, conflict and violence and fear.

Many felt compelled to marry and have several children, because society expected conformity. Past society cannot have been very secure and happy when it actively discouraged individuality and freedom of choice, especially for women.

Women do now have an unfair advantage over men in divorce arrangements, custody of children and sexual harassment matters. But, overall, feminism has created many benefits - for everyone.

Colin S Jeffrey,

East Mount Road,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.