To all women who consider themselves not feminist...
...here is my reply to a comment on eleusis_walks recent essay on racism in Buffy (I urge you all to read it - disquieting stuff). The person I'm replying to (I won't say their name just in case they wouldn't want me to - it's not my place) argues that she, among many other women, don't identify with "mainstream feminism" as it often supresses women that aren't white and straight.
I think there's a difference between the feminist movement (or "mainstream feminism") and feminism as a philosophy or ideology. The core beliefs of feminism are this: that all women should be equal to men, should be able to vote, and should have freedom of choice and freedom from repression. And in that way I believe that most women in Western society are feminists, even if they are not active about it or don't like the feminist movement. Feminism in practice is obviously flawed - everything is. I myself have many arguments with the feminist movement, and I think they're getting a lot wrong.
But the problem is, when "marginalised classes" or women that don't identify with "mainstream feminism" splinter off into their own groups, the feminist movement loses the chance of ever being able to speak up for them or with them. Does that make any sense? If we don't like it, we should work within the system to change it, rather than give up on it all together. Because if we do, all that will be left in the movement will be the radicals that give us a bad name, and the word "feminist" will always be synonymous with "ballbuster" or "bitch" in the public conciousness. And it's already too often mistaken to mean this.
After all, working within the movement is the only way we've adjusted and improved our views and methods before, and it's the only way we can evolve.
EDIT: I also want to say that of course anyone is free to leave the movement, and pressuring a group to stay would obviously be hypocritical and counter-productive. I just believe that working together is best, even when you are frustrated and insulted by the movement (as I have been many times).
So... yeah! ALSO my articles got published today!!! I am in the paper a grand total of 4 TIMES!!! (3 articles and 1 poem)
So happy rn...
:D
PS: I'm going as Fray to the SciFi Society's ball next friday. Although I am planning to have Fray's hair (I'll do it!) in a year or so when it's long enough, atm I'm stuck with my cherry pixie. SO anyone know where I can find a wig?? Thanks!!
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I think there's a difference between the feminist movement (or "mainstream feminism") and feminism as a philosophy or ideology. The core beliefs of feminism are this: that all women should be equal to men, should be able to vote, and should have freedom of choice and freedom from repression. And in that way I believe that most women in Western society are feminists, even if they are not active about it or don't like the feminist movement. Feminism in practice is obviously flawed - everything is. I myself have many arguments with the feminist movement, and I think they're getting a lot wrong.
But the problem is, when "marginalised classes" or women that don't identify with "mainstream feminism" splinter off into their own groups, the feminist movement loses the chance of ever being able to speak up for them or with them. Does that make any sense? If we don't like it, we should work within the system to change it, rather than give up on it all together. Because if we do, all that will be left in the movement will be the radicals that give us a bad name, and the word "feminist" will always be synonymous with "ballbuster" or "bitch" in the public conciousness. And it's already too often mistaken to mean this.
After all, working within the movement is the only way we've adjusted and improved our views and methods before, and it's the only way we can evolve.
EDIT: I also want to say that of course anyone is free to leave the movement, and pressuring a group to stay would obviously be hypocritical and counter-productive. I just believe that working together is best, even when you are frustrated and insulted by the movement (as I have been many times).
So... yeah! ALSO my articles got published today!!! I am in the paper a grand total of 4 TIMES!!! (3 articles and 1 poem)
So happy rn...
:D
PS: I'm going as Fray to the SciFi Society's ball next friday. Although I am planning to have Fray's hair (I'll do it!) in a year or so when it's long enough, atm I'm stuck with my cherry pixie. SO anyone know where I can find a wig?? Thanks!!
.
.