kynn's journal started a train of thought....
Sometimes I have a hard time calling myself a feminist. It's not because I have any reservations about being a feminist--nor is it because I'd rather keep my feminism to myself to avoid arguments with ignorant ass-holes. They're everywhere, so trying to avoid arguments with them is pointless.
Whether or not I deserve to call myself a male feminist is a point I'll get to later, but I will say that I gained a new appreciation for male feminism when I was talking to speranzosa at Bentley's one day. She commented that the same women who accuse each other of being let-downs to the women's movement rarely hold men to the same or similar standards. I think this paradox could be looked at in a couple of ways: either it makes perfect sense, if you believe the saying that rights are not granted, but asserted (and therefore, women should assert them, rather than wait for men to grant them); or it makes about as much sense as fighting racism by going on a witch hunt for Uncle Toms (while being completely passive to racists themselves). It might be another paradox, but I believe both perspectives are valid.
But I'm straying from what I started to write about: my difficulty in calling myself a feminist. My worry is that for me to call myself a feminist might be akin to a white person saying, "I'm not racist at all! I respect all people!" All too often, that sort of statement is said defensively, sometimes out of denial. In both cases, it may very well be true--inasmuch as the hypothetical white person and I are not deliberately participating in, or condoning, any acts or policies of discrimination or oppression. But in both cases, we are also the beneficiaries of long-standing privileges, even if we disagree with the customs, laws, and institutions that provide us those privileges. Even if we tried our best not to enjoy them or take advantage of them, those privileges are still there, each and every day. We enjoy them unknowingly, unconsciously, and unintentionally. It's not exactly human nature to turn down a promotion, insist that your government ignore your needs and interests, or ask to have your intelligence doubted in a classroom or business meeting.
More importantly, though, I don't think that it should be up to the privileged to be their own judges and regulators. It would be like letting a petroleum company set the standards for air quality. As harsh as it may sound, I stop listening when a man starts to say he's not sexist, or when a white person starts to say that (s)he's not racist, because I think they're missing the point by saying it. What would we accomplish if we let men be the judges of their own guilt or innocence regarding rape, sex discrimination, or any other form of sexism? It is equally ridiculous for the beneficiaries of racial privilege to try to exonerate themselves for any blame for racism.
In a similar vein, I'm reluctant to take the liberty to call myself a feminist. I guess I will as long as women consider me a feminist. Maybe I'm just overthinking things, but I think that's a safer route than being unaware or unmindful.
Whether or not I deserve to call myself a male feminist is a point I'll get to later, but I will say that I gained a new appreciation for male feminism when I was talking to speranzosa at Bentley's one day. She commented that the same women who accuse each other of being let-downs to the women's movement rarely hold men to the same or similar standards. I think this paradox could be looked at in a couple of ways: either it makes perfect sense, if you believe the saying that rights are not granted, but asserted (and therefore, women should assert them, rather than wait for men to grant them); or it makes about as much sense as fighting racism by going on a witch hunt for Uncle Toms (while being completely passive to racists themselves). It might be another paradox, but I believe both perspectives are valid.
But I'm straying from what I started to write about: my difficulty in calling myself a feminist. My worry is that for me to call myself a feminist might be akin to a white person saying, "I'm not racist at all! I respect all people!" All too often, that sort of statement is said defensively, sometimes out of denial. In both cases, it may very well be true--inasmuch as the hypothetical white person and I are not deliberately participating in, or condoning, any acts or policies of discrimination or oppression. But in both cases, we are also the beneficiaries of long-standing privileges, even if we disagree with the customs, laws, and institutions that provide us those privileges. Even if we tried our best not to enjoy them or take advantage of them, those privileges are still there, each and every day. We enjoy them unknowingly, unconsciously, and unintentionally. It's not exactly human nature to turn down a promotion, insist that your government ignore your needs and interests, or ask to have your intelligence doubted in a classroom or business meeting.
More importantly, though, I don't think that it should be up to the privileged to be their own judges and regulators. It would be like letting a petroleum company set the standards for air quality. As harsh as it may sound, I stop listening when a man starts to say he's not sexist, or when a white person starts to say that (s)he's not racist, because I think they're missing the point by saying it. What would we accomplish if we let men be the judges of their own guilt or innocence regarding rape, sex discrimination, or any other form of sexism? It is equally ridiculous for the beneficiaries of racial privilege to try to exonerate themselves for any blame for racism.
In a similar vein, I'm reluctant to take the liberty to call myself a feminist. I guess I will as long as women consider me a feminist. Maybe I'm just overthinking things, but I think that's a safer route than being unaware or unmindful.