Those not interested in gender politics, go ahead and move along
Time for a quick rant!
"Every so often, when I meet a younger woman, the subject of feminism comes up. Almost invariably, she will tell me she's not one, which leads me to grill her on her philosophy. And, just as invariably, it turns out that by my definition, she is a feminist after all.
Universal suffrage? Yes. Equal pay for equal work? Yes again. Equality before the law? No 'male only' jobs? Yes and yes.
So why has the term become so poisonous to the women who have benefited so much from the women's movement?" - ed_rex
'Feminism' has become rather a controversial word, and that frustrates me.
I was at a dinner party with friends the other night. My girlfriends are a healthy mix of Democrats and Republicans, but I myself am fairly liberal. We tend to avoid talking politics, as our debates can get rather heated. But as we spoke about the changes of staff at our old high school, one friend brought up the increasing number of women in administrative positions, and conversation turned as another girl, "Stephanie," declared herself 'anti-feminist.' She named, as proof, the fact that she is 'fine' with males in administrative positions.
I bit my lip. My mind darted to the "This is what a feminist looks like" t-shirt hanging in my closet, and I suppressed the indignant frustration beginning to bubble up in my chest.
Stephanie is conservative, and we have differing views on many topics, but she is a highly intelligent and capable young woman. It concerned me that she is among the ranks of young women who reject the term 'feminism' without fully understanding how dangerous that is. Another conservative friend of mine, "Erica," tried to strike a blow against feminism by running a dorm program advertised as "Women Making YOU Sandwiches Day." The posters emblazoned with that sexist trope hung in our halls for weeks.
How has it come to be a dirty word, co-opted by Sarah Palin and other conservatives who would make us out to be man-hating rage machines without the capability to nurture? I enjoy serving my boyfriend food when he requests it politely, because I know he respects me as a human being. I love working with kids, and I want to start a family someday. I like adorable kittens, and wearing dresses, and I am a feminist.
Feminism is not about the absence of traditional gender roles, or about the superiority of women. It is about the absence of pressure to conform to traditional gender roles, and about the equality of women. If you want to be a housewife, be a housewife. If you want to have a job, get a job. Unless you believe women should be subservient to men, should not be allowed to vote or receive quality education, and should not resent the harassment they are subjected to on the basis of their gender, you are not an anti-feminist. The Taliban, for instance, is explicitly anti-feminist, and in the years they wielded power in Afghanistan women were forced to remain indoors, were denied suffrage and education, and were brutally injured and killed for suspected adultery or even running away from abusive in-laws. Some women are still victimized in certain parts of that country, not to mention other nations.
Stephanie and Erica, you are living in privilege, with the chance to obtain quality education and do whatever you want with your life. You have independence and freedom the likes of which some women couldn't imagine, and you take it for granted.
I think if young women like us reclaimed the word, and the movement, more people would realize how crucial women's rights are to a fully-functioning and free society. Because chances are, you ARE a feminist. And you shouldn't be afraid to say it.
"Every so often, when I meet a younger woman, the subject of feminism comes up. Almost invariably, she will tell me she's not one, which leads me to grill her on her philosophy. And, just as invariably, it turns out that by my definition, she is a feminist after all.
Universal suffrage? Yes. Equal pay for equal work? Yes again. Equality before the law? No 'male only' jobs? Yes and yes.
So why has the term become so poisonous to the women who have benefited so much from the women's movement?" - ed_rex
'Feminism' has become rather a controversial word, and that frustrates me.
I was at a dinner party with friends the other night. My girlfriends are a healthy mix of Democrats and Republicans, but I myself am fairly liberal. We tend to avoid talking politics, as our debates can get rather heated. But as we spoke about the changes of staff at our old high school, one friend brought up the increasing number of women in administrative positions, and conversation turned as another girl, "Stephanie," declared herself 'anti-feminist.' She named, as proof, the fact that she is 'fine' with males in administrative positions.
I bit my lip. My mind darted to the "This is what a feminist looks like" t-shirt hanging in my closet, and I suppressed the indignant frustration beginning to bubble up in my chest.
Stephanie is conservative, and we have differing views on many topics, but she is a highly intelligent and capable young woman. It concerned me that she is among the ranks of young women who reject the term 'feminism' without fully understanding how dangerous that is. Another conservative friend of mine, "Erica," tried to strike a blow against feminism by running a dorm program advertised as "Women Making YOU Sandwiches Day." The posters emblazoned with that sexist trope hung in our halls for weeks.
How has it come to be a dirty word, co-opted by Sarah Palin and other conservatives who would make us out to be man-hating rage machines without the capability to nurture? I enjoy serving my boyfriend food when he requests it politely, because I know he respects me as a human being. I love working with kids, and I want to start a family someday. I like adorable kittens, and wearing dresses, and I am a feminist.
Feminism is not about the absence of traditional gender roles, or about the superiority of women. It is about the absence of pressure to conform to traditional gender roles, and about the equality of women. If you want to be a housewife, be a housewife. If you want to have a job, get a job. Unless you believe women should be subservient to men, should not be allowed to vote or receive quality education, and should not resent the harassment they are subjected to on the basis of their gender, you are not an anti-feminist. The Taliban, for instance, is explicitly anti-feminist, and in the years they wielded power in Afghanistan women were forced to remain indoors, were denied suffrage and education, and were brutally injured and killed for suspected adultery or even running away from abusive in-laws. Some women are still victimized in certain parts of that country, not to mention other nations.
Stephanie and Erica, you are living in privilege, with the chance to obtain quality education and do whatever you want with your life. You have independence and freedom the likes of which some women couldn't imagine, and you take it for granted.
I think if young women like us reclaimed the word, and the movement, more people would realize how crucial women's rights are to a fully-functioning and free society. Because chances are, you ARE a feminist. And you shouldn't be afraid to say it.