Is/Is not: Feminism
NS November 13th, 2007
As part of a new series, I will be listing what certain ideals, events, places, people or things are and aren’t. Today’s topic is Feminism (inspired by my lovely hubby and a discussion I had today with some other women).
Feminism is:
- believing that gender inequality still exists
- being outraged at the pay gap (17% in the UK)
- standing up to being judged based on attractiveness to the opposite sex
- knowing how it feels to be groped, leered at or intimidated by a complete stranger in public
- ever wishing that men could understand, for even one day, what it’s like to be a woman
- being called a feminazi, man-hater, lesbian, radical or bitch for speaking your mind or taking control of your own life
- having freedom of choice in all aspects of life
- being a mother or child free but not judging others’ lifestyles
- not participating in the ‘mommy wars’
- refusing to back down when asked to leave for breastfeeding in public
- standing up for the rights of those not able or willing to do it themselves
- choosing a partner who believes you are just as smart/powerful/capable as he is
- choosing education over ignorance
- loving yourself enough to identify as one
Feminism is not:
- having hairy legs
- hating men
- thinking women are better than men
- being incapable of having a sense of humour
- aggression
- only possible if working outside of the home — SAHMs can be feminists too
- devaluing domestic work
- being a ‘slut’
- never baking cookies or cleaning
- flogging your male partner into submission to prove your feminist credentials
What would you add to either of these lists?
