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?
- Feminist Fury , Is/Is Not
- Comments(16)
This is right lovely! I can’t think of a thing to add, though some people think I should hand in my feminist card for taking my husband’s last name (for a variety of complicated reasons that make it perfectly sensible for me). That kind of bugs me.
The irony is, I would have called myself a sell-out five years ago, too. Good one, universe!
I love this
A couple years ago my son came home and proclaimed that he hated feminists but what he was reacting to were young girls his age who were calling themselves feminists as a label for man-hating and superiority,which I was very quick to point out is NOT what feminism is about
Kelly, I hear ya on the last name thing. I didn’t change mine when I married my husband but then, six years later, decided it would be easier once we had the baby. So I changed it. People who don’t like it can lick it. How’s that for maturity?
Rebecca, thank you. And thanks for teaching your son what feminism is and is not.
omg. i can’t get past “the world according to bob”. please tell me that he is not for real, though i’m afraid he is. how do people have these mentalities?
Yes, yes and yes. BUT… what do you mean by choose education over ignorance? Does that have anything to do with higher education or formal schooling? I opted out of that and do consider myself quite the feminist for doing so.
Anyway, I especially agree with the statement that feminism is not having to work outside the home, not bake or cook, etc. I find a good deal of “feminists” still look down on me for that, or for not getting a “formal education”. I still feel just as valuable as a man with a PhD, thank you very much.
I had a feminist instructor in college (a MAN, by the way!) who taught me the importance of cooperation rather than competition. I’ve always considered that as a cornerstone of my feminist beliefs, and one that doesn’t get mentioned often.
*looks down at very hairy legs*
oh, better go shave them then :p
Chloe, choosing education over ignorance has nothing to do with formal schooling. I simply meant that we should educate ourselves on the issues instead of ignoring them, hoping someone else will deal with it.
Nikki, I didn’t mean to imply that you can’t have hairy legs and be a feminist, just that you don’t have to. If that were the case, I’d be out of the running every season except summer!
Feminism is about accepting that your son will like the color blue, rough housing, and playing with toy cars…and that your daughter will like doing these things too!!
feminism is realizing that women often choose to be single, rather than assuming they are sad, pathetic creatures who aren’t whole until they find “mr. right”
“I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is: I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat, or a prostitute.”
-Rebecca West, 1913
Thanks for clearing it up. Just wanted to make sure! Because, I do often feel this sort of patriarchal pressure to get formal schooling or perish, know what I mean? And I definitely believe knowledge can be obtained without a degree, of course! And, that I should not be considered “uneducated” for not having one.
Just that you can be a sexy, fabulous woman & have a brain & still have most of your best friends as men….In fact, be who the hell you want to be without boxes & labels.
“loving yourself enough to identify as one”
I bow down to you. Beautifully put.
*Mom101 — thank you, how kind.
*Emma — agree completely. Though I do think there is some validity in using labels when we are fighting for change. It helps us find, identify and group together in a common goal.
*Chloe — glad that cleared it up for ya. I would never want anyone to think I look down on people without degrees. I myself only have a mere BA, nothing to write home about.
*Jen — I have seen two or three variations of that quote and think it’s great. Very funny!
*Andrea — definitely. You won’t find me trying to convince all and sundry to settle down and have babies, that’s for sure.
*Tabitha — for sure. I’m not into denying either sex the chance to use their imaginations and hate hate HATE the whole gender association through colour thing. Pink and blue are for everyone!
[...] promised, a second entry in my Is/Is Not series. The first was on Feminism. This one is on [...]