What makes a feminist a feminist?
November 27, 2008
by Sheryl Lee
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A common refrain heard among women during the recent election was, “How can she call herself a feminist when___________?” (fill in the blank). This query was uttered by women of all ages and political stripes; I’m sure I said it at some point, and you probably did, too.
But how can all of us suddenly not be feminists? Surely some of us are still feminists, even if we don’t fit the criteria of those who have believed and acted differently from us? Who gets to say what feminism is, anyway?
We recently asked readers and members what they thought of the word “feminist” as a term by which we define ourselves, and we got a variety of responses, most of them centered around the historical baggage the word carries, and the way those who call themselves feminists are perceived by society at large.
Yesterday, Cynthia Cruccia asked us how we define sexism, and your responses reflected the fact that there isn’t an easy and straightforward answer to that question.
Today, I’ve got an easier one for you:
- What does a feminist do?
- What do you do that makes you a feminist?
Okay, I lied. These questions aren’t easy, but they’re pro-active, rather than re-active, and you get to decide what your own criteria are for the club we call feminism.
If there’s anything we’ve learned in the last year or so, it’s that feminism takes many different forms.
What’s yours?
Happy Thanksgiving!
My feminism is helping promote qualified women to elected office, be they Republican or Democrat or some othe political stripe. I also will join any concerted effort to get the ERA ratified.
I also try to raise the issue of gender equity in my daily life, with my friends and family.
Just posted in Cynthia’s thread about defining sexism (this relates to this thread, trust me…), writing that:
Sexism is the vehicle by which women, women’s potential and women’s accomplishments are devalued and deminished by virtue of the fact that they are women.
Conversely, I would say that feminists are people who value and respect women, women’s potential and women’s accomplishments with a standard no different from that set for a man.
As to the questiona, I don’t understand what they’re asking. That said, I believe that being a feminist also encompasses a state of mind, a point of view, a world view, not just what one “does”. In fact, I would say those create the foundation for what one might “do”, whatever exactly that means. Dawn, can you explain your questions a bit more cause I’m not sure what you’re getting at.
A feminist stands up for the equal treatment of all regardless of gender.
I live my life as a creative woman refusing to retreat or diminish my value in the hopes that thereby I set an example to other women in music. Sounds lofty which is not my intent — I’m not a big fan of pomposity. I just figure more often than not, actions speak louder than words.
I try to resist and call out any sexist slurs used against any girl or woman. Even if the girl of woman is someone I don’t like. I’m after 0% tolerance for female-bashing verbally or otherwise.
I plan to continue to learn more about women in history and support organizations, forums, blogs etc. which promote awareness of the contributions women have made and continue to make to our world.
Feminism = the awareness of the value of the female gender Feminism = the respect and honor of all girls and women
Feminism = the defense of all girls and women against any hatred and bias sanctioned by government, religion, society or culture.
A bit of dark levity:
God is coming back and she is pissed
Thanks to New Agenda for your efforts!
1) What does a feminist do?
She labels those women as such, when she thinks they are acceptable to her way of thinking. More often than not, this is in the liberal vein.
2) What do you do that makes you a feminist?
Nothing could MAKE me a feminist. I am a woman, which, in and of itself, gives me all the leverage I need to advance the fight against sexism and for equality.
“Feminism is the radical notion that women are people.”
I didn’t come up with this gem, but have seen it on other sites. The author does not appear to be known. I think it’s a great line!
What does a feminist do? I just blogged about Jose Luis Zapatero, Spain’s prime minister, who has appointed a female-majority cabinet and a female first vice-president. That is an example of what a feminist does. See: http://tinyurl.com/59fagg
What do I do that qualifies me as a feminist?
1. I work in a male-dominated science field and I encourage and mentor other women in my field. My presence in the male-dominated field alone helps to normalize the idea that women can do science. Also, I confront and challenge the men in my field on their sexist ideologies.
2. I was a delegate for Hillary.
3. I vote for women first and ideology second,
4. I blog about gender equity and non-partisan feminism.
5. I aim to break glass ceilings and as I achieve power, I do whatever I can to empower other women.
Unapologetic Feminist
Thank you for being you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To me being a feminist means supporting other women. I don’t have to agree with them and they don’t “have” to be liberals. Allowing or participating in bashing other women is the antithesis of all that “I” believe feminism is and should be.
What can I do? I will support the 30% solution and vote for women every chance I get.
And I will NOT sit quietly when misogyny is happening around me whatever the gender of the miscreant!
To those who include as part of their definition of being a feminist (or even for those rejecting that particular label), women supporting other women, I have the following questions as this issue is one I’ve also been thinking about for a very long time:
1. What if the woman in questions is espousing hateful rhetoric abut another group?
2. What if the woman has commited a heinous crime?
3. What if the woman, as happened this year in many cases, supported Obama and not Clinton without stating any reason for this support as based in gender?
4. What if one woman is walking into a clinic to have an abortion and another woman is standing outside of the clinic screaming anti-abortion messages at her. Do you support both women, or does your support take a side?
5. Is your support of women provided at the same level of intensity and commitment, or is it given in varying degrees depending on the situation?
6. Do you support a woman who declares, for religious reasons or otherwise, that she believes that a woman’s place is at home raising children and that men and women have different roles in society they each should play out?
I started writing a piece about this very issue a week ago and it is in process now. So, some posts here, and on other sites, regarding a call for a blanket support by women of other women, intrigue me.
In my mind supporting other woman does not mean always agreeing with them. It does mean that if I disagree with them, I will voice my disagreement without attacking them as women. For example, I would not support a woman who is standing outside an abortion clinic screaming anti-abortion messages, but I would not call her crazy or stupid for believing what she believes. Likewise the woman who believes a woman’s place is in the home. I would support her decision to do that, but disagree with her if she thinks that all women need to do it. A woman who has committed a heinous crime needs to punished not elected to office just as a man does. I have no problem if a woman supported Obama over Clinton as long as she did not use Hillary’s gender to attack her. Personally, I find it incredible that a woman would think that Obama will be “better for women’s issues” so I would assume that gender equity was not an important issue for her. Being supportive of other women does not mean that we have to stand out in the rain holding placards for a woman just because she’s a woman. It does mean that when we disagree we do it respectfully and do not succumb to sexism and misogynistic tactics to defeat her.
samanthasmom
For me, you articulated a really central point in voicing that supporting other women does not always mean agreeing with them. I think this is central: That we are free to agree or disagree, but with the crucial element being that we don’t disagree based on gender, but instead on principal, point of view, etc.
This year I’ve witnessed a lot of hypocrisy in this area, with women in some grassroots movements wanting to “support all women”, while simultaneously speaking of women they did not like in horribly disrespectful ways, all-the-while appearing to feel self-righteous about it. This is something I cannot suffer.
What does a feminist do?
A feminist hears the voices of women who feel cultural/societal pressures to not pursue their dreams and tries to make changes so these dreams are possible. A feminist hears when a group of women are unhappy and makes it possible for them achieve happiness and satisfaction in life.
What do I do?
I educate women about their choices during the childbearing years. I lead support groups that bring women together to share stories about pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. I initiate conversations with younger women about these topics as well as discussing work-life questions so they can make good decisions for their unique situations. I try to mentor women who do not directly ask for it. Usually they are eager to talk and have many questions.
Next questions possibly… What does a feminist believe?
What obstacles do modern feminists face (besides the word itself)? What do younger feminists care about and how does these issues relate to what older feminists focus on? I love this topic! Thank you for hosting this discussion!
About Anna’s follow-up questions, what I see in the word “support” is lending your voice to a group of women versus encouraging a particular woman to exercise her civil rights such as those of speech and assembly. I mean group in a much larger sense than as the group of women protesting the abortion as the other group of women go into have abortions. Once one starts encouraging/supporting individuals it is possible to get out of “supporting women” as the greater goal. Possibly these are different goals more often than we think.
That said, of course I encourage individuals (men and women) to make choices that I think are good choices for the situation at hand. That is part of mentorship. Ideally feminism would get us to a place where all women find themselves surrounded by very different mentors and can then pick and choose to pave the best path for themselves (and this shouldn’t prevent other women from doing the same).
Finding diverse mentors and heroines to give to the younger generations is such a great goal, I am so happy to see it happen here!
Cynthia
Without wanting to sound like a Marion Edelman groupie (!), per your last sentence, I highly recommend her book “Lanterns” which is all about the people (women, mainly, if not exclusively, I believe…it’s been a long time since I read it) who mentored her throughout her life. It’s a fabulous book!
As for your first paragraph in that same post, I don’t understand what you’re saying. I didn’t do much better with the second paragraph, but it may just be me. Thanks for addressing some of my questions. Sorry I couldn’t follow….
Apologies for not communicating those ideas very well. One example might be that one might support women’s right to choose when it comes to an unwanted pregnancy but the same person may not encourage a friend to have an abortion who is conflicted about it. I support the freedom of assembly but I do not encourage individuals to gather at Planned Parenthood to protest. I support the rights of women to have woman-friendly maternity care but if a woman wants a high intervention care provider, she can make that choice. It is our job to give individuals the information they need to make smart choices and give policy makers the right information to make good laws.
I am curious, are these ideas controversial to the feminist movement?
And thank you for the book rec!
Cynthia – Got it! Thanks for taking the time to repost. It sounds like you’re a proponent of giving people the information and tools they need in order to make informed decisions for themselves. I, for one, don’t see how this conflicts with the ideals of feminism (whatever those may be!). Sounds like empowerment, personal freedom, etc. And, you’re welcome for the book rec. (Ms. Edelman has been a role model for me since I was quite young. After slogging through grad school a second time around, the highlight of the two years of bs was to have Ms. Edelman be the keynote speaker at graduation! It made the time in school and all the student loan payments worth it!)
Cynthia C
Conundrum:
IF we agree that information/education and empowerment is a goal and is one that is compatable with being a feminist,
then…
how do we reconcile those women who we could presume to be sufficiently informed (assumption) who then freely decided to support Obama, who we have somewhat castigated as being “faux feminists” or some other derogatory term?
Hm.
Hm is right. Why have “we” done this again? Sounds contrary to the goals of the group. Reconciliation sounds nice… It is happening everywhere, women coming back together with hopes for the future. Doesn’t seem to be unrealistic. But I am new to the blog and stubbornly optimistic…. Please post a link for me to understand what each group wants to hear from the other so reconciliation can happen. I am ready to build some bridges!
Feminists are women who don’t attack other women in a sexist way. Feminists are not misogynists and they are not sexist. Once you are a sexist or a misogynist you are no longer a Feminist. Very simple. But simply not being a misogynist or sexist does not make you a Feminist.
A Feminist is first not sexist/misogynist and would never join in sexist bashing or support it even tangently. A Feminist first does not hate women. So if there were criteria for Feminist it would look like this:
1. Not sexist
2. Supports women’s equality everywhere.
2.
This discussion is going where I hoped it would go, namely, toward considering how we, as individuals, define our feminism, and how we define others’ feminism, and where contradictions between these two positions arise.
And there are plenty, right? I can see some in this very thread.
As Cynthia says, why have “we” done this again?
I’m curious about the beliefs and assumptions and ideologies that we roll up into our definition of feminism, and how those intersect with others’ definition of feminism, and how they clash, and whether that means we have some different beliefs, or if it means we’re feminists and they’re not, or vice versa.
Interesting discussion so far. I’m thinking of some follow-up post possibilities. Thanks.
Dawn
I’ll look forward to your f/u thread. One thing about blogs that’s frustrating is they keep rolling and then drop off. It feels very flash-in-the-pan and makes it hard to truly get into something. Blog rolls reflect our sound bit, short attention span culture, in my view. So, I hope we can carry this discussion forward.
We all have our places, get use to them and stop trying to change things. There is no shame to being a mother and housewife because it shows that you put your family over own self intrest, if you are a feminist then you put yourself before your family and are selfish and wrongful in nature. The only reason that the womens’ rights movement of the 1960-70?s took off is because of a Marxis influince that was hell bent on destroying classical Western Civilization. They started off at the Frankfurt School in Germany (look it up). They came to America from Germany to exscape the Nazi movement of the 30?s. They relized that the working man would never revolt because capitalist life was too good so they decided to insite their ideas onto the women and minorities to make up for this lack of a revolutionary force. They then came here to the campi of America (starting at Columbus University in New York, New York) Here they brainwashed the youth into feeling as if they were opressed in society and that they needed to revolt to get what they wanted (unbeknownst of what their puppet masters wanted, to distroy western civ.)
-if you are a feminest then you are helping the maxist take down classic western culture and if you don’t believe me then go to youtube and type in “the history of political correctness” and be ready to learn the historical truths that are little to known in the modern world.
I feel that a feminist stands up for equal rights under the law. This idea started with the suffragette movement and the right to vote. The subsequent push for equal pay for equal work and the push for more representation at the level of congressional, judicial, state and local governments are the forefront of a feminist’s work. The devaluation of women in the media constantly barrages us. We must work to break down the media spin on our minds, our children’s minds and create better self-esteem values to glean from. We need strong women with strong values about a future of equality to look towards. Less focus on how we look and what we wear; but on our minds, our hearts, and our value will be our strength.
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