Tuesday, 20 March 2012
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Feminism? Oh the shame.
I recently had a seminar on feminism in which the tutor asked the group if anyone was a feminist. Only one girl put their hand up, and that wasn't me. Why didn't I? Because I wasn't really sure what it meant to be a feminist, and I was aware of the social stigma attached to giving yourself that label - I don't want people to see me as a hairy, bra-burning lesbian now do I?
Silly, right?
It's not just me that shared these misunderstandings, after I actually learnt about feminism I watched a video on YouTube in which a famous feminist, Naomi Wolf, discusses feminism today.(it's here if you like). In the comments section was an ongoing debate, because over half of the viewers of that video seemed violently opposed to feminism, because they believed it to be anti-male; sexist the other way. This is the most liked comment on the video:
"You can go ahead and support feminism.. or you can support humanism, two very different things. I personally do not encourage gender favouritism."
Here's the massive mistake "I personally do not encourage gender favouritism" : Bingo! that makes you a feminist! And a masculinist, really. Because feminism is not about hating men, it's about hating the oppression of woman by men. It's about wanting equality between sexes, with both having the same expectations and representations and opportunities. If men had been oppressed for centuries (until about 1980), then i'd be a masculinist instead!
So, here's the big idea, anyone that believes in equality between sexes, is a feminist. So really, i'd hope, that all woman are in fact feminists.And men too. You haven't got to be a braless, ball-busting career woman, you just have to believe that you should have all the same choices that men have. Even if that means the choice to stay at home and look after your kids.
I am a feminist. I hope you are too.
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Comments (11)
It really is a shame that this stereotype is attached to feminism, but it exists because some feminist's go too far in their battle for equality and end up stripping men of their rights. As a feminist I'll fight for both genders.
Lol at the idea that women were the only ones who got the shaft in history.
All humanists are feminists, but not all feminists are humanists. Amirite?
Great post! I'm definitely a feminist.
Then why it is feminism? Men do get oppressed during historical times, but ignored until today. In current days, women oppresses men too. Also, men gets less choice than women in some areas. These are why I am not a feminist in the past, present and future.
Bravo at knowing what it really means.
The word is EQUALITY.
I did a post on the same topic today...curious. Sadly, most people have NO IDEA what feminism is...they just know that want no PART of it. Sad.
*sigh* I don't believe in equality between sexes less of all genders. But then I was born in the complete wrong Era.
It's actually shown in a recent study that there are more male feminists than female.
I'm so tired of the "but men got oppressed" too bologna that I might just declare myself a "Feminist" since young people today don't seem to understand the difference between men oppressing women forever, and men in this century not wanting to be "men" as defined by other men. They can't seem to grasp the difference between a woman having no choices in her own life at all and men having to fight in wars. Silliness. Makes me sad for women because men have just flipped it all upside down just to regain control over women, but in a different fashion.
@QuantumStorm - You're right about the humanists thing, there are some feminists who maybe don't fully understand the label they've attached themselves to and take it too far the other way. And yeah, men have been oppressed in History, everyone has really, at some point. Feminism's just dealing with 1 of these things, but as was the civil rights movement etc, you don't have to belong to just 1.
@Ellelarien - I want to say that's pretty cool, but then I realised it means that there are few women who are feminists.
@TiredSoVeryTired - Haha you've got a great point, the 'men have been oppressed too' argument could be seen as another way to oppress women, by oppressing their fight for equality. It's like the bad representation of feminism in the media that has caused the bad image it has, could be seen as another male act of oppression.
@Dirigible_Plums - Yeah, but I tend to disagree that feminism is about equality of the sexes if it only focuses on the issues and problems of one sex. Egalitarians and gender equalists who focus on issues that BOTH sexes (and others that fall outside the gender binary) face, in my opinion, are more deserving of that definition.
I think the definition that states feminism is about the advocacy for the welfare of women, is more accurate.
@Dirigible_Plums - We all know there are social constructs that are unfair to men... they are male nurses, not nurses; they can't cry; they can't be raped by women; etc. etc. None of that has to do with the fight of a feminist. Women still don't get equal pay, that is a fight of the feminist. Considering women couldn't vote until the 20th Century across the globe, and the U.S. Congress isn't half women... women still have some ways to go!
I have two boys. I have raised them to be who they are rather than force them into gender stereotypes with the exception of what I consider etiquette. They were allowed to play with dolls when they wanted. But I've taught them some of the rules of chivalry... open a door for a woman. At the same time, I've taught my daughter to properly respect and appreciate when a guy opens the door for her.
It's sad that feminism has been declared anti-man by anyone. Because at it's core, it really isn't when you look at what women gained... like the right to sign a contract without a man signing too.