Twenty something blogger, Sarah (aka Sarahbration) sparked quite a conversation on 20sb (20something bloggers network) all surrounding one word … feminist. The original question was quite simple and to the point:
International Women’s Day got me thinking about feminism and how few people in our generation seem to identify themselves as feminists. I’m curious to hear what other 20-somethings think.
Three days later and 9 pages of debating back and forth I’m left with some interesting insight and answers to questions that I’d never even thought about.
Sarah sets the tone with her initial blog post stating she is definitely a feminist “I’m not sure when I became aware of the f word, but it must have been fairly early on, because for as long as I can remember, I took for granted that the majority of people would say they were feminists. I mean, come on, who doesn’t believe women and men should be given equal rights and respect?”.
The discussion begins with L.L saying she can’t call herself a feminist because it’s an ugly (hijacked) word. “I’m all about equality, for everyone. All colours, all sexes, all religions. However – to me, feminism has gone from calling for equality for women, to wanting women to be viewed as superior. I don’t feel that is right.”
So essentially this raises the question what does feminist mean? How can you call yourself something if we can’t come to terms with what the word even means. Here’s a few of the distinctions offered by the 20sb community:
- I think feminism just means that women want the right to be any kind of woman that they want to be… Which I’m 100% on board with. – Muppet
- I think feminism is a hoax. “Lipstick” feminism, above all, is a contradiction in terms. I think men and women are created equal, but I usually disagree with most feminists on all of their politics. So many feminists want reparations for gender roles, they decide to make themselves into victims. Today’s feminists AREN’T fighting for my right to vote or… much else that really applies to me. THOSE first wave feminists didn’t just complain, they did way more than that. THIS wave of feminists is more of the sex and the city set – we have a right to be sexy, but we still talk about needing a man even though we think we’re independent.– Kat
- I’m a feminist. If I choose to wear lipstick it doesn’t make me not a feminist. If I wear my hair in french braids, or wear diamond earrings, or get a tattoo of a slice of pizza on my forearm, or wear a leather jacket, I’m still a feminist. Feminism is about choice… so anybody who wants to wear lipstick can, in my opinion. – Lisa
- Yes. I am a feminist. I don’t hate men, I love my boyfriend, I love when he takes me on dates, and I want to get married and have children some day. I shave my armpits and legs and all that good stuff. But…when I go to work, I want the guy working along side of me with the exact same level of education and experience to make the same amount of money as I do and I want to be respected in public and the work place. Feminist has become such a dirty word, it’s all about equality! – Bethany
- Some women of color choose not to associate themselves as a feminist but instead choose the term “womanist”. They feel feminism doesn’t speak to them or include them in the movement. As a women of color, I consider myself a feminist because I believe in equal rights. I’m sorry, but the basic definition of feminism, as Lisa has pointed out, is about equality and I believe WOC “womanists” are feminists too. – floreta
- I think the joy of feminism is giving women, of all races, creeds and backgrounds, the chance to have the same opportunities and consideration given to them that men have. Feminism is about giving women the power to determine what they want to do, and supporting them in those decisions. – Elle Belle
Lisa, changed the direction of the discussion, through a metaphor about Christianity saying that even though there are people giving Christianity a bad name people are still standing by that term and the term feminist should be no different.
I read all 9 pages in one sitting and the discussion spun off in many interesting directions including: fathers rights in family court, maternity leave, the value of jobs historically held by women, gender discrepancy in the military, and decreasing BMIs of playmates. In the end, whenever I’m reading or listening to anything, I’m always looking for my take-a-way. I often ask my friends, at the end of movies, church and even conversations “what’s your biggest take away?”. I would say that in the whole discussion mine are:
- “… feminism in no way means that we should shy away from or scoff at the value of traditional women’s roles. It simply means we don’t have to and aren’t expected to adhere to them if we don’t want to just like men shouldn’t have to follow the guidelines of traditional men’s roles.” – Sarah
- And this statement which can apply to many areas of life “when you’re not extreme – PEOPLE LISTEN TO YOU. They don’t write you off automatically. We’re definitely getting things done when we argue vocally with reason, passion, and grace. No screaming here. Usually. :)” – Ashley Marie
So my next question is … “so what? now what?” – maybe it’s the marketer in me but I’m looking for a call-to-action in all of this. I’m curious with all of the passion, research and energy that I saw displayed in this discussion what actual steps (if any) can/should/would someone take because of the information that has been so gracefully hashed out in the past few days via an informal forum. If before the election someone had asked “do you call yourself a Republican?” and a nine page discussion broke out at the end I would feel compelled to go vote – that’s my very clear action.
Thanks for adding to the discussion! I think you’ve done a great job of summing up some of the main points here.
Your excellent question gave me even more food for thought and I’ve left a (rather lengthy-sorry) response to it on the thread if you’re interested.
yes, very good summary! I’ve been really impressed by the way people have been expressing themselves, even those that I strongly disagree with!
This is a fabulous summary, Elysa! I agree with what Sarah said in response to your call to action (I was actually thinking the same question last night before bed). A lot of these issues are so complex that merely talking about them and attempting to shed the dirty connotations to the word “feminism” are good steps. There are many organizations that women who are interested can get involved in, be it a local women’s shelter, or Equal Voice, a national group (here in Canada anyway) that works to promote women in politics.
Thanks for the summary. I, too, found this discussion way late at night and had to stop in because this topic is so close to heart. Being in the field of feminist psychology, we battle with these very issues on a daily basis – are we effectively empowering women? Are we placing them in a militant box? Are we disempowering men? What kind of a message are we sending to the future generation? Etc. In our field, it’s really about challenging some of the underlying theory by including women into the equation and hopefully helping create more competent psychologists who would be properly equipped in working with anyone. Anyway. Good luck!
What an interesting discussion. I do consider myself a feminist, but I also agree that it is a “hijacked” term. But it’s been hijacked by others, not by feminists themselves. Feminist is seen as such a negative label now, when all we ask for is equality and choices. But people see feminists as crazy or radical people who want women to be superior, when that’s not what it’s about at all.
I read the whole thing in one sitting too, and it’s sparked a thought process in my head for sure. Your summary is excellent. Thanks!
It’s often that a small subset of any group becomes the representative identity of the group. With feminists, it has somehow been contorted into in vitro-fertilized “power-dyke” lesbians that don’t need men to survive with short hair and an in-your-face approach to womens’ rights. How did this ridiculous minority hijack the term feminist?
Anyway, it seems that calling yourself a feminist or not, male or female – everyone generally wants equal rights for men and women and for race and religion as well. Okay, so that makes our generation different from older generations and other cultures that firmly believe that women are inferior to men, etc.
Until our generation starts filling the seats high in power in businesses and government, we won’t see a drastic change. The boomers are set in their ways…
So call me a feminist or not, I know what is morally right, and that’s what I’ll follow.
I think Nisha is correct when she says, “I do consider myself a feminist, but I also agree that it is a ‘hijacked’ term. But it’s been hijacked by others, not by feminists themselves.” When people start talking about feminists as man-haters, militant lesbians, people who refuse to shave their legs, people who hate sex, women who want to be men, women who want women to be superior, or any of these other negative stereotypes of feminists, I always have to ask, “Where do all of these negative stereotypes come from? And why, among many of these (such as lesbians or people who don’t shave), are the views so negative anyhow?”
The term feminism has absolutely been hijacked, but it has been hijacked primarily by conservative factions who have an investment in maintaining the status quo, and therefore suppressing any movements that threaten the status quo. The feminist movement is certainly viewed as a threat. By pointing to a few radical examples of feminists as all that is “wrong” with the feminist movement and by demonizing women who merely ask for equality in the home, in the workplace, in our relationships, and just in general, some conservatives hope to turn the feminist movement into a laughingstock or a source of ridicule so that fewer people will take up its causes.
I continue to call myself a feminist because for me it means equality, and I continue to stick up for the term because I hate to see any word that has meant so much good for so many people turned into a dirty word by those who would wish to go back to the way things were before.
I think that one cannot call themselves a feminist and yet not believe in feminism. Feminism is the very basis of equality and liberation from oppression.
wow! This might be hypocritical or controversial of me to say, but I believe that the issue of feminism is highly controversial solely for the reason that it’s all in how someone wants to view the word.
I think believing in equal rights for men and women doesn’t necessarily make you a feminist. I believe there’s the Webster’s dictionary version and the version of how we view the word. Sadly, in this day and age I believe it’s all boiled down to opinion and viewpoints.
I agree: It’s like calling yourself a Republican,Democrat,etc. why do you have to clearly decide and also….why do we all have to label anyways?! That’s something I struggle with as a teacher, NO MATTER WHAT AGE I TEACH; students labeling themselves and each other.
Can we please step outside labels and just express our viewpoints?
You believe in equal rights for men and women?! Alright!! :o)
Why do we have to label the person feminist or anti-feminist?
lol obviously not only do I view labels negatively, but I also view feminists negatively, haha oops!!
I’m impressed. Great style of writing!
Interesting discussion.
Does the “feel free to ignore me for the next 2 hours” approach really work? I have a tendency to pay attention when someone tells me to ignore something. :-P
I agree: It’s like calling yourself a Republican,Democrat,etc. why do you have to clearly decide and also….why do we all have to label anyways?! That’s something I struggle with as a teacher, NO MATTER WHAT AGE I TEACH; students labeling themselves and each other.
Can we please step outside labels and just express our viewpoints?
You believe in equal rights for men and women?! Alright!! :o)
Why do we have to label the person feminist or anti-feminist?
lol obviously not only do I view labels negatively, but I also view feminists negatively, haha oops!!
I have heard so much about this awesome conference via twitter and blogs lately. While I’m just an aspiring marketing professional, I feel like I really missed out. Was this only for professional marketing / social media people in the industry or was it open to anyone?
I LOVE THIS POST!
may i ask what issues do feminists as a whole actually unite upon
may i ask what issues do feminists as a whole actually unite upon