Feminism/Feminist

[dirtyblacksummer]

Then I would say that a feminist is one who defines a woman as something more than a life-support system for a cunt.

Or any warm female orifice.

 

[B_subgirrl]

For me feminism is about equality and the right to make choices.

I have to admit though, while I recognise that someone has to do the fighting in order to achieve equality, in the general scheme of things I just can't get emotional about feminism. I am thankful for the efforts feminists have gone to to achieve what has been achieved so far. I know in a logical kind of way that it is important. I just can't get excited about it. And radical feminists tend to make my eyes roll. Although again, I have to recognise that without radical feminists we wouldn't be where we are today.

 

[B_subgirrl]

Whenever I heard the word, I used to think of someone who might believe that men tend to lack manners and scruples, while women are somehow morally and socially superior.

Having learned that it's mostly about equal rights for women, I now see that I was way off base.

What I don't understand, is why we should use the term "feminism" when referring to the belief that all people should be granted equal rights. Shouldn't we refer to it as "equalism", or some kind of nuetral term? The word feminism, by itself, seems to imply that it favors women. This does not seem to jive with the notion of equality.

Equalism IS actually my preferred term AG. I always tell a radical feminist that I know from uni that I'm not a feminist, but I am an equalist.

 

[Drifterwood]

It means I can appreciate men and women for who they are and not pay attention to anyone who mistakes archaic social norms for biological differences. The differences should be enjoyed not feared, disdained, or misinterpreted to be something they're not.

I would agree.

 

[alwaysguessing]

Equalism IS actually my preferred term AG. I always tell a radical feminist that I know from uni that I'm not a feminist, but I am an equalist.

Well aren't you quite the progressive little thinker. :biggrin1:

I knew I liked you for a reason. :smile:

"radical feminist" is quite an interesting term. What is meant by that? It seems paradoxical because a feminist strives for equality, and equality is basically the opposite of radical.

 

[sassy Lisa]

OH WOW, I haven't laugh this hard since I watched a good comedian. Truthfully I just finish a course about philosophy and socialogy and find this discussion so amusing.

Thanks for the laugh.

 

[eyescream]

Equal opportunities to women.

No, being a feminist doesn't mean we don't appreciate a guy holding the door for us.

 

[alwaysguessing]

OH WOW, I haven't laugh this hard since I watched a good comedian. Truthfully I just finish a course about philosophy and socialogy and find this discussion so amusing.

Thanks for the laugh.

Do you have anything relevant to add, or did you just want to insult us all and brag about your limited education?

 

[B_subgirrl]

Well aren't you quite the progressive little thinker. :biggrin1:

I knew I liked you for a reason. :smile:

Thanks :biggrin1:

"radical feminist" is quite an interesting term. What is meant by that? It seems paradoxical because a feminist strives for equality, and equality is basically the opposite of radical.

It usually refers to those who are very into feminism, and see just about everything as being anti-female. They think there are DRAMATIC differences still in the rights and realities of the two genders. If anyone has a different take on radical feminism please feel free to correct me :smile:.

The woman I know at uni is a lovely lady. We actually get along quite well. But when she starts going all feminist my eyes hit the top of my head. For instance, we all know that women tend to earn less than men and that there are fewer women than men in full time work. She thinks this is entirely the fault of the patriarchy and doesn't see that to some extent these numbers are affected by choices made by individual women. Well, she does see that but she of course thinks that the women make the choices they have been socialised into making. So it all comes down to the patriarchy again. Grrrr.

 

[Patchos]

i think as humans we have to define a lot things. i find this very strange. i dont think one should call themself a feminist but more of a human activist trying to make the world a better place for all humans. it doesnt matter if you are just focusing on women rights in your community because you are still trying to make the world equal for all. also can a man be a feminist?! or cant he because he has a penis :S just my thoughts

Feminism (where "feminism" means sex equality) cannot be subsumed by humanism (where "humanism" means equality for all humans): because the majority of humans still don't understand why calling Hilary Clinton a cunt and a whore is sexist.

M McEwan

 

[Patchos]

It usually refers to those who are very into feminism, and see just about everything as being anti-female. They think there are DRAMATIC differences still in the rights and realities of the two genders. If anyone has a different take on radical feminism please feel free to correct me :smile:.

The woman I know at uni is a lovely lady. We actually get along quite well. But when she starts going all feminist my eyes hit the top of my head. For instance, we all know that women tend to earn less than men and that there are fewer women than men in full time work. She thinks this is entirely the fault of the patriarchy and doesn't see that to some extent these numbers are affected by choices made by individual women. Well, she does see that but she of course thinks that the women make the choices they have been socialised into making. So it all comes down to the patriarchy again. Grrrr.

I agree with this woman, your uni friend, 100%.

 

[Catchoftheday]

Feminism is a marketing tool for selling books and stuff, don't buy it.

 

[wallyj84]

Feminism for me, is the fight for the equal rights of women. There's nothing wrong with it, and it's something that I support.

The only negative thought I have about feminism is that it seems to mainly be focused on benefiting white-middle-class woman and in a way ignores minorities. This has been a complaint against feminism, in the US at least, since Sojourner Truth gave her, "Aint I a woman?" speech.

 

[B_subgirrl]

I agree with this woman, your uni friend, 100%.

Personally, I think that women are actually quite intelligent beings, and quite capable of stepping away from socialisation, given just a little education. For me the socialisation thing suggests that people (or women) don't have brains of their own. Hence the eye rolling. But each to their own :smile:. I can see my uni friend's point, and think that it does have some impact, but it isn't the whole story by any means.

I think it's good that there are women like you and my uni friend. You are the kind of people who get things changed because you believe strongly enough.

 

[cherychoper]

I believe one of the most important "feminist" writers, Simone de Beauvoir states the case very well:
"One is not born a woman, one becomes one!"

 

[helgaleena]

Feminism for me, is the fight for the equal rights of women. There's nothing wrong with it, and it's something that I support.

The only negative thought I have about feminism is that it seems to mainly be focused on benefiting white-middle-class woman and in a way ignores minorities. This has been a complaint against feminism, in the US at least, since Sojourner Truth gave her, "Aint I a woman?" speech.

Wally, I find myself agreeing with you! It's amazing, because it happens so seldom...

The USA's feminism is distinctly limited in effectiveness by its refusal to learn about the plight of women everywhere, as well as the better lot of women in other nations. Look now how Australia has a female head of state long before us. The first female president of Finland was elected 100 years ago...

And certainly in the Muslim world there are very bad situations for females, to the point where they are little more than human livestock.

 

[B_subgirrl]

The USA's feminism is distinctly limited in effectiveness by its refusal to learn about the plight of women everywhere, as well as the better lot of women in other nations. Look now how Australia has a female head of state long before us.

I don't know if you could say 'long before'. After all, we only just got our first female PM, and your next president may be a female (who knows?). Also, she kind of snuck in the back door. If labour had had her as their leader during the last election we may have ended up stuck with bloody John Howard for another term.

Still - we did get there first :tongue:

 

[helgaleena]

If Sarah Palin is the sort of female that gets put forward by the parties as they stand, we should not rush into anything.

 

[sbat]

If Sarah Palin is the sort of female that gets put forward by the parties as they stand, we should not rush into anything.

So you're only a feminist if the woman meets your standards of intellect?

 

[dolfette]

So you're only a feminist if the woman meets your standards of intellect?

i think she was picked because she was young, sexy, female and right wing.
if i'm right, if she was just picked because of that then that's against feminism...i'm sure there were better qualified women, with better knowledge and intellect, who didn't look as good in a skirt and would present too much of a challenge to the men playing puppeteer behind her.

while she was mayor women in her town were made to pay for there own rape tests.
Palin's town charged women for rape exams - CNN.com
just because she's female, doesn't mean she's good for feminism.