Comments on: Feminism Is Still A Dirty Word

By: alana

alana — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:39:26 +0000

The problem, for me at least, is that we distance ourselves from the people we don’t agree with instead of trying to create any kind of dialog. Of course some feminists are ass hats. Some people are ass hats. But instead of shying away from the word “feminist” because of that, I think we would do better to be vocal about our differences and remind people that not every feminist thinks the same way. By doing so we would welcome more people into the fold who initially felt excluded because of their views on a certain subject. At least that’s how I feel about it.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:37:44 +0000

I could not agree more with this post, you have literally hut the nail on the head perfectly. Well done.

By: Tessier Ashpoole

Tessier Ashpoole — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:37:08 +0000

I am male. I am not a feminist. I am not a misogynist. I believe in equal rights, not pushing one gender/race/religion/orientation's agenda over another. Therein lies the problem with so many labeled groups….they pursue a self-serving agenda, not equality. Certainly a notable percentage of the members of said groups want equality, but the zealots that inevitably end up running the show serve only to destroy the group's credibility. Hell, the same could be said of our two major political parties.

By: Another Suburban Mom

Another Suburban Mom — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:10:35 +0000

I am a feminist. I am also feminine. They are not exclusive concepts and I wish people would stop seeing it as such.

By: Realiti

Realiti — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:19:07 +0000

Great Post!!!

By: champagneandbenzedrine

champagneandbenzedrine — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:55:27 +0000

Great post, Brit – but GaGa's not the problem. It's the minority of feminists – or, the 'so-called' feminists – who perpetuate the ridiculous 'feminist' dogma that earns the whole feminist movement its much derided reputation.

Much like the far right and the idiot left, movements are often condemned by the actions and beliefs of their most extreme members.

By: WannabeVirginia W.

WannabeVirginia W. — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:24:15 +0000

This is a constant struggle for me, because I use to identify as a feminist. I rallied for the cause, I wrote to advocate for equality until I really examined what was happening around me. The women that identify themselves as feminist are the ones that judge other women mercilessly and oppress other women shamelessly. I am very much disillusioned and heartbroken. The first and second wave of feminism was the catalyst for some of the doors that have opened for women and I find myself facing women who shut these doors that have been opened by the trail blazers. I would not want to be called a feminist not because of the societal misconceptions, but I am ashamed to be called one because of the other women that pass judgment and oppress other women. Call me a humanist instead.

By: alana

alana — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:15:54 +0000

We suffer from the same problem with the term “pro-life.” More and more people claim to be pro-life even they’re actually pro-choice. It baffles the mind and it’s something that needs to be taken seriously.

And to be fair, in a recent interview Lady Gaga embraced the term “feminist.” It’s just sad that there’s this learning curve we all have to go through in which we accept that feminism is not a bad thing. I used to shy away from the word myself and I’ve even read comments here where people (who, from what I can see, are actually feminists themselves) paint feminism in a negative light. It sucks, but this is something that can definitely be changed (remember how horrible being a “liberal” was just a few years ago?).

By: voyeur36

voyeur36 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:23:34 +0000

I must be a feminist as well. I think women have the right to do what they want with their bodies and not be judged for it. When people applaud a guy for sleeping around but castigate a woman for doing the same is just one example.

By: Sexy Sixty

Sexy Sixty — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:39:28 +0000

'Feminist,' like so many other words becomes a label that evokes a number of images in the mind of the person hearing the term applied to another person. And like so many other labels, the associated perceptions may have some basis in reality, but will inevitably begin to erode as you apply the label to any specific person and then get to know that person.

Personally, I have no negative connotations for the label 'feminist.' I would say virtually all of my closest female friends would use that label for themselves if asked. My mother was a front-line fighter for the Equal Rights Amendment in NYS back in the early 80's and my sister has been almost militant in her positions. So maybe my experiences with the label and with the people so-labeled are not ordinary. Perhaps having emerged from the late 60's age of hippies and fighting the establishment, I have a different perspective.

To me, the issue is that many value laden words, such as 'feminist' (and I could probably create a long list of similar labels), are merely used as code to promote misconceptions, lies, and hatred.