Question about Feminism Please Help

[lillygator]

I have to say my view on the word "feminist" is quite the same as the mystery machine poster.

Feminism as listed in Webster's New World dictionary means "the movement to win political, economic and social equality for women". To me, a feminist would be right up front not letting anyone hold the door for her which she marches through and demands to be heard. That is not me.

Do I believe women should have equal pay as men, yes. Do I believe women should be allowed to do the same things men do, sure but I wouldn't want to do most of those things.

I took a Women's Study course in college and it too turned me off. It was all women and the entire semester they put down all the childhood stories I love for women wanting to be rescued and "depending" on a man. The professors were partners - and really pushing women, women, women. It was basically a man bashing session for these women. I actually spoke out a few times and said that I do like men holding doors for me, rescuing me and things like that...you should have seen the face of the two women teachers.

So I think my view on the word feminist was shaped by that class and also the "feminist" women I have encountered in my life. They all seem to have one thing in common....



That said, I love being a women...I love being feminine and girly...you couldn't get me to be a man for anything!

Vanessa - 30

 

[snoopy]

Judi, 42, yes I do consider myself a feminist. I'm not the the strident, bra-burning, man-hating image the media portrayed of the feminists of the 60's and 70's, but I am very interested in women's rights, particularly women's reproductive rights. When I hear things like women in other parts of the country who cannot get their birth control prescriptions filled by their "pro-life" pharmacists, I think of myself as a rabid feminist, yes. I also feel it when I deal with the "good old boy" network that still exists in corporate America, which nowdays often includes women who are in positions of authority but can't deal with the threat of a similarly-competent woman -- the threat of having another woman on their turf, I guess. I feel a strong connection to the word feminist when I hear about something as serious as a woman who is sexually assaulted or as trivial as a woman shopping for a car and being dismissed or told to come back with her husband. I feel it hugely when I see my SIL has dressed her young girls up like little ho's and then in turn watching them grow up with such fragile self esteem that is so closely tied to how they look. These sort of issues that still exist today make me realize that while we have come a long way, we still have a way to go.

 

[Crankyshank]

I have to say I've taken several women's studies classes, including anthropology of women, and it's never been about man bashing. Instead it's been about raising awareness of the plight of women from a historical pov and a global one. We talked about female genital circumcision, women in Africa, women in Bosnia, women in the middle East, etc...

 

[meandtheguys2]

Age 46, and I don't really consider myself a feminist per se. I'm more of a humanist (respect and regard for both men and women).

I agree with this statement. I do believe that by nature or nurture, men and women tend to have different strengths and weaknesses, but none of these are higher or lower on the spectrum of respect.

 

[mtemm]

I'm Morgan and am 38 and absolutely I do.

I'm also a SAHM, wear a bra, and I love men. But I do believe that women should be politically, economically, and socially equal to men. Do I think we are? Not quite.

I like the term humanist.

 

[mom2rb]

Yes, I am a feminist. I am 34, I work part time, and I home school my kids. I feel women should be treated the same as men. Right now I stay home more because DH's job pays better. If that were to change then I would work full time while he stayed home.

 

[F1Julie]

I'm 28 and consider myself a feminist. I think women have the right to do whatever they want to do whether it be a SAHM, a stripper, a fighter pilot, a teacher or whatever else. The one thing I didn't like about Women's Studies courses in school was that the fundamental idea was that all women are oppressed. I definitely don't buy into that. Some women are oppressed, but I don't think anyone can make a blanket statement like that.

 

[rcyannacci]

Christin, 34, and yes I am a feminist and gladly call myself one.

I call myself a feminist because I feel it is an honor to stand behind the tradition of feminist who came before me and fought to give me the rights I now hold. Women risked a lot in the past...they called themselves feminists when it meant they could be physically harmed...so I'm not worried as much about "negative connotations."

I am a feminist because I believe passionately in ideas of social justice and equality. I'm realistic enough to know that the world isn't perfect and power systems are not equal, so I try hard to focus on my local environments where I've occasionally experienced acts of justice and equality and know it to be right.

I don't call myself a feminist for myself...to get something I haven't gotten. I am strong, confident, and fairly charming (when I want to be ), so I'll get by. But I worry about other people who haven't had the advantages I've had.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Laura, 41

Definitely NOT a feminist--I hate the term and all it represents.

I do believe in equality--but as someone else said, it has to be true equality--none of this "same pay for different jobs" or a different set of standards for a female cop vs. a male one. I also think a lot of feminists have little or no use for men, except to bash them. I like men. Sometimes they can be jerks, but my DH is a pretty decent guy, as are most guys I know.

I have a degree in electrical engineering, out-earned my DH the entire time I worked, was a volunteer firefighter/EMT for 10 years. In these areas, I've seen problems with the feminists. Girls were encouraged to go into engineering becasue they were smart, NOT because they had any interest or aptitude. When they failed, all women look bad.

I also completely disagree that feminism is so supportive of abortion rights. I believe abortion should be legal, but feminists are a one note song. Should we not all be valuing life as precious? Is it so wrong to regret ending a life for the convenience of the mother? But feminists are all about the mom's rights, they don't speak for the baby's. Surely that could include the mom making wiser choices prior to conception? Not saying all abortions could have been prevented, some can't, some are necessary--that's why I'm pro-choice. But feminists say little to nothing about reproductive choices pre-conception, and are stridently defensive of abortion at any time up until delivery. That, to me, is an indefensible position. Sorry, sisters, count me out.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Melissa, 31, yes I am a feminist. I believe that the term femanist has been ruined by extremists, but that happens to all groups by extremists. I work in a male-dominated industry and a male-dominated organization. I am working hard to break through a barrier, and so far I am making it. What I do not like, is that I am a strong-willed female and so others in the office consider me a witch. If a man acted the same way, they wouldn't even blink an eye.

I believe in equal rights, equal pay, and equal opportunities. I also believe that part of feminism is still being a woman. I do like doors being opened for me, but I will open the door for people of either gender. I worry about young ladies who are being fed by the media what an "ideal" woman should be. I think it is extremely important that women should be mentors to younger women. I also think that it is time that women be supportive of each other, instead of all the backbiting that I see.

I do love men, I do not think we should excel at their expense. One of the things I am most saddened about is father's rights in divorces.

 

[Rafiki Rafiki Rafiki]

According to Dictionary.com:

fem·i·nism ( P ) Pronunciation Key (fm-nzm) n.
1. Belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.
2. The movement organized around this belief.

Based on this definition, I do believe in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes...so YES to part 1.

Part 2 of the definition is considerably more difficult to classify. I do not take part in any movements to advance the social, political and economic equality of the sexes. However, I have to share a quote from you by Wendell Phillips (circa 1850).

"Eternal vigilance is price of liberty." Without feminists, this country might suffer from a lack of equal rights for women. Without African-American activists, this country might be somewhat more racist. Without groups like MADD, there may be more drunk drivers getting away with murder.

Without DISers, there may be more people who bash Disney.

You see, feminists play an important role in our society. I just don't step out of my comfort zone to speak out for women's rights.

 

[Snowy]

I didn't want the other posts to influence my response.

I've always considered myself a feminist because I believe in social, political and economic equality between the sexes. (and no, I didn't look in the dictionary)

Joy, 36.

 

[MsLeFever]

Hi! I'm Barbara, I'm 41 and I'm a feminist.

I believe in equality of the sexes. And I believe in a celebration of all things female! I think doctors need to pay more attention to women's health - our heart attacks don't look like men's heart attacks for example.

And teaching in a communications field I'm very interested in the different way that women can communicate and lead. We need to not make ourselves into men but discover what unique things about being women we can use to make an impact.

 

[EthansMom]

Teresa, 32

I probably am a feminist, but don't consider myself to be one because when I think "Feminist", I think of the radicals, a la Gloria Steinham, and I don't identify myself with radicalism.

BTW, I was an Engineer in the Aerospace industry for seven years before deciding to be a SAHM. I left a very male-dominated profession for a more traditional role. But I did so not because I HAD to do so, as much because I wanted to. I think feminism has done a lot to pave the road for modern women to have the choices and opportunities that they enjoy.

 

[jodifla]

Jodi, 44, and definitely a feminist.

As with any group, there will be people who hijack the intent; in this case, turning the movement into a man bashingforum instead of advancing the rights of women.

But I think it's disingenuous to say "I'm for equal rights, but I'm not a feminist." Why do you think women's role in the world today is so much inproved? Because those feminists of 50 and more years ago who stood up for those of us today.

I remember vividly a father speaking at our sorority's parent's weekend in the early 1980s. A lawyer, he recounted how he and all the other males would shuffle their feet in the law library whenever a woman entered the room, to prevent her from studying. How is that for harassment? And guess what field his daughters went into? That's right...they are lawyers. And he was plenty appalled at his behaviour now, but until women stood up the the status quo, he thought what he was doing was fine.

 

[robinb]

"Feminism is the radical notion that women are people."

I'm 44 years old, a SAHM and you bet your butt I am a feminist.

 

[scrump]

Yes, feminist here. 30.

To me, it just means equal rights and equal treatment. That's all.

I, too, went to a women's college, and far from the men-bashing, self-pitying reputation they seem to have, it was an incredibly empowering experience. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Once you get into ideologies, politics and "movements" it gets fractionalized, so I just try and stick with the most basic definition.

 

[chaoscent]

Penny, 57, Ph.D. in education & I consider myself pro-choice (but would not have an abortion); and I consider myself a feminist.
I have read all of the responses and was quite impressed by the answers. A lot of them made me think about why I would consider myself a feminist. I grew up with a Mom who worked because she had to. She didn't have a high school education so the jobs that were available to "women only" were limited. When my dad was home (he was a merchant marine and was gone most of the time) he did the dishes, made meals and generally did what needed to be done if my mom was working or sleeping. My brother was expected to do the chores my sister & I did. He wasn't allowed to iron, because he was so bad at it. However, he turned out to be a pretty good cook and is the only one of 23 grandchildren who can make my grandmom's signature dish, haluskis. So, as I used to tell my ex-husband, I was a feminist before the word became main stream. I didn't want my husband to "help" me, I wanted him to take the responsibility my dad took, and do chores that needed doing. He never got that concept. If we both live in the house and we both work, we both take care of the house. For me it is that simple. & I am fortunate to now have a DH who feels the same way I do.
I agree with a previous poster who said -
The definition of feminism, for me, means equal pay for equal work, non-sex-based discriminatory hiring/promotion practices, equal educational opportunities, equal respect for contributions made as a SAHM or work-outside-the-home mom, and equal respect for intelligence, common sense and ability to assess situations and make the appropriate judgements.
& the poster who said ..... I do believe that by nature or nurture, men and women tend to have different strengths and weaknesses, but none of these are higher or lower on the spectrum of respect.
& lastly I agree that women should not get jobs, just because they are women. They should be able to meet the requirements, and if they can't meet the requirements, they shouldn't get the job.
I aplogize for a long winded answer. Penny

 

[ashjohnson80]

I can always rely on the Dis! Thank you all for your answers and I'm so glad that I got such a wide variety of answers. This is one of the first class assignments that I've enjoyed in a while. Now I need to go and put it together You guys all rock!

 

[delilah]

I think I am a feminist, and I think that the term means something different to me now than it did twenty seven years ago, when I was starting graduate school, and then medical school. I believe that feminism was more militant at the time I was in college. I identified feminism at the time with the young women at my university who heckled the construction workers on campus because they would make comments to the female students as they passed. I did not identify with them. On the other hand, in the way I have conducted my life since then, I have to say I am a feminist. My graduate degree was in physical chemistry, and there are many fewer female physical chemists than male. I started my medical training at a time when less than 33% of medical students, and less than 20% of practicing physicians are women. Now, I think the percentage is 50%, if not higher, and many specialties have a majority of women. I was one of the first women physicians in my community, and one of the first to practice full time. While women physicians are still a minority, they are approaching 1/3 of the total. At the time I started, there was one female family physician, one female pediatrician, and one female ER physician. Now, there are 10 family physician, 3 or 4 ER physicians, 4 pediatricians, two dermatologists, 1 surgeon, and one ob-gyn on our hospital staff who are female. Quite a change, and I am glad to count myself as one of the pioneers. The attitude of women my age as compared to younger women, too, is interesting. People my age had to be tougher, and didn't take anything for granted. When I started out, there was no maternity leave for women doctors. If you didn't work, you didn't get paid, and you still owed for overhead. Things sure are different, now, and really over a relatively short time (I have been in practice 14 years).