Question about Feminism Please Help

[scrump]

My second post, just an observation. I've noticed a lot more female posters than men. My definition of "feminism" is actually gender-neutral. In fact, one of the deal breakers for me when I got married was that I could never marry anybody who didn't consider themselves a feminist (based on my very broad definition of equal treatment/equal rights). I know quite a few men, my DH included, who consider themselves feminists.

 

[dmslush]

I'm 33, AS in Social Work, BS in Sociology (with a minor in Psychology) and a feminist.

My job is in a domestic violence shelter, so 99% of my days are spend trying to help women fight oppression of all kinds, physical, mental, sexual, etc.. I make calls, write letters and knock on doors to help change laws in order to give women more equal rights.


But, I do think the term brings to mind stereotypes. I have long pretty hair, wear makeup, let my SO hold the door open for me. I don't think that women have to be hard and emotionless in order to expect equal rights.

 

[ElizK]

Well, I would consider myself to be, but there other people that call themselves feminists that would say I am not.

I believe there should be no discrimination based on sex, they should be able to do all the same things a man does, and with equal access and equal pay. I don't think a woman that chooses to be a SAHM is any less a feminist than one who is an executive, as long as it was her choice to do so. However, I have a religious belief that the husband is the head of the household (without going into too much detail, that DOES NOT mean that the husband orders the wife around or is superior, just that he is the spiritual leader), and that belief will cause most feminists to tell me I am not one.

Excellent answer. Me, too.

 

[snoopy]

But, I do think the term brings to mind stereotypes. I have long pretty hair, wear makeup, let my SO hold the door open for me. I don't think that women have to be hard and emotionless in order to expect equal rights.

I think feminism has come a long way in this regard. One of my older cousins told me the story years ago about joining a feminist group in the early 70s at Berkley. Several members of the group flat out told her they didn't think she was a really a feminist because she was pretty and wore makeup. She joined the group but did feel she had to prove herself because of the way she looked. She stuck with it though, and is still an ardent feminist. She's had a tremendous influence on creating feminists in our family...I always looked up to her and really believe the women of her generation paved the way for the rest of us. For those of us on the cusp of the baby boom and younger, we got to reap the rewards of all the hard work our foremothers paved. I'm sure those women were more blatantly "in your face" with their feminism because they had to be, they were oppressed unlike anything us younger women have really ever known.

 

[KarenC]

Karen, age 46.

Yes, I consider myself a feminist. I support the notion of all people, men or women, having the opportunity to choose to do what they think is best for them and their family.