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by lady fuschia on August 28th, 2006
Ooh tough one!
I think a lot of women are very frightened of using the term because its got a lot of stigma attached to it. Its a bit like socialism in a way, because the world has seen so much abuse of the concepts attached to it, it sees the concept itself as something inherently harmful.
Following the extreme seperatist feminism of the '70's (who in my opinion turned feminism into nothing more than an inversion of male chauvenism, and who were as oppressive to women as the patriachal society ever was/is- often calling a woman a traitor for sleeping with men, or wearing make up) "feminist" has become a popular insult used by some men to throw at opinionated women, no matter what their arguments might be. Its easier to throw someone who disagrees with you into a pile of simiarly "nutty" philosophies (Neo-Nazi, commie, feminist) than actually deal with the arguments themselves.
Incidently I was accused of being a militant feminist on Answerbag recently- the only evidence for which I could find was my suggestion that someone claiming that men were better drivers than women ought really to provide some basis for the claim. (Hardly Valerie Solanos territory) A prime example.
The result is that a lot of women have become scared that by labelling themselves as feminist that they risk being tarred with the same brush as the bra-burning radical lesbian seperatists of the seventies. Thus I think whilst there are still as many feminists as there ever were, a lot of them shy away from the use of the term.
Its a shame really- perhaps the most famous feminist, Germaine Greer, writes in "The Female Eunusch" that "feminism is about anyone's right to be who they want to be." - a million miles from the popular image of a feminist in many people's minds which is more along the lines of:
"If you don't behave in the way we think you should then you are either a traitor or a victim of the patriachal system."
Radical feminism has no real place for men, or for women who like men, or for women who choose to stay home and look after kids, or for girls ho like to wear high heels, or anyone who doesn't fit a very rigid criteria - and thus I think many modern girls who believe in political, legal and social equality between the sexes tend to prefer not to use the word.
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by Answerbag Staff on December 12th, 2009
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Ladies, why don't you all unite and fight to overthrow that tyrannical warlord known as male chauvinism?
by Andy B has left AB on October 13th, 2011
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Would you allow your mate to walk nude on very busy street in your city all for the 'sake of art?'
by LuvBurt on September 22nd, 2011
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Have you ever "lol'd" at a woman wearing a "This is what a Feminist looks like" shirt because she fits the stereotype so well?
by A shout without knowledge is a protest on August 9th, 2011
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Is the new transformers film sexist?
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Comments
Wow, really well thought out answer!
by Carmella on August 28th, 2006
Lady Fuschia, you always have such great answers! I like your Solanos reference. :) I originally posted this question as a trick to see what anti-feminist stuff would come out...but I love your answer.
by AB-BrazenGirl on August 28th, 2006
Well, I'll facilitate you nicely re "anti-feminist stuff", Brazen Girl!
What an apparently 'apt' name - especially, re the feminism spoken of.
I am not at all afraid to stand against feminism and all that it destroyed or meant, for I have studied very very incisively, the Absolute destruction of society, family, & the slow destruction of jobs and the Western Economies of the world via its vices!
I have an absolutely Burning conviction of its falseness and inept inconsistent premises, and how for most women, it has turned to their own destruction and that of their families.
It has also taken jobs from the world - Badly!!
But that's Just another story.
So I was compelled to write a book re the same in 1992!
Of course, because it was unheeded, we ALL suffer even more greatly ever since!!
by denidowi on May 18th, 2008
Okay. Feel free to disagree all you like. I hope you enjoy your time here on Answerbag.
by AB-BrazenGirl on May 19th, 2008
Thank you for your sentiments, Brazen Girl.
I hope to enjoy myself.
May I say the same for you.
Nevertheless, One day, be it in this life or the next, you will verily know just how powerfully true my words shall ring on this subject.
by denidowi on May 20th, 2008