I am absolutely, 100% a feminist of the Third-Wave variety, and yes, I'm sure. The more I learn about the world - about sociology, about economics, history, etc, the more surely secured I am in my position as a feminist.
Reading a lot of the other responses that you've gotten has been somewhat disheartening for me, though. Feminism these days has become a rather dirty word, thanks to the conservative backlash that's attempted to "put women in their place" through media and economics. It's disheartening because of the level of antipathy I see towards all women because so many men seem to feel threatened by feminism.
To be sure, many feminists themselves have given the movement a bad name - but those are individuals who do not represent the larger movement, which was instigated by real oppression and inequlity. In my opinion, no true feminist would ever devalue men just because they are men. No true feminist would ever engage in outright man-bashing. Men are human beings, and very valuable members of society, just like women are - and despite what many men seem to think, feminists are NOT out to feminize men or make them submissive to us. As a gender that has been historically oppressed, what would we gain by oppressing others, except to perpetuate a vicious cycle?
I realize that many men feel displaced by the feminist movement and just don't know what to make of it, or new gender relations. For so long, masculinity has been equated to dominance and breadwinning. One of the major shortcomings (among many) of feminism in the past is that it failed to recognize that the proscribed Image of "normal" masculinity needs to be re-evaluated in the face of the changing image of femininity. If women are bringing in their own income and are therefore allowed the same leverage as men, it's understandable that men would feel displaced given that their perceived "power" (dominance in the household as a result of womens' economic dependence on them) has been made obsolete. But the problem here isn't feminism; it's that while women have re-defined their femininity, men have failed to do the same for themselves regarding their own masculinity (though it seems this is changing).
Another shortcoming of feminism from the past is that it has focused almost exclusively on Western, white, middle- and upper-class women, and their specific brand of oppression. The main issue here being the misnomer that feminism and womens' equal rights was all tied in to their entering the workforce. But women have always worked - in the global capitalist market, women have historically been the lowest-waged laborers. So let me re-phrase that: poor women, who are disproportionately women of color, have always worked. For wages, at least: whoever says that taking care of a household and raising children isn't "work" was seriously addled in the brains. But the feminist movement as we're most familiar with it has been mostly concerned with the middle- and upper-class women. Even today, we upper/middle-class white Western women who both work and raise families are almost entirely dependent on the economic vulnerability of poor women. In my opinion, feminism needs to recognize that as an issue as well. Because if we're going to scream "equality" between genders, we need to be damn sure that we don't mean the equality of some but not others.
So here is my definition of feminism: the belief that women and men should be socially, politically, and economically equal, with the same opportunities as well as repercussions for both sexes, regardless of race or class. If you agree with this statement, you are also a feminist.
The problem is actually achieving this sort of equality, because the vast majority doesn't fully understand what the real problems, that have persisted to this day, are in the first place. And it's a really complex issue that goes far beyond the scope of just gender relations alone.
Thanks for listening to my rant =P
Comments
Since the '70's, feminist has become such a derogetory label or so some would like. Webster's says the definition of feminism is, "one who believes in the political, social and economic equality of women." I would hope that would be everyone in this country.
by shammers still slogging along on January 31st, 2008
I don't believe in picking out only one group for equality. Call me a humanist. I would hope that would be everyone in this country.
by Greenleaf on January 31st, 2008
This has kinda been a gender deal.
by shammers still slogging along on January 31st, 2008
I believe women should be treated the same as men in the workforce. I don't know if they are doing a better job in Europe or Canada, but they probably are doing better. But I wager they are doing worse everywhere else.
As a male physician, I see women MD's all the time. Infact there are more women physicians coming out of medical schools than men.
That may be the most gender neutral profession.
I always try and get a joke in:
Isaac Asimov once gave a talk at a science fiction convention and was asked about women's rights. The woman asked him if he felt all women should be free. He said yes....that he hated it when they charged. (He apparantly got a sore shoulder for the remark)
by james the first on February 1st, 2008
Amusing . . . thanks for sharing!
by shammers still slogging along on February 1st, 2008
I agree. Good answer!
by Franklin on March 14th, 2008