WRONG.
- Do you believe that women should have equal access to educational opportunities as the men?
- Do you believe that women should have the right to vote?
- Do you believe that women should receive equal pay for an equal amount of work performed as the men?
- Do you believe that men and women should be treated with respect and dignity?
- Do you believe that women's voices need to be heard with regards to political, economic and social issues, alongside the men's?
- Do you believe that men and women should NEVER be raped? That under no circumstances is rape ever permissible?
If you answered "yes" to all the above (that's right, ALL of them. If you said "no" to even one, I don't think we can be friends), guess what?
You
are
a
FEMINIST!!!
Notice how the Oxford English Dictionary (2014) defines feminism: the advocacy of equality of the sexes and the establishment of the political, social, and economic rights of the female sex; the movement associated with this.
"Really?! That's not true. I believe in all those but I don't agree with much of what feminists write on Facebook/ twitter/ other forms of social media," you say.
Such a misunderstanding on feminism stems from how people perceive feminism and feminists. I wrote a post on my other blog back in December 2012, explaining that people usually think of feminists as this:
The truth is, feminists are really like this:
There is a spectrum of feminism that ranges from conservative to liberal. Feminists will disagree with each other over the definitions of "equality," the methods of obtaining equality, and the limits of equality.
Thus, liberal feminists will push more boundaries than conservative or moderate feminists are comfortable doing. They tend to be more vocal and will agitate for greater change. Liberal feminism also dominated the Second Wave Feminist Movement of the 1970s in the United States, and continues to do so in contemporary times. This is why most popular articles and talks by American feminists today fall on the more liberal side of the spectrum, and is part of the reason why people simply lump all feminists together. At the end of the day, whatever side of the feminist spectrum you are on, feminists are all trying in their own way and through own method to do one thing: improve the status of women.
There are many women and men who are feminists, but who simply don't agree with or only agree with parts of the dominate discourse of liberal feminists. I'm one of them. I'm a more moderate-conservative feminist.
Which is why I decided to start this blog. I got tired of reading feminists articles that spoke to me 80%, but left me feeling uncomfortable with the remaining 20%. I got tired of hearing current feminist discourse that claimed to speak on behalf of all feminists, but really ignored the voices of conservative feminists.
On the other hand, I also got tired of defending feminism to my family and friends who think I'm some sort of radical hippie that is going to start revolting against authority. I got tired of receiving dirty looks and hurtful remarks for proudly proclaiming that I'm a feminist. And I got tired of hearing my more conservative friends deride feminism as an evil that needs to be eradicated.
In short, I got tired and fed up, and need an outlet where I can simply refer everyone to what I mean by feminism.
So this is what my blog is about. It's about MY OWN UNIQUE TYPE OF FEMINISM. It's mine. No one else. I don't speak for anyone else or even for any side of the feminists spectrum. This is
My Kind of Feminism.
So settle down and please check back regularly. I will be writing posts and sharing articles/ videos that I love as often as possible. You may not agree with all I say, but I do hope that overall, you will enjoy reading this blog.
I think it's Western feminists who have given the word a negative connotation. So far your other posts have been about women in other countries, and I'm pretty sure everyone who's not some wackadoo racist/sexist agrees that what goes on with women (and children) in third-world and war-raged countries is absolutely horrific and must stop. I think that's why people don't associate advocating basic human rights for those women as feminism.
ReplyDeleteAs for Western feminism, I agree that there are different ranges. I consider myself both a feminist and "traditionalist" and don't find that conflicting at all. I wrote about this from a gospel perspective on my LDS blog, how Elder Oaks said "equal" does not mean "same." For example, "equal" would be equal opportunities for voting, working, getting an education, and sharing our thoughts and perspectives (something I've come to be passionate about since giving birth). "Same" is how women act like men and shed their feminity. In that respect, I think Western liberal feminists are hypocritical and exclusive. I thought feminism is about embracing womanhood, whether you work OR stay at home, are single OR married, are childless OR have children, are liberal OR conservative, are atheist OR religious. I thought it's about saying womanhood is equal to manhood, not womanhood shoud be manhood. That's where I draw the line. I want women to be respected for being women, not for trying to be men.
I also believe men should be respected for being men. Our society has destroyed manhood. We equate being a man with obsessing over sex, alcohol, electronics, and sports. We have turned men either into jerks who abuse us, weaklings who cater to our every whim, or boys who never grow up. Manhood is about being morally strong, courageous, selfless, loving, kind, humble, and obedient to God. It is being a leader and example at home and at work. We need each other and our unique qualities. Let's stop competing with each other and instead work together!
Looking forward to more posts! Love you, Keesh!