I too am a feminist and religious, in a sense that I believe in God, even though I am not part of organized religion ( because of that, I’ve been described as ‘spiritual’ by friends).
I certainly consider myself a feminist. I define it as believing in equal rights for women. Yup, I agree with that.
I do think the definitions got muddied with the rise of “feminist literary theory” and “feminist cultural criticism” in the 70s and 80s. I can assure you my literary theory professors in the 1980s would forcefully assert, about me, that I am NOT a feminist when, say, I read Henry James. I definitely don’t meet their definition of feminist.
My book club read Lean In, and everyone agreed (of course) that Sheryl Sandberg was a feminist. But then a vocal contingent of our group argued that she wasn’t a “true feminist” or a “good feminist” because she was at the top of the capitalist heap and not concerned with class oppression, etc. If you define “feminist” – as many academics do – as applying a Marxist-based feminist theory critique in thinking about the world, then you exclude many, many people (people who are in favor of equal rights for women) from the definition of “feminist.”
I think this definitional disparity is why some accomplished, educated women said (seemingly shockingly!) that they were not “feminists.” Especially in the 80s and 90s when feminist theory was such a dominant and boring method of literary critique in academic literature departments around the country.
The problem is when women want to be equal to men, but only when it’s convenient. I think most people today (including myself) support the feminist ideology, but in practice, many staunch feminist supporters tend to cherry pick areas of equality…
Regardless of inconsistent execution, I think feminism is a great thing.
^^^Example?
By equal to men, I think it’s fine to be drafted among other things.
I don’t think women should be drafted because I don’t think ANYONE should be drafted. The draft should be completely abolished for both men and women.
I think upon high school graduation that everyone should be required to do service, and they should be encouraged to do it before they are 30. One year in the military or two years in an Americorps type program.
I disagree. No one should be required to do compulsory service in any respect IMO. In theory, it doesn’t sound bad. In reality, it can be an incredible burden.
I’m not yet 30 but I can’t imagine when would’ve been (or would be) a good time to just take a year off from my life to “do service.” Financially, my family and I couldn’t take that kind of income hit (not to mention the other support that I provided them with like helping them get to and from doctors, etc) and I was never in a position where I didn’t know what I wanted to do with the next stage of my life.
Fwiw, my jobs in UG were service-type jobs. I worked for America Reads/America Counts and then held a job nearly identical to an Americorps member at the shelter where I worked. But both of these were done while I was still attending school.
As for military? No thanks. I lost my BIL in the military and see the emotional and physical scars it left on most other members of my family. It is great for people that want that life, but it should never, ever be forced.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
In the US, there is no draft, nor has there been since 1973, nor is there discussion of reinstating it. Discussion of such is OT and veering political. Stitch gears, please.
IF there were a draft though, I would be fine with it being equal for men and women.
i agree with expectations of community service being equal for men and women. It would do this country good to have less insularity, and a broader perspective of what it means to live in the US.
Back in the day, the feminist movement was a real threat to the status quo. At that time there were roles assumed, as well as privilege on both sides, in addition to stereotyping and subjugation. So much of what was held true in those days regarding gender roles has been turned on it’s head by the feminist movement. To call oneself not feminist these days, while living and taking advantage of all the changes that have been made to societal roles and women’s rights since the 1970s, seems a little historically blinded.
Talk to women just a little older than me, and the only career choices were teacher, nurse and secretary. How far we have come! If you are not a feminist, do you want women to return to those role limitations?
But maybe the definition of feminist has changed since that time. If so, what is a newer definition?
@ 51,
Great post but one way to look at it is the fight is over so it is time to put down one’s arms. As you pointed out in your post, women are now able to enter whatever profession they choose and are qualified for. So why not just call oneself a humanist? I understand completely why powerful, successful women, like SJP, are happy with calling themselves a humanist. I have a harder time seeing how generic issues like employment opportunities, educational opportunities, violence, etc., etc. are female or male issues.
On the other hand, I know a few folks who went to the middle east recently where woman can’t be seen in public not accompanied by a man and things like that. I would imagine there is a real need for a feminist movement over there because they are being subjugated. But in the USA? Now? I’m not seeing anything to burn a bra about.
Maybe nothing to burn a bra about, but there are many female/male issues of equality, of family responsibility or the lack, to discuss, to work out both societally and inter personally. Recent attacks on Planned Parenthood, as mentioned in a debate just last night, are a direct affront to reproductive rights, a basic value of the feminist movement. The issues continue to evolve.
The attacks on PP relate to video tapes allegedly showing PP doing something illegal with body parts. That isn’t a male or female issue and for what it is worth I got accosted at a dinner party about PP “selling babies body parts” before I had even heard about it and when I didn’t have an opinion I was accused of watching too many liberal TV news shows.
That was fun.
But back on topic, all you have to do is advocate and vote. One party will support a woman’s right to get an abortion since it is a woman’s body and the other party will tell you we should make getting an abortion illegal to protect the unborn human’s life. Get involved, I am sure you are, educate people, discuss the issue with friends, neighbors, family and co-workers, not at work, where appropriate, and decide which party will do what you feel is right.
I think the feminist movement “won.” The war is over. Many issues? I don’t se many issues.
I dont know how to word this so it doesnt set off a political duscussion, but as equal pay for equal work seems to me to be a civil rights issue, rather than a political position, perhaps discussion can go ahead.
- See more at: http://www.civilrights.org/archives/2015/1516-paycheck-fairness.html#sthash.rtxCyIpg.dpuf
http://democrats.edworkforce.house.gov/paycheck-fairness-act
I agree with gonoles that is unfathomable that inequality is still so pervasive.
I don’t think it’s over by a long shot. Societal expectations and pressures on women are still there, although much improved. And before you say men face expectations too, they do, except their pressures and expectations are a heck of a lot more substantive, rather than superficial.
How to get men up for some bra burning!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/rickysans/men-wore-bras-for-a-week-and-said-everything-we-were-thinkin#.hk8Qodw7d
Oh sad, bra burning was apparently a myth.
http://www.snopes.com/history/american/burnbra.asp
I’ve always considered myself to be both. It’s possible, and imo, preferable, :).
How about this issue? [Women earned on average $0.78 to every $1 earned by men in 2013 (78%) for annual earnings.](http://www.catalyst.org/knowledge/womens-earnings-and-income)
Or this one? [Women currently hold 23 (4.6%) of CEO positions at S&P 500 companies.](http://www.catalyst.org/knowledge/women-ceos-sp-500)
Or this one? [The Ten Scariest Places in America to Have Lady Parts](The Ten Scariest Places to Have Ladyparts in America)
Or the fact that just a couple of months ago – yes, in the year 2015 – a Nobel Prize winning male scientist said this of “girls” (meaning adult professional females): [“three things happen when they are in the lab … You fall in love with them, they fall in love with you and when you criticize them, they cry.”](http://time.com/3915617/women-science-tim-hunt-nobel-sexist/)