I've been thinking a lot about feminism lately. Next quarter my students will be reading several chapters from Feminism and Art History: Questioning the Litany, and I've been reading that book in preparation for class. And then this evening my friend ixoj's post (and the linked article) made me think about my own stance in relation to feminism. Am I am feminist? I definitely am interested in feminist and gender issues, especially when it comes to art history. But I also know that my interest in feminism is largely because I studied underneath two dedicated feminist art historians. So I understand feminist theory and think it's fascinating. But does understanding and liking feminist theory make me a feminist too?
Don't get me wrong - I definitely don't think that there is anything wrong with being labeled a feminist, and I'm not trying to evade a label for myself if its appropriate. I'm just trying to classify myself. Sometimes I think that I'm not really a feminist, but rather a product of the 21st century. I think a lot of people within my generation accept gender equality, even expect gender equality. In this sense, I think that the term "feminism" seems a little passé and dated.
I think feminist issues become rather sticky in terms of Mormonism and Mormon culture. For example, would I be considered a feminist because I work outside of the home? But I'm not working in order to make a statement about gender equality (at least, not consciously). I work because I like to work. So does liking to work make me a feminist? I don't think so, but perhaps the people who see the breadwinner role as inherently male would disagree. But since I think other women should work if they want to, does that make me a feminist? Perhaps?
I don't want to delve into all the sticky issues of Mormonism and feminism. Although some aspects are interesting to me, there are some major issues that I don't really care about (e.g. I have no interest in holding the priesthood. So maybe I'm not a feminist?). But J brought up a good point tonight: I don't make decisions based on feminism, but a lot of the things that I think (and do) are common among feminists. Hmm. So maybe I'm a feminist groupie.
How would you classify yourself? Are you a feminist? Why do you (or don't you) label yourself as one?
P.S. I hoped to link a great "Are You a Feminist?" quiz to this post, but I only found two lame quizzes (see here and here). Some of the questions are so dumb, that I couldn't finish taking either quiz. But some of the other questions are rather amusing. It's worth taking a look, even if you don't take the quizzes.
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9 comments:
I think a lot of people within my generation accept gender equality, even expect gender equality. In this sense, I think that the term "feminism" seems a little passé and dated.
So maybe you are a post-feminist?
I'd say that, if you were my age, you would be at least somewhat feminist for not questioning that it's okay to work outside the home and like it, (wondering what that labels you aside). The effect of time makes that battle for the right to do so less obvious and confers less pride in saying "I CAN!" (Ignoring, for the moment, the question of whether there is power in saying "I MUST!")
This is a really tiny toenail of a gigantic discourse, of course. Ideally, in my worldview anyway, feminism is just the label we give to equal treatment regardless of gender. Am I a ~feminist~ because I think gender shouldn't matter when I apply for a job/house/loan/sports team? Or am I just fair-minded? If I say "it's NOT fair that more CEO/Judge/Head-of-surgery/Dean/Senator-types aren't women!" does my emphatic belief that these things are imbalanced between genders (and races, and abilities) make me feminist/er, ethnic-pridist/pro-disabilities-ist??
Clearly the labels themselves are complicated. If I were a Methodist or a Maoist, I think I'd know what defined me as such. There isn't a feminist church, political party, or broad credo. So in this way ~you~ get to decide where the borders of feminism/non-feminism lie and then self-determine which sides of those boundaries you inhabit.
(PS - bet you KNEW I couldn't resist responding to this one...Love you!)
Did you know you can create your own questionair on blogspot. perhaps you can too on blogger.
I don't like the word femenist. It has negative conotation for me and I that that Jon's oppinion of it being out dated is correct.
While I think some work outside the home is ok, I do not however think a woman with 5 kids, one with down syndrome, a teen with a baby should be running for vice president. She has her hands full enough! And no success can compensate for failure in the home!
I think the term has become too broad to be useful. I don't have a problem classifying myself as a feminist in the basic sense that I believe in gender equality, and a lot of feminists would say that if you believe that, then you are a feminist too.
However, I think the label is problematic because of how many people assume that if you believe in that premise, then you will of course support specific lifestyle choices or public policies that you may or may not agree are fundamental to the promotion of gender equality.
I'm not sure if it would be better to embrace the label in an attempt to reappropriate/rehabilitate the term, or to use a new term like post-feminist. I think many self-professed feminists would say there is no such thing as a post-feminist, since the goals of gender equality have (you could argue) never been achieved. Then again, if you think about feminism as a series of historical moments, maybe you could be considered "third-wave"? Or "fourth-wave" maybe?
I've also been thinking about this a lot lately (maybe I should call you up and we can chat about it).
I also don't want the priesthood (because I'm waiting for our own "power;" I want my own!), but more than anything else, I think that more discussion and feminist-thinking women in the world results in a better place for women, especially in the church. So even if there are too many zealots out there, hearing their opinions could help soften things for women. (I suppose it could also have the opposite affect, but let's not think about that).
I've kind of created my own version of feminism, so much so that I almost never think of the feminist movement of the 70s when I say I'm a feminist...maybe "post-feminist" IS what we should call ourselves.
What I hate is the negative connotation that the world has towards the word "feminist". I hate that women -- often in conservative areas such as Utah -- will make sure to let the world know they aren't such a thing thank you very much despite the fact that their core belief system and way of life makes them one to at least a degree.
This makes me quite sad because there are so many different levels and variants of being a feminist. Like you said, it can really be summed up as a manner of gender equality and believing that women have the right to choose their path. I think if more women understood the meaning behind the term AND could let go of some of the preconceived notions associated with it (or, perhaps, some of the examples of women who have been not so shining examples of being a feminist), they'd realize that most women, in this period of time, probably meet at least some part of the definition.
To me, it's about equality. It's not that men and women have to do every literal thing the other is doing; it's about them being equal. Equal in their ability to choose. Equal in their ability to fulfill goals and ambitions. Equal to be different -- but at least they have the choice to do so. Women of the past didn't have that choice.
I'm actually really thrilled you wrote this post. I've been thinking about it for a very long time actually. Do you know the blog "C Jane"? I've never been a strong follower of it because (and I mean no offense to anyone who likes her) she represents and talks about a lot of things that I don't particularly like about Provo-LDS culture. Anyway, one time I read a post she wrote about why she ISN'T a feminist and completely rejected the idea of ever being one. The entire time I read it, I wondered why she couldn't see that her entire post (and all her previous posts) proved that she is, in fact, a feminist. It just really bothered me because it (seemed to me) that it was more of a case of not being labeled a feminist merely because the word has a bad connotation to her readers. I actually was going to write a post on it myself to argue all the points why she is one, but I figured I should just keep my mouth shut. :P
As always, thanks for the comments. I especially love Jaime's idea of being a "third wave" or "fourth wave" feminist (as if we're in a war against gender inequality and female subjugation! WOOT!). Really, I think that label is a little more inclusive than "post-feminist," but still differentiates between today and the early feminist movements. I also like what Jaime said about feminism and political/ideological stances. I think it's true that the word "feminism" can pigeonhole someone into certain stances or ideas that he/she may not endorse. In that sense, the term can be problematic. Perhaps that's why it's problematic for me.
And Rebekah has a good point: there isn't a feminist credo. I can pick and choose how I define feminism, as long as my definition fits within the interests of gender equality and, well, women.
e and ixoj, I like what you said about the negative connotations of "feminism." I think that gender equality (and whatever changes still need to happen in that arena) will move forward if people don't get hung up on any negative connotation associated with "feminism." Let's be honest: some of the early feminists (I'm thinking of some in the 70s and 80s) were a little whiny and foot stomp-y. But really, in a way, all of their complaining did some good. After all, they brought attention to their cause, didn't they?
And yeah, e, I've read C Jane's blog before. But I quit reading it after a while, because her posts bothered me too much. I'm glad I never came across her feminist post - that would have really riled me up!
I like Jon's idea of post-feminism and I think your point that the term feminism at this time is outdated is correct.
On the other hand, I feel like feminism is still the "F-word" within the Church. But then again, the Church does seem to be a few decades behind in a lot of ways.
My friend wrote an interesting post about "Motherhood Feminism" here: http://www.caferock.org/blogentry.php?blogid=5&entryid=535
Though I think you could just refer to it as "Mother Rights"
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