Question Are you a feminist?

[Kelsey]

Okay, all of you who are saying "I'm not a feminist, but I believe in equal rights?" You're contradicting yourself. The definition of a feminist is, and I quote, "the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men," so if you claim to believe in equal rights for the sexes, then as much as you may want to deny it, that makes you a feminist by default. It just makes me angry that so many people are hesitant to refer to themselves as feminists because they're so commonly portrayed as radical advocators of female superiority in the media...it's kind of like how a lot of people seem to think that Christians are all hate mongers who want to kill all of the gays just because they're the most vocal ones (and that's coming from an agnostic who was raised Jewish).

With that said, yes, I am absolutely a feminist (although "humanist" seems more accurate because I advocate equal rights for everyone, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, etc.), and that doesn't mean I can't shave my legs or show off my boobs or drool over attractive men. It means that I'd like to retain my rights and don't want to be treated as a second-class citizen just because my parts don't stick out.

Whoa, calm down! I don't think anyone's trying to say, "I'm not a feminist because I'm not crazy!" Personally, I don't openly protest for female rights. As a woman I believe in them, obviously, but to me, that doesn't exactly make me a feminist because I'm not out there pushing for more rights or equality. Which now makes me feel like a slacker. But still, that's not what I would label myself because it's not a cause I've dedicated a lot of time to.

I agree with you though, about being an advocate for human rights in general. I very firmly believe that no one should be told how to live. Not women, not men, not homosexuals, not people of different races--nobody. And everyone should have equal rights, regardless.

 

[Buffyverse Fan]

I'm not. Any feminist that I have personally been in contact with has basically put forward the belief that being a strong female is NOT about achieving equality with men but instead in proving that women are better than men. I actually get really angry about this. I feel like this is a horrible representation of women and an even worse interpretation of what a strong woman is supposed to be.

I am a Male Feminist.

Kean, I think the people you've encountered are more extremists than true feminists. Personally (and I'm sure I'll get jumped on for saying this), I think Joss has more than occasionally fallen into that category of extremism in regards to Women's Rights and Gay Rights.

I believe in blanket equality. I am staunchly opposed to any claim of inherent superiority which we see from all sides.

 

[Kelsey]

Personally (and I'm sure I'll get jumped on for saying this), I think Joss has more than occasionally fallen into that category of extremism in regards to Women's Rights and Gay Rights.

I actually agree. I might get jumped on this, too, but I feel that at times, Joss made Buffy the abuser rather than the abused, and often objectified men rather than women. He tended to make his men weaker in order to make his women stronger, in my opinion. Not all the time, certainly, but there were definite instances.

But I won't say anymore on that, since it's not the topic.

 

[Washburne]

Feminism has a common problem. It doesn't mean the same to everyone. We make ou own conclusion from our own expereience as Kean from the feminists she's met. Which is very natural but makes it difficult to discuss. Not all christians think homosexuality is wrong or what Haiti only have themselves to blame for the disaster coming their way, not all muslims are terrorists, not all americans are gun loving crazies (some are even gun loving sane people 😉) and not all feminist is about putting men down. A small group of people destroys a reputation. I don't know everything about feminism but as CF I don't see the connection between shaving or not shaving and being a feminist. I'm all for equality for everyone but as I see it being a feminist is a part of that. In my eyes it doesn't exclude other things. I could put lots and lots of labels on myself and feminist is one of them.

 

[thevikingsgirl]

I'm a childbirth educator, and you can't be involved in this field (unless you're a hospital-paid educator) and not be a feminist. I don't see how that would even be possible. The abuses women suffer when pregnant and giving birth are CRAZY and most women don't even realize that the things being done to them are unnecessary at best, harmful or even dangerous at worst. Things like court-ordered c-sections and bed rest are a big part of my personal pro-choice stance, since the two affect each other. If anyone thinks men and women are treated equally, they can start researching the medical field and then get back to me! Specifically, anything involving reproduction.

 

[Washburne]

I forgot one thing. About men being stronger in general than women. Feminism is about being treated equally not being identical (or I've missed some very important information). If a job involves heavy lifting a women shouldn't be denied because she is a woman. All men isn't stronger than women. Take firemen (or firewoman if you prefer) for example. You need to go through tests to become one since you need to be able to handle certain things. It shouldn't be about gender (and I hope it isn't but I don't know the industry well enough). If you can handle what is asked of you there shouldn't be anything that stands in your way. And if you can't handle it it can't matter if you're a man or women. Being denied because you're a women is however wrong.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

I think Joss has more than occasionally fallen into that category of extremism in regards to Women's Rights and Gay Rights.

I don't think it's possible to be too extreme in the quest for equal rights... short of violence or trampling on the rights of others.

Where advocates cross the line is when they adopt a Supremacist attitude ("women are inherently better than men") or a blanket us-vs.-them stance ("all men are pigs", "all straights are bigots").

Militancy is the problem. Nobody is required to be a victim, but turning onesself from a victim into an oppressor is never the way to go. That puts one right on the doorstep of terrorism and makes one the problem rather than the solution.

 

[Professor Walsh]

I don't think it's possible to be too extreme in the quest for equal rights... short of violence or trampling on the rights of others.

That's excactly what some people do. Sometimes I see people who seem to use the mathematical "Negative x Negative = Positive" in their moral life by trying to turn the offended into the offender.

 

[Buffyverse Fan]

I don't think it's possible to be too extreme in the quest for equal rights... short of violence or trampling on the rights of others.

Where advocates cross the line is when they adopt a Supremacist attitude ("women are inherently better than men") or a blanket us-vs.-them stance ("all men are pigs", "all straights are bigots").

Militancy is the problem. Nobody is required to be a victim, but turning onesself from a victim into an oppressor is never the way to go. That puts one right on the doorstep of terrorism and makes one the problem rather than the solution.

...which is what I said in the following sentence... which you clipped out of the quote... 😉

 

[Professor Walsh]

I wish I didn't feel a need for feminism. I wish gender didn't matter. I am not trying to say that gender differences don't exist, I'm just so sick of the limitation these differences are allowed to put on us. We are individuals first; the separation into genders is secondary to this.

I get annoyed no end that buying a "Star Wars" pyjama or a "Cars" t-shirt to a girl is cool, even if they were solidly placed in the boys' part of the the store, whereas the clothes strewn with Tinkerbell or My little Ponies are strictly girls only. There should be no need to comfort a four-year-old because he's been told that he can't wear purple shoes. It's a colour for goodness sake.

Gah. I'm CrankyMom today.

 

[guitargirl]

I definitely am..

I had never really thought about it until a little over a year ago when my [ex]friend mentioned it. I stand up for myself & other women when we're put down. There are a few extremely open sexist boys at my school, & I have a lot to say to them..just little things that might earn a bit of respect.

I experience discrimination because of my sex every day. I'm the lead guitarist in my school's rock band. The boys are intimidated by me, I guess, & try to make me look bad. They try to 'steal' my solos. Last year one told me, "You probably won't play lead on the Led Zeppelin tribute concert." I'm all about proving people wrong, & showing the boys that I can rock as hard as them. I ended up playing all of the lead in that concert. Then there's this showoff freshman this year who thinks he's the shit, but he's so one dimensional. Of course, everyone practically worships him because he's a boy..

/rant.

I should stop because I get really angry with the discrimination of women in rock music. xD