Feminist: It’s Just About the Worst Thing You Could Be
Feminism is in the media, you just have to know where to look to find it and even then, chances are you’re going to have to dig pretty deep through your popular publications to find an even so-so assessment of what feminism truly brings to the table and gives us our due hat-tip for our activism and our relentlessness. Feminist media is all too commonly seen as a niche or is marketed as “special interest,” or there’s the proverbial slap in the face when you see a truly important issue that either affects women or it is deemed acceptable to include the feminist population in a piece and it’s shoved in the style section of the New York Times. When you get through the thick of it, in most cases feminism just isn’t taken seriously by the boy’s club, misogynist media.
Two significant publications that recently put feminism in the media spotlight are A Woman’s Nation Changes Everything, written by Maria Shriver and co-written by the Center for American Progress, and Gail Collins’ When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present. Both of these publications highlight women’s achievements and victories over the past few decades and from the scope of society as a whole, that is all well and good; women have indeed accomplished a great deal securing the rights necessary for women to live long, healthy and happy lives, but there is still a great deal of work to do. When it comes to a major portion of our reproductive rights, well, there are a great deal of anti-choice, woman-shaming and misogynist people who hold significant power and a political agenda that is always trying to take those rights away. In order to claim victory over our own bodies, life choices, career opportunities, salaries and more, feminism needs numbers within the passionate, activist-driven younger community and sadly, because of how misrepresented feminism is in society, there are an astounding amount of women out there who refuse to go near the word ‘feminist.’
As Antonia Zerbisias recently pointed out in an article for Canada’s The Star, feminists are truly seen as hairy-legged, man-hating, social outcasts and even the enemy in the United States. Her assessment of feminists being seen as man-haters and as “feminazis” is really yet another ploy driven by misogynists in power to keep women in their place and I am inclined to agree.
From personal experience, the moment you tell someone that you are a feminist (and it always comes up eventually,) they usually take two steps back, especially if they are male, or will come out with some sarcastic phrasing like “Oh boy, one of those!” or something of that nature. I realized how deep this hatred for feminists goes when I was on Facebook one night and someone I knew when I was around 14 and 15 years old messaged me. We were catching up and the question of what I’m doing these days came up, so of course I rattled off what I do for work and also the fact that I run a liberal and feminist blog. Within seconds I was sent a reply that said “I hate feminists.” I wasn’t too surprised by this reaction, I’ve gotten it a lot, to say the least and I know the ignorance surrounding the concept of feminism and activism very well, but that didn’t stop me from being sad for this person, especially considering that they had just exited the world of college campuses and the feminist activism taking part on college campuses across this country is amazing and is so needed, especially considering just the one issue of violence against women and date rape that so often occurs on college campuses.
But why does this person hate feminists and feminism? Because the media portrays feminism in such a negative light that it is up to us to set the record straight and hope that the people who don’t know too much about what feminism really is and what feminists really do finds our spaces and delves into our words with an open mind because I’m not giving up the personal identity of being a feminist, regardless of how many times someone thinks they are saying something new or something hurtful when they call me a feminazi. I’ve never been a woman who could be “put in my place.”
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Sex-Positivity
I'm passionate about sex-positivity and believe every sexual being should have the freedom to explore their sexuality safely and without condemnation. I even lost my ad network after my refusal to censor myself after reviewing feminist porn.So if you're in the market for sex toys, porn, books, etc. take a look at the retailers below, all of which are feminist-friendly.
Out Campaign
The OUT Campaign allows individuals to let others know they are not alone. It can also be a nice way of opening a conversation and help to demolish the negative stereotypes of atheists. Let the world know that we are not about to go away and that we are not going to allow those that would condemn us to push us into the shadows.
An excellent blog post! The internet would be a better place if people could write as well as you. Keep it up.
I'm glad you specifically mentioned “women shaming,” as I think this is one degree of sexism that is so often overlooked. Girls need to be raised with an awareness of their place in the world, and of their true worth in terms of equality. If more people took this advice, the planet earth would be a much better place to call “home.”
Thanks for another wonderful post. Agreed with P. Veazey, keep writing please!
The “feminist” attitude is soley responsible for the now politically incorrect-ness of women “serving” their husbands (gasp!) when this was really the God-Order of things since the beginning. The feminist movement says, “We are equal” which is misconstrued to say, “We are the same”, when in fact that is a very false statement. Men are men and women are women.
It is the feminist movement that opened the door for rampant “gender-nuetrality” or the confusion of the genders…”I am a girl trapped in a boy's body” Bull. You are a girl with some masculine traits….probably a testosterine imbalance which should be corrected rather than denying your “womanhood.”
Modern Feminists are characterized as Man Haters that want dominance over men. Usually spouting some retarded bit about how Woman are better then men. Usually focusing on Racism or violence.
Modern Feminists are characterized as Man Haters that want dominance over men. Usually spouting some retarded bit about how Woman are better then men. Usually focusing on Racism or violence.
Thanks for this awesome post. Very insightful, and very true! I always try to explain to my friends that people don't like feminists/feminism because of the negative connotations that the media/politics have created surrounding it. However, because they are so entrenched with these negative feelings…they rarely take my word for it, or at least they don't admit it anyway!
Feminism is an age old subject.There is hell lot of truth in the notion that women are a creed of their own, and outwit men. Feminist Literature is an exclusive genre, where men have little say or attitude to match the style and poise of womanly thinking, which is just, compassionate and very fulfilling from the humanist point of view. Men are rather strange, and obscure with the exception of Charles Dickens, and few other classical writers.
If men are thinkers, women are thoughtful.
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Roma
very nice blog, indeed!
I believe that feminist 'outrage' was appropriate until the early 90s, but is indicative of narrow-minded ignorance today. The bottom line is, I don't think that the average feminist treats men any better, nor do I think the average anti-feminist man treat women any worse; therefore, I think it's pointless (and dangerous) to discuss general gender issues within a romantic relationship, unless those discussions are direct and carefully chosen.
Perhaps get into a discussion about legislation in our country or politics. Then maybe bring up the law that says when choosing between people of equal capability for jobs they should choose a person who is a woman or in a racial minority. Her views on this should split up the good and the bad feminists.
Nice article
feminism is a strong word..
interesting post!!
I think with any activism or opposing force, its important not to lose balance. becoming super feminist will indeed be the downfall of what we believe in… i see it happening already as women no longer marry or have kids and cannot find a partner at the age of 40. because we have become workaholics and more male in our behaviour.. thus we have lost somehthing during our finght for equal rights… try and stay balanced girls..
You have a very nice site
Since I’ve been talking about faith and other controversial subjects lately, I thought I’d just put out my thoughts on abortion and see if anybody got crazy either way. Coercive and unethical counselors lie to vulnerable women and pressure them. This has happened in some abortion clinics as well as some pregnancy care centers. Women have died from botched abortions, both before abortion was legalized and after, when it is supposed to be safe.
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faith and other controversial subjects like abortion – i think its is not good to abort a child for the WRONG reasons… those which are selfish and such..