3) In order to be a feminist, do you have to be doing something about it, like Ale believes? Or is living out the concepts of power and equality enough?
As a woman, living your life in a way that is empowering and fulfilling can unwittingly influence others to do the same. Just letting others see through your actions that they too can “choose their choice” (and yes I did just refer to Sex and the City), can sometimes be even more powerful than if they heard that message echoed in academia or lecturing. And that to me, while it may not make you an activist, meets some abstract threshold in my mind for being a feminist. I do consider myself a feminist, but have always struggled with feeling like this made me somewhat of a selfish person. Inevitably the questions always pop-up from family members and friends, about where making a family fits into my grand plan. It is extremely refreshing now that I am in law school to be surrounded by women who don’t feel the need to apologize for deciding to make a huge commitment to their career. And I’m really starting to feel like I’m not being selfish at all; heck I can have my cake and eat it too!
Action is politics and to me feminism is something you do, it kind of saturates all your practices from how you love (well and equally I hope!) to how you shop to how you learn and teach others. That said there are things I do that just *aren't* feminist - like buying crappy stuff from sweatshops because it's cheap or drinking Coca-Cola even though I know they have messed up business practices in Africa, but these are the choices I make every day. It's important to be thoughtful about this stuff I think.
I just thought being a feminist was believing in equality for men and women. I believe women should receive the same pay for doing the same job as men do, abolish sexual discrimmination, keep our streets safe so women don't have to feel scared walking at night, having their reproductive rights to have a safe abortion if they choose and sharing the household chores as equal partners not as king and queen.
Women should be able to wear what they want, including cosmetics and not feel like they can't be feminists. Gloria Steinham, Naomi Wolf and Ellen Bravo always wear nice clothes and cosmetics when they make appearances. Am I right or wrong on this? Kudos.
I know I take for granted that the belief of equality is not something everyone has or expresses. I`m shocked when someone in the younger age bracket says otherwise. I accept a possible definition of "feminist" being simply an Actual Human Being who embraces equality. But in realizing that those that lack this belief are the largest hurdle, I see the increased importance on activism (another debatable word.)To me, the root verb fits: activists act on these ideals with the goal of appealing to the people who prevent what they feel needs to be done. The difference seems to be in individuals choosing to live by example or attempting to extend that understanding to others and change some things. Those example-livers are vital to females and the world at large, and can remained involved by supporting shows and benefits however they can, if participaring in organization and protest is undesireable. But an activist who doesn`t apply thier soapbox beliefs to thier everyday lives are perhapse the biggest hurt to the cause.
5 comments:
As a woman, living your life in a way that is empowering and fulfilling can unwittingly influence others to do the same. Just letting others see through your actions that they too can “choose their choice” (and yes I did just refer to Sex and the City), can sometimes be even more powerful than if they heard that message echoed in academia or lecturing. And that to me, while it may not make you an activist, meets some abstract threshold in my mind for being a feminist. I do consider myself a feminist, but have always struggled with feeling like this made me somewhat of a selfish person. Inevitably the questions always pop-up from family members and friends, about where making a family fits into my grand plan. It is extremely refreshing now that I am in law school to be surrounded by women who don’t feel the need to apologize for deciding to make a huge commitment to their career. And I’m really starting to feel like I’m not being selfish at all; heck I can have my cake and eat it too!
I agree with Vivian. Feminism doesn't require activism...it's about your beliefs
Action is politics and to me feminism is something you do, it kind of saturates all your practices from how you love (well and equally I hope!) to how you shop to how you learn and teach others. That said there are things I do that just *aren't* feminist - like buying crappy stuff from sweatshops because it's cheap or drinking Coca-Cola even though I know they have messed up business practices in Africa, but these are the choices I make every day. It's important to be thoughtful about this stuff I think.
Hi:
I just thought being a feminist was believing in equality for men and women. I believe women should receive the same pay for doing the same job as men do, abolish sexual discrimmination, keep our streets safe so women don't have to feel scared walking at night, having their reproductive rights to have a safe abortion if they choose and sharing the household chores as equal partners not as king and queen.
Women should be able to wear what they want, including cosmetics and not feel like they can't be feminists. Gloria Steinham, Naomi Wolf and Ellen Bravo always wear nice clothes and cosmetics when they make appearances. Am I right or wrong on this? Kudos.
Geo58
Self proclaimed feminist male
I know I take for granted that the belief of equality is not something everyone has or expresses. I`m shocked when someone in the younger age bracket says otherwise. I accept a possible definition of "feminist" being simply an Actual Human Being who embraces equality. But in realizing that those that lack this belief are the largest hurdle, I see the increased importance on activism (another debatable word.)To me, the root verb fits: activists act on these ideals with the goal of appealing to the people who prevent what they feel needs to be done. The difference seems to be in individuals choosing to live by example or attempting to extend that understanding to others and change some things. Those example-livers are vital to females and the world at large, and can remained involved by supporting shows and benefits however they can, if participaring in organization and protest is undesireable. But an activist who doesn`t apply thier soapbox beliefs to thier everyday lives are perhapse the biggest hurt to the cause.
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