Do you consider yourself a feminist?

PerraSucia

I'm reading a book that has some crazy statistics about how many women consider themselves feminist so I wanted a random selection. 

kswiger06

I voted other. As of right now, I would say no, I do not consider myself a feminist, however I support where feminism has brought us. If suddenly women's rights were stripped and we no longer had the opportunity to work, or vote, for example, I would then move myself to being called a feminist, as I would then be wanting those rights back. Right now, I feel content with our rights, although I might not be fully aware or educated on certain topics.

PerraSucia

@kswiger06 so you believe women should have less than men but there is a limit to your lessness? 

MissMerciBeaucoup

I voted yes I am absolutely a feminist and I have a hard time understanding why so many (particularly young) women don't feel the same way. Given where the political climate is heading I'm extremely concerned about abortion rights and contraception access in his country - not to mention the gender wage gap, affordable childcare, the list goes on. 

kswiger06

@PerraSucia No, I feel men's and women's rights should be equal... certain topics to me are more based on moral backgrounds, that to me, are separate from feminism. It's possible that where you stand on feminism could be affected by personal morals.

Also, I did admit to not being aware or educated in all areas of what's concerned feminists actions. In my personal life and how I live I feel like I am treated as an equal and have no concerns, but I do realize there are things that I might not realize are affecting me and my life.

poetryandoceans

I dressed up as Rosie the Riveter for Halloween. So that's a hard yes from me. 

Gretchypoo

I wish HELL YES was an option. Feminism has its problems but it is a vital part of my identity. Even if we got all our rights tomorrow, I'd still be a feminist. I believe you dont ever stop being a feminist, just like you don't stop being a mom when your kid goes to college or (heaven forbid) passes away.

poofwok

100% yes.

ETA that women are fighting for their rights every day, everywhere. 

ohstars

We are only 11 votes in and I'm already surprised by the results. That's a yes from me. 

Spicyweiner

No, only because I don't consider myself an active proponent of the cause. 
I totally believe in women's rights, a woman's right to choose, etc but since I don't vote or do anything to further or ensure these rights are met I don't think I get to call myself a feminist. 

Xstatic3333

Hell to the yes I believe women and men should have equal rights, which is what feminism actually means. My husband is one too, and I hope my son will be. I'll do my darndest to raise him that way. 

Spicyweiner

Xstatic3333 said:

Hell to the yes I believe women and men should have equal rights, which is what feminism actually means. My husband is one too, and I hope my son will be. I'll do my darndest to raise him that way. 

Does just believing that men and women are equal make you a feminist? Because if that's the case I totally am. 
I always thought of a feminist as someone who is active in furthering the cause somehow, if that makes sense. 
Like an environmentalist lobbying, or something like that. 

birdiejo

I think anyone who believes in equal rights for women is a feminist. 

ohstars

I'm with @xstatic3333 - if you believe in equal rights, you are a feminist to me. @spicyweiner - I think if you aren't activiely hurting the cause, you are helping. 

PerraSucia

If you guys are raising your daughters to believe that men and women are equal and deserve the same rights that makes you an active feminist. I mean really just having the belief and living your life believing you deserve equality makes you a feminist but raising your kids that way makes you pretty damn active 

poetryandoceans

Honestly, if you are parenting a child in a way that encourages a more fair and just world, and teaching a daughter than she deserves equal treatment and that she is equally capable, then I'd say you're fighting the fight. I'm planning on raising my son with an awareness of these issues and of the importance of enthusiastic and informed consent, and I talk about these things as they come up with my students. I'm not out there with signs and placards, but I think those daily actions are activism, too.

ETA: damnit, wish I had refreshed the page before I posted. What @PerraSucia said. 

Spicyweiner

Well, shit. 
I change my vote. 

kswiger06

I also felt like what Spicyweiner said... I felt that the feminists were the ones making a difference. Like the ones who fought for our right to vote or continue our schooling... and currently im not doing anything more than signing petitions for womens rights in other countries. (I guess is feminist?)  But if feminism comes up, normally I hear reasons like "I don't need a man holding the door for me" or "I will work because I'm capable" but those are choices we are already given so I say I support where feminism has brought us rather than being an active feminist... I usually don't consider other countries when talking about feminism (not that i dont care, its just not usually the reason behind the conversation) although I do believe it's a global issue that I do believe men and women should be equal.

Edit: I was typing and didn't see previous comments before posting

NiceyMeany

I voted yes only because "why is this even a question" isn't an option. I am the kind of active, insistent feminist you're all talking about, but I agree that anyone who is raising their child to believe in equal rights is doing positive things for the cause. I believe that any woman who says she's not a feminist is one of two things: 1. a victim of the sexist smear campaign that has been run against feminism since its inception, or 2. not the kind of person I want to know.

leprechaunlady

As a female who has worked in a male dominated industry since i was 18 (will soon be 34), and had to fight that bit harder to be taken seriously and go that extra mile to prove that im every bit as good at my job as my male counterparts, i completely consider myself a feminist. Its a constant struggle & can be extremely frustrating but if i can make even the smallest bit of difference then its worth it. I was rasied to believe there was nothing i couldnt do and will try to install the same in my daughter and any furure children!

LivingLaVidaGinger

I wholeheartedly agree on equality between not only the sexes, but everyone. However, I don't like the label so I don't really associate myself with the term feminist even though I believe in the values of feminism. I believe it's just being a decent human being and you shouldn't have to label yourself with a political term to be an advocate for equality.

birdiejo

That's the problem though, the label shouldn't have a negative connotation because there's literally nothing negative about it. 

By calling yourself a feminist and educating others on the simple facts of being one, maybe we can change that. 

Xstatic3333

Totally agree, @homemake! Certain segments of the media have tried to paint feminism as a dirty word that can only apply to certain categories of women. In reality, it should be a really big tent. You can be a feminist if you enjoy celebrating your own femininity, if you're a proud SAHM, if you're a man, if you disagree with other feminists on certain issues, if you lean conservative on the political spectrum, if you're religious, etc. What it comes down to is a belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities. It should be a good word, not a dirty one. 

@kswiger06 I totally agree with it being a global issue, and would consider learning about and advocating for women's rights around the world (petitions count!) an action consistent with feminism. Like I said, it's a big tent, or at least should be, and certain feminists will be more drawn to some women's issues than others. 

This is a good conversation!

Spicyweiner

homemake said:

That's the problem though, the label shouldn't have a negative connotation because there's literally nothing negative about it. 

By calling yourself a feminist and educating others on the simple facts of being one, maybe we can change that. 

Nobody said it had a negative connotation. 

I am enjoying this conversation, because like I said, by my own ideas of what being a feminist means, I didn't consider myself one. But hearing what OTHERS consider feminism, I would consider myself one. 

NiceyMeany

Annnnnnnd my crush on @Xstatic3333 just got a whole lot bigger.

die_frau

Spicyweiner said:

 Nobody said it had a negative connotation. 

Nobody on THIS thread... but unfortunately that's not the case more broadly: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2013/02/08/its-time-for-women-to-take-back-the-word-feminism/?utm_term=.164522e19b1c

kswiger06

@Xstatic3333 I am a member (?) On change.org  if you've never heard of it, it's a giant petition website. They will send you tons of emails with updates and suggestions based on what you have signed in the past. I did learn however to Google the cause and research the story before signing because everyone puts a twist on it to fit their own views as they create the petition. Signatures were able to save a girl from being put to death for choosing to marry a man out of her religion! 

Xstatic3333

NiceyMeany said:

Annnnnnnd my crush on @Xstatic3333 just got a whole lot bigger.

Back atcha lady!

Spicyweiner

die frau said:

Spicyweiner said:

 Nobody said it had a negative connotation. 

Nobody on THIS thread... but unfortunately that's not the case more broadly: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2013/02/08/its-time-for-women-to-take-back-the-word-feminism/?utm_term=.164522e19b1c

Well obviously I was talking about the people on THIS THREAD. 

die_frau

Spicyweiner said:

die frau said:

Spicyweiner said:

 Nobody said it had a negative connotation. 

Nobody on THIS thread... but unfortunately that's not the case more broadly: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2013/02/08/its-time-for-women-to-take-back-the-word-feminism/?utm_term=.164522e19b1c

Well obviously I was talking about the people on THIS THREAD. 

Obviously it wasn't that obvious? 

At any rate, this thread has shown that there is a lot of confusion about what feminism is and what it means, and a lot of that is coming from the negative connotations that have developed about the word and what people have turned it into and what feminists actually believe. I agree with @Xstatic3333 and @homemake about what the meaning of the word has become, unfortunately. 

Xstatic3333

I'm on there too @kswiger06! I seem to get sent more environmental ones though. Good call about Googling and doing more research. There's been a few things it asks me to sign that I can't get on board with. 

Spicyweiner

die frau said:

Spicyweiner said:

die frau said:

Spicyweiner said:

 Nobody said it had a negative connotation. 

Nobody on THIS thread... but unfortunately that's not the case more broadly: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2013/02/08/its-time-for-women-to-take-back-the-word-feminism/?utm_term=.164522e19b1c

Well obviously I was talking about the people on THIS THREAD. 

Obviously it wasn't that obvious? 

At any rate, this thread has shown that there is a lot of confusion about what feminism is and what it means, and a lot of that is coming from the negative connotations that have developed about the word and what people have turned it into and what feminists actually believe. I agree with @Xstatic3333 and @homemake about what the meaning of the word has become, unfortunately. 

How could I possibly make a statement like that if I wasn't referring to this thread? That would be absurd. 

LivingLaVidaGinger

I personally don't feel the term has a negative connotation at all. I do agree that many people (not in this thread, just in general) need more education on the topic, but I feel it should be an individual's choice on whether they want to be called a particular term or not. It doesn't necessarily mean they were negatively influenced by media or uneducated.

skiingstark

Everyone should be a feminist, it just means a woman should be treated equal as man. It is not special rights, all it means is a person should be judged by their skills and merits not by their gender. How is this controversial? 

skiingstark

On a seperate note, alot of people talked about teaching their daughter about being equal, but I think it is equally important to teach our sons that women are equal too. I plan on doing this with my son and make sure my son respects and treats women as his equal and to judge people by their actions not by their gender. 

poetryandoceans

@skiingstark I totally agree with you! I've been having this conversation with my friend who already has two boys, and my husband has been talking to his friends who are fathers of sons; we've been hearing a lot how important those conversations are to have with boys, and how girls receive a lot of this messaging, but not much has changed in how society talks to boys about gender issues. It's an important issue, and I think one a lot of people aren't very aware of.

My brother is going into elementary ed and is doing a huge research project on social/emotional learning and emotional needs in boys, so I think he's going to be a big part of these conversations in the future  

cantalopes24

I very much consider myself a feminist. It influences the way I parent which to me is making a difference. It's something I'm pretty passionate about and I have had a lot of conversations with my husband, people at work, family members, and random people about things I find problematic. I've definitely changed my husband's beliefs on a lot of topics. I think a lot of people aren't really sure what feminism is. There is a lot more than just "equality" for both sexes. Being white and very privileged I sometimes struggle with intersectionality but I try to make a conscious effort to work on it when I can.

krob

I voted yes. Only because "feminism shouldn't have to exist" wasn't an option. 

Feminism gets such a dirty rep that's i even shunned the label myself for many years. There's also a long and dirty history between feminism and racial civil rights that made it hard for me to embrace. 

That said the fact that the word and the movement is necessary is absurd. There's no masculinism movement. It completely disturbs and saddens me that in 2016 we need any of these movements. But since they are necessary, sign me up. 

I plan on buying my son a onesie that says "feminist". And I hate onesies with words on them.

Gretchypoo

I think it can be dangerous to characterize feminism as "equality" because it is more than that. It is also how women are treated and how we are viewed by the rest of the population and people in power. For example, we may have the right to vote and can go to any college we want, but if we encounter an unfriendly or antagonistic environment we are less likely to stay. If we are the only women working with men, we are more likely to get passed over for raises and promotions. There is a reason there are so many programs trying to get women in STEM fields-- it has not been a safe or welcoming environment for us. No legislation will change that, only changing attitudes can. And that is more than equality. That is respect.

@cantalopes24 I'm glad you mentioned intersectionality. I feel like that is the biggest problem with feminism. We tend to focus on the problems of the white middle class (equal pay, maternity leave  etc.) but forget the issues of women of color and low income women-- like the racism in our schools and communities, segregation of communities that lead to poor education and slums, access to affordable child care, access to healthcare, living wages and time off.

PerraSucia

I totally posted and ran. Sorry everyone. 

But in the book I was reading it said only like ~42% of American women considered themselves feminist and I couldn't believe it. 

and I'm picking up what you're putting down @gretchypoo but think equality means a lot more than being allowed to do something. I think all of the things you're mentioning fall under equality.  I dont think I'm well versed enough to feminist theory or whatever to call it something else. Legality =\= equality though.  

poetryandoceans

Agreed with both @PerraSucia and @Gretchypoo about equality. When I say "equality" I don't mean "can vote" or "doesn't need husband's permission to open a credit card", I mean feels free and unencumbered to make decisions and move through the world without gender being a limiting factor. And intersectionality is a huge part of that too