Tags
English, English Language, Feminism, Gender equality, Middle Ages, Patriarchy, People, Political movement, Sexism, Women, Women's rights, Word
At university or college, we live in an ivory tower.
Alongside others who are, on the whole, educated, we live in a community in which people are called out for things they say and do; in which ideas and opinions are questioned and debated.
This is healthy. It’s a privilege not enjoyed in a lot of lifestyles, and should never be taken for granted. I didn’t come to university straight out of school, so I’m aware of the ivory tower I’m in. I will never take it for granted.
Which is why I was ashamed to be a member of a class of twenty-one in which I was the only person to openly identify as a feminist. Eighteen girls, three boys, and only one feminist.
Now, I was disappointed in my peers, so I opened up a classroom digression on feminism – which wasn’t the topic of conversation.
Here’s what I understood from the discussion that followed:
- All 21 people in our class agreed that women should have equal rights to men.
- All 21 people agreed that women not having equal rights to men was a form of oppression.
- Over half the class (13 people) said they would do something about oppression, generally and also more specifically in the form of sexism, if confronted with it.
- Over half the class (12 people, all female) said they had experienced sexism of some sort in their day-to-day life.
- 100% of the class thought that it was disgusting that, in the Middle Ages (which is what we were studying), women were the property of their husbands.
- On discovering that the reason women take the surname of their husband today is a remnant of this law, several people (8) thought something should be changed in today’s society.
- Six people said they would keep their own name on getting married, after the discussion.
Is it just me, or is something not right here? Out of twenty-one people who all believe in gender equality, only one is a feminist?
This goes beyond the movement, beyond the set of beliefs, this is about the meaning of the word feminism.
Feminism: /ˈfɛməˌnɪzəm/
Noun: The doctrine — and the political movement based on it — that women should have the same economic, social, and political rights as men.
Feminist: /ˈfɛmənɪst/
Adjective: Advocating social, political, legal, and economic rights for women equal to those of men.
Noun: An advocate of such rights
Looking at the dictionary definition of the word, all 21 members of my class are feminists.
They just don’t know it.
How is it, in the 21st Century, that nearly a whole class of mature university students is too ashamed to be a feminist?
Is it the connotations? Do you think that, along with the entailment in the dictionary definition (advocating rights for women equal to those of men), you have to do something more? Shave your head? Burn a bra? Become a lesbian? Hate all men?
All you have to do is believe in gender equality.
I firmly believe that if people who simply believed in gender equality were proud to be feminists; if every feminist knew they were one and told people so, the movement would gather speed.
You don’t have to be butch or stop shaving to be a feminist.
You can wear pink and spend hours on your hair and be a feminist.
You don’t have to be a woman to be a feminist.
It’s the easiest thing to become a feminist. All you have to do is not be sexist.
However, as long as the words feminist and feminism have these connotations, perpetuated by people who benefit most from a patriarchal society, people won’t have the courage to be proud to be feminists.
After our tangent into the world or gender equality, I’d managed to convince 19 of members of my class that they were in facts feminists at heart. However, only seven said they would ever admit this to anyone.
It’s these people we need. The people in my class, the people who walk around not knowing that they’re feminists. It’s these unknowing feminists who can make the biggest difference. The knowing feminists can only go to so many lectures on gender, can only sign so many petitions to stop Page Three, can only openly fight the patriarchy so much.
After a point, you’re needed, unknowing feminists. You’re needed to make it okay to be a feminist (Hell, you guys make it cool). What’s needed is men who advocate gender equality, so that we’ve got everyone on our side.
So… what do you say?
Anglophonism 
Very interesting! Based on what you’ve written, I can be classified as a feminist too. I didn’t take on my husband’s surname, not only because I don’t believe that I am his property, but also because I believe in remembering my heritage and not forgetting where I came from. Yet if a stranger on the road asks me if I am a feminist, I’m not even sure if I’ll proudly admit so. I do think it’s to do with the negative connotations associated with the word itself. I agree with you that something has to change about that since most people (or at least in your class) seem to agree with the ideology of feminism. Then there isn’t and shouldn’t be anything bad about declaring oneself to be a feminist. I blame this on the ‘-ism’ and ‘-ist’ suffixes. Attach that to a word that expresses an idea and they tend to give people images of cult, revolt, rebellion and being some kind of an extremist. Say ‘Feminism’ is the ideology and people who believe in it are called ‘Feminarians’ or something, and I think all of a sudden the feeling changes…don’t you think?
I didn’t think of that!
‘ism’s are linked to ideology – communism, for example – which has connotations of a political movement, something aggressive.
I think ‘equality’ is something few people deny; it’s a much less loaded word.
Thanks :)
=) you’re welcome. Are you going to start a campaign to change the word or the ideas attached to the word? :p
Haha, I don’t think my small corner of the internet could make that much difference!
You never know ;)
Here’s my two cents: I think feminism became a nasty word back during the height of the ‘women’s movement’ and has more to do with the backlash from the media and those in power at the time. And Rush hasn’t helped the cause any. Have you read Susan Faludi’s “Backlash”? It’s quite dated now, but still relevant, in my humble opinion. Those of use who participated in the ‘movements’ back in the 60s and 70s were called far worse than feminist!!
I haven’t read it, no.
It’s something that’s bound to happen – as soon as you question or attack a system which in which some people are comfortable, name-calling will be one of the results.
But I think that now, the most important thing is to make feminism – and equality – for everyone, not just those bold enough to demand it.
I don’t think most people would accept the dictionary definition as the normal understanding of “feminism”. They would associate it with burning bras! Sue
Exactly! This has to be resolved!
There is a negative perception of feminism, along with environmentalism and, no doubt, a few other “isms” associated with activism (hey, there’s another one!).
I also think that, particularly in the western world, the need for loud and proud feminists seems to have waned. The feminists of the past achieved so much! Personally, I don’t feel oppressed or disadvantaged because of my femaleness. I have experienced more discrimination based on my youth and associated inexperience (real and perceived). That is not to say that feminists are not still required. Keep fighting the good fight.
I would have said so, and normally wouldn’t have written this post (in fact, the class I wrote about happened a few months ago).
However, a few days ago a sexist incident in my university hit the press, and so I was struck by how important feminism actually is.
http://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/who-said-misogynys-dead-female-students-receive-sexist-heckles-at-glasgow-ancients-debating-competition-8521460.html
There’s obviously a difference between believing in something and advocating it. You were advocating, while your classmates by and large were not inclined to. No doubt they simply practised it. That seems to me entirely consistent with the two definitions.
I wouldn’t say I’m particularly active in my feminism. I’ve never been to a rally or protest; I’m not even part of the Feminist Society at my University. I would say I practise feminism, just as the others in my class do – except I do so proudly.
Keep on practising. That’s with an ‘s’ not a ‘c’ for those of us who care about things!
I have heard ‘feminism’ to be a raging topic nowadays on internet. Maybe it is the sites that I view, but mostly it is a cultural thing. Here in India, people don’t align with feminism not because it is as you say a “loaded” term, but because they really are sexist. I think there are still many frontiers and barriers of culture and tradition to be overcome over there, but we are still fighting for basic rights here.
In a sense, I had the same experience as you. I just read dictionary, concluded i was a feminist and moved on. Now that I see these articles, it feels unfortunate something as powerful as feminism is being shunned by the very people who are feminists; like they are ashamed of it. Something as simple as a new name would do the trick i guess. It is not very difficult: “equist” is not yet taken up, so I am one now. Yeah world and you IE spellchecker: I am an equist and I don’t care what you say. Ha! :D
I love it! Equist…
I think we’re lucky in the UK, but we were once in the same position as India. Now that people fought for equality, we just need the rest of the feminists to be proud to be so, so that the legislation and theory become reality.
(The squiggly read line under ‘equist’ is really getting on my nerves. I’m not sure this identity conforms with my linguist’s brain…)
Man, you’re just getting into all kinds of touchy subjects these days! First queer and now feminism!! Let me throw another one at you: patriot/ism. I think the latter two (queer was already discussed at length on your earlier post) both suffer from the same kind of bad press that plagues lots of terms these days.
The perceived meaning a patriot in the US has changed a few times over the course of my (fairly) short life. After 9/11, it came to mean someone who was pro-war and anti-everyone else but the dictionary suggests that the word is more about defense than offense.
Feminism is the same in this sense, as some people mentioned above. In my life, I haven’t really ever felt discriminated against based on gender, so it’s not something that I concerned myself with. The word conjures up images of militant bra-burning feminists or Hanoi Jane, not people (women and men) who believe in sexual equality…
Which is where I think this discussion should go and where I think people would follow. I wouldn’t describe myself as feminist but I would say that I am for equal rights for everyone in all regards. Hell, let dogs and cats marry each other! Who am I to judge anyone?
I should probably write a bit more on language, eh?
In Scotland, patriotism is coming under a lot of scrutiny right now, too, because of the independence referendum; but I think people who are patriotic can still want to be part of the UK (like me!). I don’t see it as being about defence or offence, simply pride! Maybe it’s different in the US though.
I decided to write this post because there’s a lot going on in terms of sexism and feminism at my university at the moment. Some girls were heckled atrociously for being women and speaking at a debate, and everything is getting very dramatic! (I’m going to my first ever feminist rally tomorrow)
I think it’s good, because it’s helping people to realise that feminism is important, and that it’s simply advocating equality for women.
Here’s some more grist for your mill!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21698522
I don’t know why it isn’t a hyperlink. Sue
Shocking, isn’t it?
Thanks!
Have you read Ruth Rainwater’s post?
Sue
I get her posts in my reader, but had missed that. It really struck a chord with me, thanks.
Pingback: Feminism & Satin | SatinTheNewSavior's Blog