A few classes ago we discussed some celebrity (I forgot her name) who does a lot of feminist activism but doesn't call her self a feminist. I actually know quite a few women who are very feminist, but don't call themselves feminist and I totally understand why. Personally, every other day I struggle with labeling myself as a feminist.
On twitter I came across two articles. The article called "Feminist" Does Not Apply: On Conferring Labels Without Consent", explains why the author rejected the identity of feminism is a response to another article, "Sorry, Megyn, I am pretty sure you're a feminist.", where the author criticizes a woman who has clear feminist ideas for saying that she's not a feminist.
In the Feminist Does Not Apply article the author talks about how experience in an all-female space working to fight oppression was the most oppressive experience of her life. I related to this soooooooooooooooooooooo much.
These two articles offer great insight into why I sometimes don't like calling myself a feminist and probably why other women don't call themselves feminist as well.
(Click article title to read articles)
Ebony, thank you very much for sharing these articles. This was a similar critique that I had with feminism. There are some individuals that are scared to identify with being a feminist because it does seem like a scary term. I think people see a feminist as an opinionated WOMAN.
ReplyDeleteLike these articles, I don't necessarily think a label is necessary. I hate labels and how if you defy any component of that label, you must not really be part of that identity. It reminded me of a time whenever my friend told me, "Well our one friend that's a hardcore feminist..." What dictates a "hardcore" feminist? Sometimes I think our society just takes labels way too seriously! There is empowerment in being able to say that one is a feminist, but I don't think that it is necessary if that makes sense.
Thank you for posting these articles Ebony! I still consider myself a feminist, and in the past I have felt a bit foggy concerning why this is controversial for some. It bothers me that there are individuals who label themselves "feminist" while not acting in an inclusive and supportive manner. I'm curious as to whether you feel this is simply an unavoidable result of having such a broadly defined discipline, or if we need to better enforce the "womanism" and intersectionality aspects. In other words, does the community as a whole need to do better in inclusive advocacy, or is it the unstoppable misguidance of some on a more individual basis?
ReplyDeleteWhoa, thank you for posting this article Ebony. I've been thinking of the distinctions between feminists or women working for the equality of alll people/women a lot lately.
ReplyDeleteI think this last paragraph from sums it up for me:
"I take strong offense to others putting labels onto me or Megyn Kelly. Isn't the basis of feminism about the freedom of choice and the ability to have equal rights? Don't feminists believe in the right to name themselves rather than having others dictate their identities to them? Thank you Ms. Petri for reminding me that I made the right choice 15 years ago. Thank you for reminding me that oppression remains alive and well, even in the form of a woman declaring to another woman who she is."
For me, I identify with the term feminist. But, as the author points out here, that can be alienating to certain people. The tie in with the idea of consent here too is interesting.
This also brings to mind, Ebony, a comment I made in our Gender & Society class last spring. I was sooooo worked up about Beyoncé's performance at the super bowl and how people were viewing her as a feminist icon, when I thought someone like Lena Dunham, was more deserving of that praise. Oh man, how I have realized how problematic my argument was. For one thing, there was a lot of my own personal baggage involved with my criticism of the sexual nature of her performance, which I now have learned to separate from the praise of a successful woman (stop the "girl hating" and slut-shaming, Claudia!).
ReplyDeleteI also wasn't taking into account the different views/problems with feminism different women have. Beyoncé is an incredibly successful powerful woman who has made a name for herself, by herself, regardless of how she has gone about doing that. Also, the fact that Beyoncé is a role model for young women, and especially young women of color is awesome. And for me to belittle Beyoncé's status as a "lesser" feminist in favor of a "more appropriate" or "wholesome" white feminist icon in Lena Dunham was discrediting to Beyonce's success and the experience of some women of color. I was guilty of (and probably still am in some ways, despite my efforts to account for everyone) aiding in the oppression of women of color.
I'm not articulating myself quite how I wanted, but I think you all get the point.
http://feministing.com/2013/01/18/we-are-totally-cool-with-beyonce-posing-in-her-underwear/ sorry I know this is all kind of a tangent, but someone in my other class with Ina just posted this article on the class blog and I think it relates
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