What's a Feminist Anyway?
Over on Apt3W I manage to get the family enmeshed in a discussion about feminists while ostensibly discussing why people go into academia. My definition of "feminist woman", as I mention in the comments there, is a woman who has a strong identity with women as a victimized group. What does the word mean to you? Do you think it should mean something different then its general use? I'm especially interested in hearing from the females among you.
posted by Shmuli at 7:04 PM
4 Comments:
I'm afraid that I have a very negative stereotype of feminists, so I'm not really going to be giving the female perspective. but I would define a feminist of someone attempting to acheive for womanhood the sameness with men- not equal rights which would be a nice idea, but actual sameness.
2:13 PM
If this is the case, what would you call a Jew "who has a strong identity with [jews] as a victimized group?" I dont know tobie and i dont think I have spent time thinking about what defines a feminist but I think tobie's definition is better. Identifying yourself as a victim does not an "ist" make.
9:55 PM
I am not proposing an ideological definition. I don't believe the various feminists agree enough that such a thing is possible. I don't believe that Tobie's definition would describe a great many feminists. I am giving a definition that describes attitudes more than it does doctrine. I think it simply works much better at including feminists while excluding non-feminists. I suppose, though, that maybe I should use the word "predictor" rather than "definition".
12:11 AM
I think that Shmuli's definition is probably a pretty good description of how many feminists would agree to have themselves defined, although I don't think that means that it's the most accurate description. My definition, about which I am admittedly not all that crazy, is not one to which most feminists would agree, but may be the one that their actions and views most closely conform. The question is, are we going by their own definition or ours looking at them as outsiders (as I think we all are)
2:49 AM
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