What does feminism mean to you? (1 Viewer)

[loquasagacious]

Feminism on the whole is a muddy concept and both it's proponents and detractors tend to conecptualise it in a number of different ways ranging from quite mainstream views to very radical ones.

So what is feminism to you and are you a feminist?

 

[Silver Persian]

Yes I am a feminist.

You're definitely correct that discussions of feminism are usually muddied by the existence of a variety of competing strands that are often not compatible with one another. It might be a good idea to very briefly give an overview of some of the types of feminism roving around the acadmeic world:

-Liberal Feminism: Essentially involves an extension of liberal political theory to women - revolves around equal rights, freedom of choice and formal equality in regards to legislation.
-Radical Feminism: Much emphasis placed upon relations of sexual violence between men and women, particularly involved in the critique of pornography. This is the Germaine Greer style of feminism often brought up within the public sphere.
-Socialist Feminism: Examines interactions between gendered and economic inequalities. Interested in the differential division of household work, labour market income inequality and the way women and men tend to occupy different sectors within the employment market. Not particularly associated with Marxism.
-Difference Feminism: Broadly speaking, this position suggests that there are fundamental differences between women and men. Purusing gender "equality" is not taken to mean making men and women the same, but rather catering for their different needs and values.
-Postmodern Feminism: This paradigm questions the categories of male and female, and seeks to undermine the notion that there is any unitary feminine subject. Very difficult to explain in two sentences.

 

[*TRUE*]

Yes I am a feminist.

You're definitely correct that discussions of feminism are usually muddied by the existence of a variety of competing strands that are often not compatible with one another. It might be a good idea to very briefly give an overview of some of the types of feminism roving around the acadmeic world:

-Liberal Feminism: Essentially involves an extension of liberal political theory to women - revolves around equal rights, freedom of choice and formal equality in regards to legislation.
-Radical Feminism: Much emphasis placed upon relations of sexual violence between men and women, particularly involved in the critique of pornography. This is the Germaine Greer style of feminism often brought up within the public sphere.
-Socialist Feminism: Looks at the interactions between gendered and economic inequalities. Interested in the differential division of household work, labour market income inequality and the way women and men tend to occupy different sectors within the employment market. Not particularly associated with Marxism.
-Difference Feminism: Broadly speaking, this position suggests that there are fundamental differences between women and men. Purusing gender "equality" is not taken to mean making men and women the same, but rather catering for their different needs and values.
-Postmodern Feminism: This paradigm questions the categories of male and female, and seeks to undermine the notion that there is any unitary feminine subject. Very difficult to explain in two sentences.

Thankyou for the overview SP

 

[loquasagacious]

Yes I am a feminist.

You're definitely correct that discussions of feminism are usually muddied by the existence of a variety of competing strands that are often not compatible with one another. It might be a good idea to very briefly give an overview of some of the types of feminism roving around the acadmeic world:

-Liberal Feminism: Essentially involves an extension of liberal political theory to women - revolves around equal rights, freedom of choice and formal equality in regards to legislation.
-Radical Feminism: Much emphasis placed upon relations of sexual violence between men and women, particularly involved in the critique of pornography. This is the Germaine Greer style of feminism often brought up within the public sphere.
-Socialist Feminism: Examines interactions between gendered and economic inequalities. Interested in the differential division of household work, labour market income inequality and the way women and men tend to occupy different sectors within the employment market. Not particularly associated with Marxism.
-Difference Feminism: Broadly speaking, this position suggests that there are fundamental differences between women and men. Purusing gender "equality" is not taken to mean making men and women the same, but rather catering for their different needs and values.
-Postmodern Feminism: This paradigm questions the categories of male and female, and seeks to undermine the notion that there is any unitary feminine subject. Very difficult to explain in two sentences.

Thanks for the overview - though it begs the question of which feminist you are?

 

[Riet]

Ugly women whinging.

 

[jules.09]

Yes I am a feminist.

You're definitely correct that discussions of feminism are usually muddied by the existence of a variety of competing strands that are often not compatible with one another. It might be a good idea to very briefly give an overview of some of the types of feminism roving around the acadmeic world:

-Liberal Feminism: Essentially involves an extension of liberal political theory to women - revolves around equal rights, freedom of choice and formal equality in regards to legislation.
-Radical Feminism: Much emphasis placed upon relations of sexual violence between men and women, particularly involved in the critique of pornography. This is the Germaine Greer style of feminism often brought up within the public sphere.
-Socialist Feminism: Examines interactions between gendered and economic inequalities. Interested in the differential division of household work, labour market income inequality and the way women and men tend to occupy different sectors within the employment market. Not particularly associated with Marxism.
-Difference Feminism: Broadly speaking, this position suggests that there are fundamental differences between women and men. Purusing gender "equality" is not taken to mean making men and women the same, but rather catering for their different needs and values.
-Postmodern Feminism: This paradigm questions the categories of male and female, and seeks to undermine the notion that there is any unitary feminine subject. Very difficult to explain in two sentences.

Nicely summarised, Silver Persian!

Well, I wouldn't regard myself as a feminist per se. I advocate equal rights in all areas, and believe that females and males have intellects that are levelled. Yeah, that's the extent of it.

What does feminism mean to me? Well, this may sound strange but third wave feminism (i.e. at the present time) manifests itself as something like "The Pussycat Dolls". It's this perverse girl power sexual liberation thing, which in my opinion is self-commodification and exhibitionism. Ironic, isn't it?

 

[bazookajoe]

One thing that gets me is when womenz complain about how much money there is in mens sport compared to womens sport. I just look at them like they're braindead/retarded/both.

 

[Silver Persian]

Thanks for the overview - though it begs the question of which feminist you are?

What? You're asking me to take a position on something?! This is indeed a shocking and unsettling turn of events!

Soo...
1) I disagree with difference feminism, because it tends to involve the identification of a particular set of gender norms as authentic, which neglects both the way these norms shift over time and the fact that there is a lot of diversity within the categories of male and female.
2) Radical feminism is somewhat unfair - it tends to position all men as perpetrators of sexual violence and all women as victims. Again, neglects diversity amongst men, and also positions heterosexual women as victims of patriarchal false consciousness. Although, obviously, patterns of sexual and domestic violence are significant problems.
3) I think almost everybody would agree with the general premise of liberal feminism - that men and women should have equal legal rights. jules.09 is a good example, because even though he doesn't self-identify as a feminist, he basically agrees with the political objectives of liberal feminism.
4) Socialist feminism I also have a fair bit of sympathy for - it runs into the issues that were discussed in one of your subjects from a couple of weeks ago. Definitely support equitable income for men and women; I also think that gender inequalities are quite closely related to economic inequalities.

So I suppose I agree with the general political objectives of both liberal and socialist feminism. Although for some reason I feel uncomfortable placing myself definitively under one particular brand of feminism, probably because they all have at least something to offer.

 

[Uncle]

The Radical "Germaine Greer" feminism model as explained by silver persian.
in response to a man's urge to request beer and sandwiches from his wife without delay.

 

[jules.09]

3) I think almost everybody would agree with the general premise of liberal feminism - that men and women should have equal legal rights. jules.09 is a good example, because even though he doesn't self-identify as a feminist, he basically agrees with the political objectives of liberal feminism.

So I suppose I agree with the general political objectives of both liberal and socialist feminism. Although for some reason I feel uncomfortable placing myself definitively under one particular brand of feminism, probably because they all have at least something to offer.

Well, if liberal feminism is taken into account, really, nearly everyone we know would be regarded as a feminist. At any rate, being branded for anything can be detrimental to your argument .

There was one thing I disagreed with though Silver Persian. I'm not a 'he', actually I'm a 'she' ..

But now that you know, *shhhh*

 

[Silver Persian]

Well, if liberal feminism is taken into account, really, nearly everyone we know would be regarded as a feminist. At any rate, being branded for anything can be detrimental to your argument .

I kind of agree with this actually. I don't know if it's really fair to call liberal feminism a type of feminism at all, given that it essentially involves a consistent application of liberal political theory - which is formally indifferent to gender. But, it certainly has been a framework adopted by individuals who identify as feminists, and is often used to forward arguments for gender equality.

There was one thing I disagreed with though Silver Persian. I'm not a 'he', actually I'm a 'she' ..

But now that you know, *shhhh*

Tsk. Got my hopes up and everything

 

[ashie0]

equality rather than 'feminism'.

 

[Ben Netanyahu]

nothing. it's over. you got equality it's time to shut the fuck up.

 

[ehtefaz.hedayet]

feminism means that all women should be treated equally :wave:

 

[Smile_Time351]

Nicely summarised, Silver Persian!

Well, I wouldn't regard myself as a feminist per se. I advocate equal rights in all areas, and believe that females and males have intellects that are levelled. Yeah, that's the extent of it.

What does feminism mean to me? Well, this may sound strange but third wave feminism (i.e. at the present time) manifests itself as something like "The Pussycat Dolls". It's this perverse girl power sexual liberation thing, which in my opinion is self-commodification and exhibitionism. Ironic, isn't it?

Well put. The more radical feminists specifically are increasingly of the opinion that you can't be an equal rights advocate without being a feminist. It's views like these that are the reason that no one takes them seriously on an academic level. Burning of bras aside, feminists evoke feelings in yours truly that are adequately summarised in the following emoticons: :burn: :angry:

 

[ashie0]

not just women, but both genders. males are discriminated against also, everyone deserves a level playing field.

 

[Silver Persian]

I love how being a feminist is something people feel they need to be apologetic for. Half of the people in my sociology tutorials are like, "I'm not a feminist, but..."

I can say pretty definitively that most feminist academics are not radical feminists, it's just that radical feminism gets a lot of airplay.

nothing. it's over. you got equality it's time to shut the fuck up

Equality of what? Legal rights?

And are formal legal rights the only important consideration here?

 

[Ben Netanyahu]

i suggest that women have actually overtaken men on:

social scale
legal scale

perhaps not economic scale yet.

 

[imsopostmodern]

yes, i have feminist tendencies. but i wont say any more in this thread because when arguing about such ideas i tend to go overboard and i'm pretty sure some bosers would threaten violence

 

[Silver Persian]

i suggest that women have actually overtaken men on:

social scale
legal scale

perhaps not economic scale yet.

I suspect that men would on average would receive harsher prison sentences than women [citation needed].

Not sure what you mean by social scale?

yes, i have feminist tendencies. but i wont say any more in this thread because when arguing about such ideas i tend to go overboard and i'm pretty sure some bosers would threaten violence

Yes, men are indeed all violent pigs. Perhaps we should be radical feminists together