A couple weeks ago in the STAR an opinions piece stated, “While I’m at an immediate loss for what exactly feminism should do, I certainly have a few thoughts on what feminism shouldn’t do.” This well-written article raised many important points. For instance, the article stated that feminists should not shame housewives and should not degrade men. Feminism should not be a plea for attention nor serve as an encouragement for violent acts. In response to this list of shouldn’ts I completely agree.
However, as I read all of the above statements I felt a pang of injustice since these attributes of feminism serve to further the stereotype that feminists are bra-burning radicals who seek to dominate and belittle men. Therefore, I feel compelled to now write on a few things that feminism should do by making mention of what it has done.
First, though, it is worth noting that feminism is not a new concept, nor is it a movement only for and about women. It originated, not as a radical movement spawned by the sixties, but much earlier as an important issue of fundamental human rights. In 1869, in one of the first radically feminist published works, The Subjection of Women, philosopher John Stuart Mill wrote, “The principle which regulates the existing social relations between the two sexes- the legal subordination of one sex to the other- is wrong in itself, and now one of the chief hindrances to human improvement; and that it ought to be replaced by a principle of perfect equality, admitting no power or privilege on the one side, nor disability on the other hand.”
Without feminism of the 1900s, women would not be able to vote. Anyone holding an archaic view of voting rights which would deny women the vote might refute the feminist movement; however, any man or woman who supports voting equality must recognize this right as rooted in and supported by feminism.
What other benefits do my peers and I enjoy because of feminism? The list is long. Somewhere between earning women the right to vote, pushing through legislation, opening up universities to female students and advancing the civil rights movement, feminism has made life much better, not just for American women, but American men as well. Partly because of the efforts of feminists, women have the option of working outside the home, and can now enjoy more equity in pay and job opportunities in fields ranging from business to science to politics.
Far removed from the stereotypical and inaccurate image of the bra-burning activist, feminists have proven time and time again that women’s rights are human rights that benefit everyone. Largely because of feminism, sexual discrimination is not just a natural and to-be-tolerated product of the “old boys’ network.” Recently, Title IX is working to ensure that campus sexual assault is not the inevitable and to-be-tolerated product of a culture in which it is assumed that a woman who presents herself as sexual is “asking for it”.
Last semester a peer asked me if I was a feminist. Though I have always identified myself as such I paused when asked this question. Then, I spoke. Yes I said. Yes, I am feminist. However, I was reluctant – not because I didn’t know what feminism meant but because I didn’t know what the other person meant. If my peer meant do I want equality for both genders well then yes of course, I am a feminist. If, however, the peer thought feminism meant women should dominate/belittle men then no I would not be considered a feminist, however that is not what feminism is. Feminism is an advocation for equality.
Yet, our culture as a whole is sadly not on the same page. Our culture needs to understand the true calling of feminism- a call for equality. To be sure, there may be differences of opinion on particular issues, even among men and women who embrace the self-descriptor of feminist. Not all feminists, for example, are in favor of pro-choice legislation. Definitions of what it means to be a feminist may differ on the particulars, but to suggest that we are not indebted to the feminist movement for very important benefits that we enjoy on a daily basis seems both shortsighted and even ungrateful.
With brief support given as to what feminism has done and should continue to do the reader thus understands the truth of the feminist cause: advocacy for equality between both women and men economically, socially, and politically.
3 replies on “What Feminism Should Do”
Dear PolishKnight,
To briefly respond to your own response I will only touch on a few points I have previously made. Feminism is about equality socially, politically, and economically. That is the true and noble cause which feminism seeks. In my article I was respectful and quite honestly very moderate in my opinions. I feel that unfortunately you have taken personal offense to an issue and civil justice cause that I, and numerous others, find extremely important.
In short women still faces hardships in today’s world. Women still do not receive equal pay for instance. Women are also more prone to suffer from sexual abuse and assault than men are, whether this be in the workspace or domestic living situations. There are many inequalities between women and men that still exist today. My article pointed to what the feminist movement has accomplished in order to also to show that the battle towards equality is still not over. Like many noble causes, such as racial equality, there is still a vast amount of progress to be made.
Not surprisingly, I strongly disagree with the opinions and assertions you put forth in your own response. However, I have never thought that disagreements or arguments are best handled via social media. Therefore, since I do not know who you are I must ask you to extend the email. Assuming that you are a member of the Houghton Community, if you want to discuss these issues of social justice, and more specifically the feminist cause, please email me (allyson.murphy16@houghton.edu) and we can set up a time to have coffee and talk. Also, don’t worry- I will pay for my own drink.
One of the defenses of feminism is to rattle off a list of nice things (women’s voting rights, more jobs for women) and claims that it has helped men and so who would be against that, right?
But couldn’t that be said of pretty much anything, including the Patriarchy? Before women’s suffrage in the USA, it was the Patriarchy that created and advanced the concept of Democracy in the first place, created newer, more advanced jobs in the office that women would want rather than dangerous jobs that men performed that few women would want to be a “feminist” in order to have, etc. Patriarchy gets a lot of blame for not sharing equally, but it doesn’t get the full credit for CREATING in the first place.
Then the feminists carefully avoid asking women questions about what feminism seeks to take away from them. Ask women if they want to pay for their own meals on dates, get stuck with working long hours at the workplace while a man stays at home and demands alimony if he divorces her, or the Costa Concordia calling out for men to get on lifeboat seats at the same rate as women and many, if not most, will hesitate on one or more of these “equal” initiatives. Every movement looks great when the plusses are presented and less so when the fine print is read.
And then there’s the hidden “stereotype” that feminists constantly try to deny: That it’s man-hating. Yet, feminists either commonly call out men as criminals as either enjoying “male privilege” whether they enjoy it or not or collectively responsible for the acts of a few bad men while demanding that feminism not be judged by a few bad apples. Feminism is full of double standards.
When presented with these flaws of feminism, even fatal flaws, the tactic of course is to attack the messenger. They are wrong by definition and it’s up to them to change their attitude about feminism rather than for feminism to perhaps adapt which perhaps makes sense in that feminism cannot adapt because it’s a product of chivalrous patronage to begin with. It requires that generous western male patriarchal benefactors in politics and industry provide women with preferential treatment in the workforce, or welfare handouts, or “free” daycare in order for the women to be “equal”. Without such a safety net and white glove treatment, how long would it take for women, most of whom crave sexism in their personal lives, to abandon feminism en masse?
Finally, if feminism is about the good things that Allyson has proposed, which are long achieved, then what’s the point of it today? If feminism has such an image problem, how is restating long achieved objections going to rehabilitate it?
As a woman, I can guarantee that all of your accusations are 100% true for all women everywhere. We, as women, are far too frail to do the dangerous jobs mentioned in the second paragraph, and are quite happy that “the Patriarchy” has created advanced office jobs for our men, and only our men, to partake of (all the paperwork and numbers would be too confusing for us after all).
Furthermore, you’re absolutely right, we, cheap, jobless women that we are, do not want to, and indeed cannot afford to pay for our dates, and making a living for ourselves sounds downright awful, so we’re very thankful that we don’t have to do that. Also, as every woman knows it is a man’s prerogative to let women on a life boat first, and, yes, to drown if he must. It’s really the only decent thing to do.
As you generously pointed out, we do rely on men to support us, and really how could we do anything but, after all, there are absolutely no women in government or high positions anywhere, as rightly they should not be. No woman should be without a man to guide her in her every decision; we’re just too fickle and emotionally unstable without the guidance of a strong male figure in our lives.
Lastly, I would like to thank you, regardless of your gender, for decrying the ridiculous ideas those silly feminists have. Equal treatment in the workplace? Respect on level with men? What senseless fairy tales! I hope you, being a most generous and benevolent writer, will not view all women as you so rightly view these few crazy so called “feminists”. We women are forever in your debt for so gracefully pointing out their numerous failings, and I do sincerely hope you rise to the highest level of your chosen male-only career path (or, conversely, find a man who has risen high enough in such a field to support you through life). Rejoice in your Y chromosome (or in the Y chromosomes of your benefactor), for after all, as you say, “what’s the point of [feminism] today?”