Do you identify as a feminist?

[Dannichu]

I'm reasonably sure that, if asked to describe me in a single word, most people I know would choose 'feminist'.

Or 'short'.

 

[octobr]

What... do you mean by that o.o? That you wouldn't call anyone feminist who isn't actively involved in the movement? Or... what? What's "outright feminist"?

EDIT: A yes to the thread question.

I guess it's sort of to do with the use of the word 'identify' here -- I wouldn't say I identify as feminist, personally. It's not something I'm really enthusiastic about. This might have something to do with bad experiences leading to a generally negative view of the online feminist community (unfortunately from very extremist groups making hateful statements; a silly thing to take a view away from, I know, but there you are).

I just wouldn't call myself feminist, I guess.

 

[Crazy Linoone]

I voted "No" at first because

I think since this thread asks specifically whether you identify as a feminist rather than just whether you are a feminist, I think "Well, if you believe in equal rights you are a feminist" is a bit missing the point here; my impression is that this thread is at least partly about attitudes like "well I'm all for women's rights but I don't want to be associated with feminism because feminists are screeching bra-burning lesbians".

and (some? most? a little?) of the feminist movement is kinda... bleh.

But if you define feminist as "someone who wants equal rights and other shiny stuff", then yes, I identify as a feminist.

So I suppose you can say that I identify as a feminist depending on the definition you're going by.

 

[Ether's Bane]

I voted "No" at first because



and (some? most? a little?) of the feminist movement is kinda... bleh.

But if you define feminist as "someone who wants equal rights and other shiny stuff", then yes, I identify as a feminist.

So I suppose you can say that I identify as a feminist depending on the definition you're going by.

Can't have said it better myself (except I didn't vote).

 

[ultraviolet]

I'm not sure what to answer; obviously I believe in equal rights and I love sites like scarleteen, but do I particularly follow the feminist movement? not at all. I guess I'm voting yes, because I think what the feminist movement about is important, but I'm not exactly an active supporter.

 

[Aisling]

Er... well most of the experience I have had with feminism and feminists actually talking about "feminism" (I've never discussed or read discussions concerning feminism with the feminists on this forum so no, you guys don't count) seemed really kind of extremist, like "Porn is terrible and objectifies women, sex is not something you're entitled to" bullshit that's really more of an attack on sexuality in general and trying to slap the feminism label on it in an attempt to justify it... So as of right now if you asked me then no, I don't. I don't really want to be associated with that.

Secondly, I'm a pretty lax and laid back person. I'm not really much of an activist. I only really stand up and say something if I see some injustice go on in front of me, especially if it's against someone I know- so I guess I'm not really very proactive. I feel like in order to "identify" as something I'd have to go out of my way to make myself out as that- and that just isn't really me.

However, by the technical definition, I am a feminist. It's just that I don't really actively do anything about it, and it's not something that crosses my mind very often at all. idk if it's selfish or shallow or anything like that but I'm way too concerned with my immediate surroundings and the people I personally know and what's going on with them to really subscribe to a particular cause.

tl;dr basically what ultraviolet just said? except, um, I guess I'm voting no idk

 

[Phoenixsong]

Er... well most of the experience I have had with feminism and feminists actually talking about "feminism" (I've never discussed or read discussions concerning feminism with the feminists on this forum so no, you guys don't count) seemed really kind of extremist, like "Porn is terrible and objectifies women, sex is not something you're entitled to" bullshit that's really more of an attack on sexuality in general and trying to slap the feminism label on it in an attempt to justify it... So as of right now if you asked me then no, I don't. I don't really want to be associated with that.

Secondly, I'm a pretty lax and laid back person. I'm not really much of an activist. I only really stand up and say something if I see some injustice go on in front of me, especially if it's against someone I know- so I guess I'm not really very proactive. I feel like in order to "identify" as something I'd have to go out of my way to make myself out as that- and that just isn't really me.

However, by the technical definition, I am a feminist. It's just that I don't really actively do anything about it, and it's not something that crosses my mind very often at all. idk if it's selfish or shallow or anything like that but I'm way too concerned with my immediate surroundings and the people I personally know and what's going on with them to really subscribe to a particular cause.

tl;dr basically what ultraviolet just said? except, um, I guess I'm voting no idk

This, except I'm not voting period until I know which definition is the one opal intended. I doubt he was suggesting that too many people here were "extremist" feminists, but I don't exactly know what it is I'm being asked to "identify" as.

Generally speaking I guess I would say that I don't identify as one even though I obviously support the general idea, but then again I don't really bother identifying with anything at all, righteous cause or otherwise, so that's not saying much for me.

 

[Butterfree]

Er... well most of the experience I have had with feminism and feminists actually talking about "feminism" (I've never discussed or read discussions concerning feminism with the feminists on this forum so no, you guys don't count) seemed really kind of extremist, like "Porn is terrible and objectifies women, sex is not something you're entitled to" bullshit that's really more of an attack on sexuality in general and trying to slap the feminism label on it in an attempt to justify it... So as of right now if you asked me then no, I don't. I don't really want to be associated with that.

Feminists are a very diverse group of people and many different, often partly contradictory beliefs have been sincerely advanced as feminist. However, you may have been somewhat misunderstanding the ones you're thinking of: feminism tends to be very significantly about asserting a woman's right to her sexuality. Specifically, feminist concerns with porn tend to revolve around porn that does objectify women or is otherwise misogynistic (which is an awful lot of it, unfortunately, but the point is the issue is with the objectification, not with the fact it is porn), and when feminists say "sex is not something you're entitled to", they generally mean "you don't have a God-given right to have sex with women or any woman (or man, for that matter); you get to have sex when somebody wants to have sex with you (provided you also want to, obviously), and no sooner." Or, in other words, sex isn't a prize that you earn or a commodity to be provided to you or something you can "deserve" for any reason.

Meanwhile, feminists are generally very positive about healthy, consensual sex, especially erasing the social stigma on female sexuality that condemns women for openly expressing sexual feelings or choosing to have casual sex with multiple partners.

Not trying to start a debate here; just noting that I don't think the feminists you're thinking of actually meant what you think they meant. There are occasional feminists who actually demonize heterosexual sex, but those are not in any way mainstream.

 

[Aenrhien]

I'm all for equal rights for everyone, but I'm not interested in labeling myself as a feminist since it's a title with a lot of negative connotations. After all, who wants to be associated with a group of people best known for burning their bra's and hating men*?



* Yes I'm aware not all feminists do these things. An unofficial survey of my contacts on MSN turned up everyone saying one of those two things when I asked them to define feminism.

 

[shy ♡]

I'm all for equal rights for everyone, but I'm not interested in labeling myself as a feminist since it's a title with a lot of negative connotations. After all, who wants to be associated with a group of people best known for burning their bra's and hating men*?



* Yes I'm aware not all feminists do these things. An unofficial survey of my contacts on MSN turned up everyone saying one of those two things when I asked them to define feminism.

And this is why people insisting they don't want to associate with feminism bug me.

Who gives a fuck if a title has negative connotations? Everything has negative connotations. Pokemon has negative connotations. You're on a forum that's made up of probably 99% queer members; we all have negative connotations. So bloody what? If you know that they're not true, so what?

The problem is, you think that feminists do hate men, and that they all do burn their bras and that there's anything wrong with burning a bra.

 

[Tarvos]

It's not about feminism. Of course I support women's rights, but does that make me a feminist? I don't think so. I support all rights for all people and consider myself an "equal chances"-ist in that regard. I don't think it's productive to say "well women should have more rights" because, you know, they're already pretty much equal where I live. So I support women's rights improving to equal standing with males around the world. But I don't support that anymore than I support gay rights, or religious rights, or whatever. So I think calling myself feminist would be a bit too much honour.

 

[opaltiger]

"Porn is terrible and objectifies women, sex is not something you're entitled to"

Just out of curiosity, are you suggesting porn doesn't objectify women?

 

[Aisling]

Just out of curiosity, are you suggesting porn doesn't objectify women?

Not particularly. I just don't really see how it doesn't also give guys that standard that they can't live up to the same way it and other media does for women... My point was a lot of feminists I've encountered up until now have made that their focus instead of... I dunno, more important stuff I guess. :/

I get what feminism's about and know it's not all full of sex-hating crazies and men-hating bra-burners (but if that's what most people think of when they hear the word "feminism", doesn't that make them "mainstream"? Even if most feminists are not in that category, majority and mainstream aren't interchangeable words- but maybe most people don't think of that, just the ones I have to be around, so my point is moot), but like I said, besides the negative connotations (which Pathos made the good point that those in and of themselves aren't a good reason), I don't feel like I should "identify" as something that doesn't even cross my mind without an external influence, or that I'm not out there fighting for actively. Like, Pokemon has negative connotations, yes, but Pokemon is kind of a regular part of my life whereas feminism is not? If we're going to use Pokemon as an example. So it would be silly and practically hypocritical of me to not identify as a huge fan of Pokemon.

 

[Aenrhien]

And this is why people insisting they don't want to associate with feminism bug me.

Who gives a fuck if a title has negative connotations? Everything has negative connotations. Pokemon has negative connotations. You're on a forum that's made up of probably 99% queer members; we all have negative connotations. So bloody what? If you know that they're not true, so what?

The problem is, you think that feminists do hate men, and that they all do burn their bras and that there's anything wrong with burning a bra.

Actually no, I dislike the title of feminist for the same reason I don't like being called a gay rights activist; it disgusts me that equal liberties for all still has to be argued. And on a more personal level, I'm sort of attached to the idea of living, and my family would likely have me killed for being openly involved in anything that tries to consider anyone not a straight, white Christian male a person. My personal safety is just a little bit more important to me than arguing for rights women -- in this country at least -- already have anyways.

You're wrong on your last point though. The handful of feminists I know are very nice people with the exception of one, who decided she wanted to see me dead because I'm transgender. I do see something wrong with burning bra's though; if you're going to waste your money on something you'll be destroying, why not donate it to a shelter for abused women or something? That's tax deductible and helps people.

 

[Pwnemon]

Men and women are both equally good in different ways. Women are not better and cannot do everything men can, men are not better and cannot do everything women can, the world would suck without both (even ignoring the fact that we couldn't reproduce.) This is my position, ergo, not feminist or masculist.

 

[Harlequin]

Men and women are both equally good in different ways. Women are not better and cannot do everything men can, men are not better and cannot do everything women can, the world would suck without both (even ignoring the fact that we couldn't reproduce.) This is my position, ergo, not feminist or masculist.

Well, we do have the technology to reproduce with only one sex...

In any case, I don't not identify as a feminist but I don't identify as one, either. It's not something I usually have to think about, being a cisgendered white male, but I'm all for feminism. It's great.

 

[Noctowl]

I'm not an extreme one...but I guess I like the idea of equal rights for everyone.

 

[Butterfree]

Men and women are both equally good in different ways. Women are not better and cannot do everything men can, men are not better and cannot do everything women can, the world would suck without both (even ignoring the fact that we couldn't reproduce.) This is my position, ergo, not feminist or masculist.

Feminism has absolutely nothing to do with thinking women are better than men. That doesn't mean you need to identify as a feminist as the poll asks, of course, but you appear to honestly believe this, so I felt I ought to correct you.

Just out of curiosity, are you suggesting porn doesn't objectify women?

What bugs me about statements like "porn objectifies women" is that it implies that porn by definition objectifies women, as opposed to that the modern porn industry overwhelmingly does. I suppose you could argue that porn objectifies women by definition in the sense that nobody wants to be thinking of the participants in porn as people so of course they're going to be objectified by the viewer, but following that logic to the end just leads to absurd, sexually repressive conclusions.

 

[opaltiger]

My personal safety is just a little bit more important to me than arguing for rights women -- in this country at least -- already have anyways.

Here's the thing: they don't.

Not particularly. I just don't really see how it doesn't also give guys that standard that they can't live up to the same way it and other media does for women... My point was a lot of feminists I've encountered up until now have made that their focus instead of... I dunno, more important stuff I guess. :/

What more important stuff? I think the treatment of women as objects is one of the most serious problems in modern society.

I get what feminism's about and know it's not all full of sex-hating crazies and men-hating bra-burners (but if that's what most people think of when they hear the word "feminism", doesn't that make them "mainstream"? Even if most feminists are not in that category, majority and mainstream aren't interchangeable words- but maybe most people don't think of that, just the ones I have to be around, so my point is moot

That's like saying (to use a tired analogy) that mainstream Muslims are the ones who blow things up, because you hear about them so much.

 

[Zuu]

Feminism has absolutely nothing to do with thinking women are better than men. That doesn't mean you need to identify as a feminist as the poll asks, of course, but you appear to honestly believe this, so I felt I ought to correct you.

well, it appears that everyone in this thread has misconceptions about the "true" definition of feminism, and this is likely due to the fact that there are indeed so many splinter groups and what not within the movement, just as there seem to be with many other movements. i find it extremely hard to put a strict definition on any sort of thing like this.

that said, i've read "feminist" material that was outrageously sexist so i can't blame Pwnemon for thinking this. it kind of reminds me of anarchism, since there are so many different types, and people think all of them involve throwing molotovs at government officials.

essentially i'm thinking that sane feminists and anyone else who wants gender equality but doesn't rally under the banner to either drop the idea of a label in the first place or find a new one, because feminist is practically a dirty word here in America. or at least educate people, you know, instead of yelling at them to do things.