When you think of someone who is a feminist... (poll, activist, stats)
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I have noticed that feminist can be either a good or bad word, naughty or nice word, depending on who you ask. Many colleagues, friends, family, partners and spouses, especially women, may either identify as this word or not.
I remember having a colleague who I had long discussions with about this -- she tried very hard to convince me and many others that feminist is a good label, and describes people who care about equality (I was mostly neutral about the word then, or like many men, not particularly fond of it because of the associations often attached). Some of the women I have gone out with have self-identified as feminist (mostly in college).
When you think of feminist, is your view (not "academic talk" definitions, but just based on the "real world" or the street) or perception of someone identifying as "feminist" mostly good/pleasant or bad/unpleasant?
Good images/connotations I sometimes hear -- (eg. who cares/is passionate about social issues, pleasant, tolerant, supports equality, fairness, seeks equality and fairness between the genders, for example in relationships, rather than one dominating the other)
Bad images/connotations I sometimes hear -- (eg. bitter or "ugly", mean-spirited, hates men or takes advantage of men rather than supports equality, jealous of other women, or just uses "feminist" label as cover)
Interestingly enough, I have a more positive association with feminist as a label now, because I met a good friend in the past few years who strongly self-identifies as feminist and with feminism. She works with social issues and has been to developing/third world countries, such as in southern Asia, and is working towards a career that addresses a lot of women's rights globally. I guess because when I think of a feminist person, I think of her, it has become more of a positive term for me, even though it wasn't so much before.
But what about your view -- do you perceive it as a good or bad word?
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I think the good balances the bad out. The backlash against what people PERCEIVE to be 'Feminism' is definitely growing among both men and women. Personally I agree with most of the original principles of feminism, but of course there is an undercurrent of misandry in the more extreme elements of the 'movement.' As a movement it's mostly dead and is otherwise used as a code-word for female supremacy and perceived male emasculation.
As for people who specifically identify as 'feminists.' I'm often suspicious of them. I don't think women need to specifically label themselves to eschew the values and principles of equality and women's rights.
When I hear the word "feminist" I cringe, because it so often seems to be used in a negative way, and about any woman who is doing something that seems displeasing to someone. It's that pull-this-out-of-a-hat "last word" that's supposed to shut the woman up because she's so ashamed or something...
Just my experience.
I hate the word "feminist," I wish we were all equalists.
Another issue: what would be the symmetrical equivalent of "feminist" in the male species? A chauvinist, maybe?
Isn't that a negative word?
I don't believe the male equivalent of feminist would be chauvinist, since a feminist is looking to have equal rights in society, and that doesn't really play into chauvinism at all.
I think the good balances the bad out. The backlash against what people PERCEIVE to be 'Feminism' is definitely growing among both men and women. Personally I agree with most of the original principles of feminism, but of course there is an undercurrent of misandry in the more extreme elements of the 'movement.' As a movement it's mostly dead and is otherwise used as a code-word for female supremacy and perceived male emasculation.
As for people who specifically identify as 'feminists.' I'm often suspicious of them. I don't think women need to specifically label themselves to eschew the values and principles of equality and women's rights.
Hmm... your first paragraph reminds me of people saying that feminism has declined since the "girl power" attitude of the 80s and 90s (there are stats showing things people associated with that movement, like a trend of women keeping last names after marriage peaked in the 90s, college students' feminism in the US, or interest in intellectual stuff like discussing gender-neutral words in writing etc. also peaked then, but I don't know if that has anything to do with it "on the street", since activism often ends when some of the aims have already been achieved through acceptance), though to be honest I don't really know if I see any social trend in my daily life -- I just hear about the "backlash" online.
All in all though, I have more positive (which I voted in the poll) interaction with people (actually it's only women I know of, in person) who call themselves "feminists". In the case of my friend who got involved in social/global issues in university and is getting into a career with it, especially bringing women's rights as a movement to other less-egalitarian countries -- of that I respect.
I'd imagine, if by chance the people I first met who called themselves "feminists" were the so-called as mentioned on this forum -- nasty, complaining, bitter, hypocritical ones, I might have a negative attitude develop with that label. Most of the strong, activist "feminist" types I've ever met though (well, I can think of mainly just two examples who called themselves that strongly) were and are actually really decent and have been kind, respectful people. But I started this poll because I am interested in most other peoples' experiences with "feminists".
Another issue: what would be the symmetrical equivalent of "feminist" in the male species? A chauvinist, maybe?
Isn't that a negative word?
LOL! The female equivalent of a chauvinist is a chauvinist, and the male equivalent of a feminist is a feminist (or perhaps an egalitarian). All egalitarians are essentially feminists by default anyway.
When someone says they're a feminist, I think they're female supremacists.
Last edited by West of Encino; 02-28-2012 at 11:34 PM..
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