Feminism is not:
1. Lesbianism ( yes, there are lesbians amongst feminists as they have their sexuality rights and it's their rights but feminism is not lesbianism)
2. Men hating
3. Frustrated spinsters
4. Delusional
My aspiration is to be one of the builders of a world of equality, a world where diversity is respected and value for people's lives is paramount. A world where religion and culture are not used as weapons of dispute and destruction, where leaders serve and not steal, where everyone does not pretend to love each other but does so straight from the heart.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Feminism 101: What Feminism is not
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My Passion, my focus, the change that I want to see in the world - is my propellent factor.
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36 comments:
FIRSTTTTTTTTT
Yup you got that right. I hate it when feminism is associated with being un-feminine. It is definately not monolithic either because there are so many waves and kinds of feminist-from the eco-feminist to the 'western/first-world feminist'....
lol...yep, you got that right...especially the lesbianism part
Right!So many peep easily jump to the conclusion of tangling feminism with lesb- Lesbianism aint feminism at all....
Each time you leave a comment on my blog,I am highly encouraged.Thanks so much for all the encouragement
NDQ: A lot of people dont really bother to understand a CAUSE or why people are fighting it.
And when it comes to women issues, giving them bad names leads to discouragement of purpose but I am an ardent feminist.
Afrobabe: Abi o. And really LGBT people have a right to belong to any group or any cause they believe in. What a shame that some confused people just do what they believe in too that's confusing people!
AustynZogs: you are welcome. You blog rocks.
Amen Standtall! I wonder why feminism is even necessary and some (perhaps most) men feel so threatened by women who have their own opinions! In a perfect world (ha! Bring it on Lord!) there would be no need for this. We're the same species, right? Right? Erm, I am right aren't I? Hello men, are there any of you out there who agree? ::Listening hard:: I don't hear your answer...
I'm glad you found Molly. I wonder why she doesn't come home... I think something or someone has scared her big time and she feels safer up high on that roof. Hope she comes down and back into your loving home very soon:) xxx
What feminism is not...yes, for the purpose of clarification...thank you.
Oh man, you beat me to it. I was about to write a post on what feminism means to me, especially in such an old-fashioned society like ours. I'll still write it though.
I recently read similar things on the women's site, Jezebel ( i know, weird name), and the commenters there said they are constantly fighting the stereotypes as well.
To be honest though, there's no smoke without fire, some feminists out there HAVE taken things too far sometimes. The funniest thing someone said to me when I told him I was a feminist was, 'Oh you're one of those women that don't shave right?' I was like.. riiiight.
I think it's a matter of branding, we just need to educate more people, especially women who run away from the label, that half the things they do now won't be possible if it wasn't for the feminist movement.
oh my God thank you sooo much. I was having this argument with a friend about this matter recently because she is the most feminist person i know and she was denying being a feminist because she did not want to be associated with bra burning :(
i was like it's like denying being a muslim because of the fanatics and terrorists...well i guess it is not being muslim myself.
Anyway, love the post
I concur!!!well said hon
Preach! I love my psychology of women class for teaching me what feminism is all about. People connote that word with a lot of negative images. Simply put, if u are for the equality and rights of women, then u r a feminist.
I have more to say, but i'm out of it. Can barely think straight. But had to comment on this topic cos it's something i am personally interested in.
I just read a post at Afrobabe's on Stereotypes. I think feminists are the most stereotyped people in the world. I have a friend who calls them "bra-burners" lol. I wish we just lived in a world where I like this post, it clears somethings up even for me. The part I like most is it's not an act of war against men.
Men do take themselves too seriously sometimes...
You obviously have the same problems as the girls in Malaysia. Faminism is seen as very threatening here. I grew up in Amsterdam which was wonderfully different and liberal.
hey, how are your cats???
*hands on hip*
u don start again shebi??? :P
I find this post positively reassuring 'cos frankly I sometimes find feminist rhetoric quite scary...I guess I'm part of the problem lol
Black Cat: Perhaps Molly is still running from Standtall Husband. She moves freely around our compound now. She runs when she sees us. I am worried about her. I feed her daily though
You are darn right, if we have a perfect world, there will be no need to advocate for our rights, or fight racists or fight bad government or fight religion dundamentalists
We do need a perfect world
Rita: thought you were gonna add to the list
Onyeka: pls still make the post, I will love to read it.
I don't think the only reason why feminism have received so many negative identities is becos of some women. Take for instance, without saying I am a feminist, when I make contributions that point out things that are not done rights to women. People call me benjin conference and all. It's fine if people fight racism, religion fundamentalism but when women demand for what is rightly thiers, they get tagged, so they can be frustrated and drop the cause they are fighting for. Not anymore, we won't quit but we will do that diplomatically and supress all the aggressions these injustice has placed in us
Wordsmith: thanks for this insight. You are darn right, we chicken out of who we are or what we believe in cos of branding or tagging. Your friend need to just read up on feminism to know she is one and raise up her head for advocating for the rights of women
ShonaVixen: thanks you my fellow feminist
Sting: I am grateful to you for taking time out to respond to this post. Waoh, it's an honour with all your tight schedule and all.
And I love the way you explain what feminism is! You are one halluva effico!
Poeticallytinted: Bra Burner! I wonder how they came up with this world again. Na wa o. You know what I think about men taking themselves seriously, cos there is a fear of what will happen if women's rights should be enforced. They wont have no one to bully and control anymore. And they dont want that to happen. Apology to all the gender sensentive men
katztales: I went for a forum of women from all over the World in Cape Town organised by AWID and it's nice to know that this is a problem encountered by feminist activists in so many countries of the world. It's an attempt by some people that this cause threeatened to kill it but no we wont die
LG: Feminist LG. wetin I start?
Doug: Can you explain why you think are part of the problem. It might help educate us more
Feminism is certainly not man-hating, please tell them.
I am happy you are addressing this...I am tired of people saying things like 'you don't dress like a feminist' or 'your feminist views will soon put lesbians on your tail' and 'you people just hate men'.
see feminism might not be all of those things but in many cases the women who just happen to hate men, just happen to be lesbians, just happen to want to be like men join the feminist organizations and speak on behalf of the feminists
i dont know if there could ever be equality between the two genders standtall
we are too different
we have two different roles in life
the women are the life givers the men are the life protectors
you dont like it blame God alright
and guess what when people are threatened it is he man who is going to risk his life to save the women and children
im not saying women cant be great soldiers but men work better under pressure because our minds are built to withstand pressure more than women
plus we are hysically stronger
why cant we just do the things that God created us to do
where did the whole idea of feminism originate anyway
u cudnt have put it any better..
Amen oooo!
James Tubman: I mean it when I say you are not GENDER SENSITIVE. You are not my man but you can
Men protects and kill as well. The majority of rape of inoccent children and the killing of women are all by men. That's even by the way
Fundamental Human Rights place all of us on the same pedestral of equality. Whether you think you are of a physical strength in attribute or not, it does not mean that you have a right to talk and I dont. Or that you have a right to education and I dont
Peharps you need to think of why you really hate "FEMINISM" or "FEMINIST". Is it because you feel comfortable in your zone as a man that has it all cos the society makes that space for you?
You are an intelligent man that I know is not afraid to learn and grow. I will advice you like I have once done to pls not shy away from this topic and read up
Even the UNITED Nations to know that nothing can be achieved without Gender Equality hence the MDGs goal 3.
In history, if a lot of femminists have not challenged the status qou, my life won't have had meaning. A lot of twins (especially the female)will still be killed, a lot of widows woudl have still been forced to drink their dead husband bath water to prove dear innoccent. A lot of girls my dear woudl not have being sent to school.... the list is endless.
SO IF YOU THINK THE ISNT A SERIOUS ISSUE, THINK AGAIN!
Whether some feminists hate men, or they are lesbians and all. It's their individual life and choice and not feminism and pls DO NOT IN AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE A SUPERIOR ARGUMENT think otherwise
A lot of religion leaders are now seen what they are missing before that the fact that men and women are biologically different does not mean THEY AREN'T EQUAL
READ ABOUT BRAIN FUCNTIONS AND ALL AND YOU WILL KNOW THAT NO MAN IN SUPERIOR TO A WOMAN!
You dont have to agree to anything but DO NOT AFRAID TO READ AND WIDEN YOUR EXPERIENCE ON THE ISSUE
James Tubman: I mean it when I say you are not GENDER SENSITIVE. You are not my man but you can
Men protects and kill as well. The majority of rape of inoccent children and the killing of women are all by men. That's even by the way
Fundamental Human Rights place all of us on the same pedestral of equality. Whether you think you are of a physical strength in attribute or not, it does not mean that you have a right to talk and I dont. Or that you have a right to education and I dont
Peharps you need to think of why you really hate "FEMINISM" or "FEMINIST". Is it because you feel comfortable in your zone as a man that has it all cos the society makes that space for you?
You are an intelligent man that I know is not afraid to learn and grow. I will advice you like I have once done to pls not shy away from this topic and read up
Even the UNITED Nations to know that nothing can be achieved without Gender Equality hence the MDGs goal 3.
In history, if a lot of femminists have not challenged the status qou, my life won't have had meaning. A lot of twins (especially the female)will still be killed, a lot of widows woudl have still been forced to drink their dead husband bath water to prove dear innoccent. A lot of girls my dear woudl not have being sent to school.... the list is endless.
SO IF YOU THINK THE ISNT A SERIOUS ISSUE, THINK AGAIN!
Whether some feminists hate men, or they are lesbians and all. It's their individual life and choice and not feminism and pls DO NOT IN AN ATTEMPT TO HAVE A SUPERIOR ARGUMENT think otherwise
A lot of religion leaders are now seen what they are missing before that the fact that men and women are biologically different does not mean THEY AREN'T EQUAL
READ ABOUT BRAIN FUCNTIONS AND ALL AND YOU WILL KNOW THAT NO MAN IN SUPERIOR TO A WOMAN!
You dont have to agree to anything but DO NOT AFRAID TO READ AND WIDEN YOUR EXPERIENCE ON THE ISSUE
Buttercup: Thanks dear
Jaybabe: lol
hmmmm..
pls can u do a post on what feminism is...thanks
lol @ feminism not being man hating and/or lesbianism. Hehehe. I dunno why I find that funny.
Babe, I never abandon ur blog. Just been busy. Had 2 come here and write this. I see you are beginning 2 wonder. You know I luff u!
True. So so true.
When is Feminism 202 coming out?
sorry this is off topic but I tagged you "Why I blog about Africa" :lol:
http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/12/why_i_blog_about_africa.html
Just briefly glanced through some of the comments here and sorry to see a level of lesbianphobia remains even amongst young people. GET OVER IT PEOPLE!
A couple of points to add. Not all lesbians are feminists and not all feminists are lesbians. In other words the two are not mutually exclusive. And get this guys - some men are feminists. Feminism is way of approaching life and a commitment thereto which challenges patriarchy, racism, classism, and homophobia. In Africa this includes the colonial experience and challenges the notion that African and Asian women are passive victims. I dont wish to write an essay because there are books out there which articulate Black feminism far better than I. We all need to live in a better world without prejudice, stereotyping and bigotry and one way to achieve this is to educate ourselves and our children.
I agree.
Blogger Buttercup: u welcome darling
Blogger Aloted: I already gave a glimpse of what feminism is all about in this write up. Check below the 10 pointers. But not to worry more write ups are coming. We need to have an interview togehter o
Blogger Vera Ezimora: you are always finding stuff funny. I know u didnt abandon me but if I no say so u no go rush than here na
Blogger La Reine: 102 is coming soon. It will be a while b4 I can get to 202. Stay posted
Blogger sokari: Thanks for sheilding more light on this issue. I think some people just chose not to have any understanding of feminism. They base what they know on rumour. Some that know are afraid of something hence
Blogger Oluwadee: good to have you back
yes o..i saw it...just wanted a full post on it :)
me i am ready anytime o..my email addy is aloted@hotmail.com...we can discuss further. cheers
Blogger Aloted: okay sweetie. But I am yet to know if you believe in feminism in the first place
Have got your email add and will get across to you...
I am for anything that has to do with empowering women!
I believe so much in the power women have...we just have to use it wisely.
Thanks dearie...I have replied your email :)
Blogger Aloted: Ride on sis
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