Two days ago I asked for your perspective on this word:
feminism
Yesterday, on this:
feminine
Today:
feminist
Three small words, seismically shifting via two small letters and with each – reaction, memory and imagery, nearly visceral responses. Fascinating.
Before I attempt some kind of synopsis on all that I’m gleaning from this conversation, would you give me one more round of input?
Talk to me about the word “feminist.”
Talk to me about feminists. What/who do you picture? Who have you known? Who do you admire? What do you abhor? Where do you cringe? Why?
I promise: integrative work is on the way. In the meantime: bring it!!! If you haven’t commented on either “feminism” or “feminine,” please do so, then head back here with your thoughts specific to this third word, “feminist.” Thanks! I’m SO grateful.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Pro-woman. Doesn’t necessarily have to BE a woman.
Thank you, Emma! Of course not! In fact, I connected with a man on Twitter just a few days ago and the first word on his profile was “feminist.” I instantly DM’d him just to affirm such – and wonder more about it. Lovely. Powerful. Redemptive. ‘Appreciate you pointing this out. SO important.
I believe it was in response to one of your other posts that I said I had trouble identifying as a feminist. Growing up in the 60′s and 70′s, a feminist was always an activist. I can get behind that. Unfortunately, a feminist also often came off as a man-hater. I cannot get behind that.
I can get behind an agenda that brings women and issues specific to women to the forefront of the discussion. That is how I think of feminists. They are creating that agenda and dragging it forward.
.-= Nicki´s last blog ..Ed Tech Day =-.
Wish we didn’t have to “drag it forward,” but the very fact that such is necessary is what reminds me that such is necessary! As always, thanks, Nicki.
A holdover from my ultra-conservative days (I’m recovering, thank you very much): I see the word feminist and I leap to the phrase coined by Rush Limbaugh–feminazi. Hardly a fair analogy, just what leaps to mind.
But in the same breath, I also draw in images of the key players from the women’s suffrage movement….women with courage and moxy and passion….Susan B. Anthony, a woman on whose story I did a book report as a kid.
And I hear the Saturday morning cartoons (Schoolhouse Rock) playing “Then Susan B. Anthony (Yeah!) and Julia Howe, (Lucretia!) Lucretia Mott, (and others!) they showed us how;…”
Confused? Conflicted? To say the least……..
Oooh. Don’t know if I can bear having “Rush Limbaugh” show up anywhere on my site! Though if people searched him and got to me, that would be a surprise, huh?
It is a loaded word – rife with confusion and conflict. And for me, such makes me aware of how deeply important good, thoughtful, graceful conversation is on the topic! Thanks, Angie.
Didn’t comment yesterday and will barely today because of fighting a raging fever. But thought I might mention that feminisT actually makes me cringe a bit more than feminism, because right now, especially, anyone with an IST has an agenda in my mind and I am working on shedding those labels from my own life and intimate circles.
So sorry you’re not feeling well…and deeply grateful that you’ve chosen to comment here, Jen. Yes the “IST” label can get dicey. Labels of any kind get dicey. How to have the conversation in open, gracious, life-giving ways…That’s my hope and ongoing challenge. ‘Appreciate your voice in the midst.
A feminist is a woman who is strong, powerful, sure of her identity, and self defined. As much as she drives me crazy, Camille Paglia immediately comes to mind when I hear the word feminist. She is iconic for me because she doesn’t allow anyone to define her… she has her own opinions and she is passionate about them, to hell with the critics. I don’t always agree with her positions, but I love the bold, sure way she puts them out there… she speaks HER truth and lets the rest of us digest it, understand it, deal with it the way we choose, without (seemingly) shrinking from the possibilities of rejection or judgment. Her power comes from the fact that she feels free to make the choices she wants to make… and she doesn’t seem to wait for someone else to say it’s okay for her to do that.
.-= Shauntelle´s last blog ..Rules… pt 2 =-.
I love the words you’ve used to describe Camille, Shauntelle. Don’t they make you want to be able to say the same about yourself? They certainly impact me that way: “Her power comes from the fact that she feels free to make the choices she wants to make… and she doesn’t seem to wait for someone else to say it’s okay for her to do that.” So great. Thank you!
A feminist is simply someone who believes that women should have the same rights and opportunities accorded to men. It’s hard to imagine that every woman is not a feminist.
Clear. Concise. True. I’m so with you, Clara. Thanks.
I don’t think feminism is only believing that we should have the same rights and opportunities accorded to men, but also that a feminine approach to life has value. Whether expressed by women or men, the qualities associated with the feminine — intuitive, nurturing, relationship and community minded, communication-oriented, and emotion-full — should be honored in our homes, in our work places and in our communities (whatever common ground they are based on).
I was a fairly intense feminist in college, which was a healing experience for me. I was never a man-hater, but I was a survivor of rape and domestic violence and needed to find my power as a woman. I had to find a healthy balance of honoring the masculine and feminine in my self and my life. I worked for the University’s Women’s Center, wrote for their magazine, and helped produce events like Take Back the Night. Then I was inspired by the Vagina Monologues to do yoni sculptures, which turned into a 3-year activist web project integrating art and writing.
I still consider myself a feminist because I believe the pendulum has to swing to the other side before it can find a healthy balance. I believe we have to make a big deal about the experiences and gifts of women until they are truly seen. But within that context, we also need to see the experience of men, how they are negatively impacted by cultural patriarchy as much as women are. Men who violate women are wounded themselves. Men need to find and honor the feminine qualities within themselves for real healing and change to happen. And women need to integrate their masculine, without losing their feminine in the process.
Ultimately I strive to be an Androgynist — someone who believes that we must find the healthy balance of masculine and feminine in ourselves and in the world. As a result, my own activism has shifted. I am no longer focused on women. I am focused on facilitating healing and transformation for everyone in the realm of sex and relationship.
Thank you for this rich and thought-provoking conversation, Ronna. You’ve inspired me to write a blog post about feminine leadership. I’ll send you a link when it’s published.
.-= April´s last blog ..First Video Interview =-.
So powerful, thoughtful, and beautiful April. I appreciate your vulnerable sharing of your own story and how that has shaped your understandings, your passions, your beliefs. And I totally agree with you – on the pendulum swinging reality, as well as the harm to men. “Healing and transformation for everyone.” Love that! Can’t wait to read your post!! Glad you’re here.
Just remembered to let you know about the post I wrote about feminine leadership (http://humboldtimps.blogspot.com/2010/04/feminine-leadership.html). Might want to see the two following posts as well. If you haven’t seen Eve Ensler’s TED video on Girl Power, I highly recommend it. And then I share a serendipitous finding about feminism from a mystic-artist I love, Shiloh Sophia.
I am unable to participate in tonight’s conversation about truth, but please know that your sharings are a gift to my journey as I learn to speak my truth.
Hugs, April
.-= April´s last blog ..A Free Thinking People =-.
Ooooh. Can hardly wait to dive into all this: Eve Ensler and you? Fabulous!