I would like to suggest that, instead of recalling every single stereotype for a feminist and feminism, that you sign up for Women’s Studies 200. As Eric Hoffer, author of “The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements” states, “there is a tendency to judge a race, nation or any distinct group by its least worthy member.” So you have accomplished his point by using words such as “screaming” to describe feminists. Yes, a few screamed, but there are countless women and men in the feminist movement who “quietly” go about their business making huge differences in the world of men and women. For you see, it is the intent of feminism to bring equality to men as well as women.

What job could be more important in the world than to raise the children that create the next generations? It is not feminists that give the title of “homemaker” such demeaning attention. Many feminists are homemakers. It is culture itself that belittles the title. When a woman spends time raising children, including logistics, finances, education, health, emotional and moral issues that are dealt with, it is culture that devalues this very hard work. A woman cannot put “homemaker” on her resume to get a job. It will not be considered. They will ask her what she has been doing for all those years as if homemaking is nothing. There is no monetary value on “homemaker.” Employers will laugh, throw her application in the garbage and look for someone who, as they put it, has had a meaningful job and shows experience. Imagine if you are male and choose to be a homemaker, then decide to look for a job. If you put a monetary value on what homemakers do, we couldn’t afford them.

You are right to point out that only a few men are in typically female jobs. That is an inequality that needs to be addressed. As much as feminists want women to be considered equal in positions such as CEO, engineers, construction managers, soldiers. we also want men to feel comfortable to choose to be a homemaker, a nurse, a teacher, a care-giver. Men who choose those professions are not thought of as “real” men or given any sort of support by a culture that deems women’s work to be “less than” men’s work. There are plenty of women who want to hold public office, but it costs lots of money to run for office. If women make less than men, they cannot compete on an equal political field. When women do run for office, it is their clothing or beauty that is challenged, not their intellect. Yes, men and women complement each other in our culture and it is too bad that we can’t equally respect each other’s choices in our culture and support the right to choose one’s place within that culture.

I have worked for women’s equality for my entire life. I will continue “quietly” going about my chosen profession and although you annoy me with your uninformed rant, I will also continue to work “quietly” for your equality and your daughter’s and 
your son’s.

Ana Self Schuber is a gender and race studies 
instructor.