Warning: This article contains offensive language. Not swear words or descriptions of explicit content – the word ‘feminism.’ It isn’t one of the traditional dirty words, but apparently, to a lot of people this is the other F-word, and I don’t understand it one bit.
Last week in one of my classes, we were discussing the women’s liberation movement in the 1970s. A girl started talking about how unfairly women were and still are sometimes treated and the advantages men have over women. I found myself nodding along and agreeing until her last sentence stilled me: “But I’m not a feminist.”
She felt the need to qualify her observations about women’s rights and inequality with the fact that she was not a feminist. I wanted to walk up to her after class, put my hand on her shoulder and break it to her gently that yes, she is a feminist. It’s terminal, ma’am. I’m so sorry.
It honestly baffles me when people answer “no” to the question, “Are you a feminist?” Even if you’re a man, but especially if you’re a woman. Even at this awesome time of political and social reform, centuries of societal enforcement that women are weak and inferior have seeped into women’s consciousness, so much so that some of us are offended when the implication is made that we are feminists.
There can also be a stigma against feminists – the idea that they hate all men, etc., etc. I think this is where the great disconnect occurs for those who support women’s rights but claim not to be feminists. I will let you in on a secret: I myself am a feminist, and I actually like a lot of the men in my life. Feminism is not about killing off the male population; it’s about educating the entire population regarding topics such as intersectionality, equality and female positivity in general.
Some women also claim not to be feminists in order to seem more appealing to the men present. If you have to say that you don’t think women deserve equal representation and rights to present yourself as less intimidating to men, those men probably don’t deserve to be around you anyway.
This might just be me, but I like making people uncomfortable when I tell them I’m a feminist. Do I challenge their preconceived notions of what feminism looks like? Awesome. Is my forthrightness about my beliefs intimidating? Great. If I can make people confront themselves and their motives and maybe change them for the better, then I’ll be happy.
Feminism might be considered an offensive subject in society but only to those it scares. It shouldn’t be considered a radical notion but it is. And until these things are changed, I have to tell you that when you talk extensively about the women’s rights but refuse to be labeled a feminist, maybe the movement itself isn’t the problem. Maybe it’s you.
Beth Lindly is a junior majoring in journalism. Her column runs biweekly on Tuesdays.
