This archive Sunday post by fMhLisa was originally posted on December 31, 2004. To see the original post and comments, go here.
Recently Renee asked,
“What *is* a feminist? I love the differences in genders. I love that some responsibilities come more naturally to a woman and some to a man. I don’t want to be a man. I love being a woman.”
Some women, some men. I love being a women too, most feminists do. Who needs testicles anyway, silly ugly little things. Just kidding. Love your testicles, gentlemen. I just don’t want them.
“I find it ironic that people I’d deem as major feminists seem like they want to be men. It seems like some of those women devalue the intrisic (sp?) beauty and responsibilities we already have as women.”
Again, some women, even most women. There are lots of different women, with lots of different dispositions. And I have yet to meet a feminist who want to be a man. Maybe they weren’t ‘major’ enough.
And since we haven’t had this conversation in at least two weeks, let’s do this again.
Here’s the thing. I obviously don’t think of ‘feminist’ the same way that Renee does. Frankly, I get frustrated with this kind of thing. Why do so many women spend so much time telling me all the reasons why they Love all the progress that feminists have fought so hard for, and yet reject the word.
“I love equal pay, I love that I can vote, and own property and get a divorce if my husband is beating me. I love that I can have an opinion that will be taken seriously. I love wearing pants. I love that I can go to school and get a job and do anything I want. But I’m NOT a feminist.”
Ug.
Feminist does not mean you want to be a man, why would Renee think that? Feminist does not mean you reject motherhood as unimportant, just the opposite. Feminism is about choices for women, and valuing women in all our needs and differences and ambitions. Whatever they may be. Darnit!
And since my floors are still not quite done (can you believe that!) and I don’t have as much time to blog as I would like, I’ll just ask this question . . .
When Renee hears feminist, she hears man-hating man-wanna-be (isn’t that oxymoronish). I hear feminist and think that women and women’s things are important and worth fighting for.
When you hear the word “feminist” What do you hear?