What Is A Feminist?
A few days ago I read an article that had been posted on the Women's March Facebook page. It had been shared by the administrator(s) of that page from www.Bustle.com, "8 Issues To Support If You Call Yourself A Feminist," by Noor Al-Sibai.
From that article:
"One of the biggest wake-up calls in the 2016 elections took place around the issue of class — while Bernie Sanders deftly spoke to the working classes, Hillary Clinton failed to do so, and that failure to appeal to members of the lower American classes likely contributed to her loss."
I have lost count of the many opinion pieces that have been written about why Hillary Clinton lost the election. Several of which believe that Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren's critique of the Clinton campaign regarding Hillary's "not speaking to the working class" is wrong. So we have yet another opinion from a self-described feminist who in three sentences tells us that Bernie is good and Hillary is bad when speaking to the working class and that is likely to have contributed to her loss. Maybe she should have attributed Bernie's petulant and grudging support after he lost the nomination to her loss. I think that and his inability to get his supporters on board played a much bigger role. Don't forget the GOP buffoon candidate spoke loud and long to the working class. And they sadly bought it hook, line and sinker.
I am a Hillary supporter and I am loyal to the point of obsession. I absolutely disagree with the author and believe that that one paragraph should not have been in the article. The article itself is written in a style that sounds exclusive, not inclusive. She speaks of class as in the working class, but yet she speaks down to women in a college professor manner. I think that comes with being very young and arrogant.
If being a feminist means being a Bernie supporter, well then count me out. If you don't think voting for an accomplished, intelligent 30 year public servant who happens to be a woman is progressive, maybe you need to rethink what a feminist is. I decided to look at various websites to see what the definition of a feminist is.
"Feminism is a range of political movements, idealogies , and social movements that share a common goal: to define, establish, and achieve political, economic, personal, and social rights for women. This includes seeking to establish educational and professional opportunities for women that are equal to such opportunities for men." Source: Wikipedia
" Men and women need to work together toward the same cause — a society in which every member has the opportunity to flourish. Meanwhile, let’s not get stuck on the word feminism — or at least recognize that its paradigm-shifting radiance dims when pitting one woman’s fulfillment against another’s." Source : Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-laurino/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a_b_9269592.html
"The Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘a feminist’ simply as ‘An advocate or supporter of the rights and equality of women’. Yet the term ‘feminist’ has always been contentious. This is partly because it connotes militancy and an ‘anti-men’ stance, but also because it has come to be associated with elite groups of women."
I know who I am. I am a woman who for over five decades has believed in women's rights; equal pay for equal work; equality of the sexes; LGTBQ rights; a level playing field; my body, my choice and a woman's right to dignity. I don't like the idea of someone pigeon holing me. Stop putting labels on people; stop defining women by their choices and stop calling people names because you don't agree with them. In the past year, I have been called libtard, neoliberal, feminazi, snowflake, racist (for calling out a female CNN Trump supporter. Must have been a Russian troll who did not know the difference between sexism and racism), etc. I am truly disappointed that a group I thought would be inclusive and welcoming to women chose to make a negative political statement regarding the first female candidate for president from a major party. Is this the beginning of turning the March for Women movement into a Bernie Sanders support group? Is this group going to advocate feminism as an elitist movement which will disenfranchise a great many women and keep more women in the conservative arena?
When I marched on January 21, 2017, I marched with women, men and children who were there for many different causes; women's rights; climate change; gay rights; immigration; ban the wall; pro- choice; religious rights, public education, Trump's winning and Hillary's loss, etc. We came from all over the country from many different walks of life and age groups. It was a wonderful feeling to be with like-minded people. I joined that March because I was devastated by Hillary's loss.
After reading the above referenced post from the Women's March Facebook page, I was mildly irritated, enough so that I had a sleepless night. It is extremely unfortunate if this group is going to change directions. The March was a huge success, but the movement will become polarizing if it becomes overly political and speaks more to an elitist group of feminists rather than women of all ages and classes.
At my age, I appreciate people who don't feel the need to be condescending when they give their opinion. And always keep in mind, if you are not speaking in facts, it is just your opinion.
If you bash Hillary, I will always defend her. She is my hero. I don't know how she has the strength to keep standing and fighting after all the abuse she has taken during the campaign and after, but she is still out there and she is still being criticized. Hmmm, did Al Gore go through this after he lost?
I have never been one to be easily categorized. Maybe I'm not a feminist.
From that article:
"One of the biggest wake-up calls in the 2016 elections took place around the issue of class — while Bernie Sanders deftly spoke to the working classes, Hillary Clinton failed to do so, and that failure to appeal to members of the lower American classes likely contributed to her loss."
I have lost count of the many opinion pieces that have been written about why Hillary Clinton lost the election. Several of which believe that Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren's critique of the Clinton campaign regarding Hillary's "not speaking to the working class" is wrong. So we have yet another opinion from a self-described feminist who in three sentences tells us that Bernie is good and Hillary is bad when speaking to the working class and that is likely to have contributed to her loss. Maybe she should have attributed Bernie's petulant and grudging support after he lost the nomination to her loss. I think that and his inability to get his supporters on board played a much bigger role. Don't forget the GOP buffoon candidate spoke loud and long to the working class. And they sadly bought it hook, line and sinker.
I am a Hillary supporter and I am loyal to the point of obsession. I absolutely disagree with the author and believe that that one paragraph should not have been in the article. The article itself is written in a style that sounds exclusive, not inclusive. She speaks of class as in the working class, but yet she speaks down to women in a college professor manner. I think that comes with being very young and arrogant.
If being a feminist means being a Bernie supporter, well then count me out. If you don't think voting for an accomplished, intelligent 30 year public servant who happens to be a woman is progressive, maybe you need to rethink what a feminist is. I decided to look at various websites to see what the definition of a feminist is.
"Feminism is a range of political movements, idealogies , and social movements that share a common goal: to define, establish, and achieve political, economic, personal, and social rights for women. This includes seeking to establish educational and professional opportunities for women that are equal to such opportunities for men." Source: Wikipedia
" Men and women need to work together toward the same cause — a society in which every member has the opportunity to flourish. Meanwhile, let’s not get stuck on the word feminism — or at least recognize that its paradigm-shifting radiance dims when pitting one woman’s fulfillment against another’s." Source : Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-laurino/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a_b_9269592.html
"The Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘a feminist’ simply as ‘An advocate or supporter of the rights and equality of women’. Yet the term ‘feminist’ has always been contentious. This is partly because it connotes militancy and an ‘anti-men’ stance, but also because it has come to be associated with elite groups of women."
I know who I am. I am a woman who for over five decades has believed in women's rights; equal pay for equal work; equality of the sexes; LGTBQ rights; a level playing field; my body, my choice and a woman's right to dignity. I don't like the idea of someone pigeon holing me. Stop putting labels on people; stop defining women by their choices and stop calling people names because you don't agree with them. In the past year, I have been called libtard, neoliberal, feminazi, snowflake, racist (for calling out a female CNN Trump supporter. Must have been a Russian troll who did not know the difference between sexism and racism), etc. I am truly disappointed that a group I thought would be inclusive and welcoming to women chose to make a negative political statement regarding the first female candidate for president from a major party. Is this the beginning of turning the March for Women movement into a Bernie Sanders support group? Is this group going to advocate feminism as an elitist movement which will disenfranchise a great many women and keep more women in the conservative arena?
When I marched on January 21, 2017, I marched with women, men and children who were there for many different causes; women's rights; climate change; gay rights; immigration; ban the wall; pro- choice; religious rights, public education, Trump's winning and Hillary's loss, etc. We came from all over the country from many different walks of life and age groups. It was a wonderful feeling to be with like-minded people. I joined that March because I was devastated by Hillary's loss.
After reading the above referenced post from the Women's March Facebook page, I was mildly irritated, enough so that I had a sleepless night. It is extremely unfortunate if this group is going to change directions. The March was a huge success, but the movement will become polarizing if it becomes overly political and speaks more to an elitist group of feminists rather than women of all ages and classes.
At my age, I appreciate people who don't feel the need to be condescending when they give their opinion. And always keep in mind, if you are not speaking in facts, it is just your opinion.
If you bash Hillary, I will always defend her. She is my hero. I don't know how she has the strength to keep standing and fighting after all the abuse she has taken during the campaign and after, but she is still out there and she is still being criticized. Hmmm, did Al Gore go through this after he lost?
I have never been one to be easily categorized. Maybe I'm not a feminist.
RESIST, INSIST, PERSIST, ENLIST
The
Oxford English Dictionary defines ‘a feminist’ simply as ‘An advocate
or supporter of the rights and equality of women’. Yet the term
‘feminist’ has always been contentious. This is partly because it
connotes militancy and an ‘anti-men’ stance, but also because it has
come to be associated with elite groups of women. - See more at:
https://www.bl.uk/sisterhood/articles/what-is-a-feminist#sthash.4aEjlBuw.dpuf
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