BellaOnline Forums News and Politics Women's Issues Do you consider yourself a feminist?

I think those that choose to stay home and raise kids and/or be housewives have threatened the feminist movement so they (feminists) take on a defensive stance. After all, they pretty much fought to be able to have a pretty different lifestyle from that and by choosing that lifestyle over what they fought for might negate their purpose.

However... there are enough women who also choose to be career women, working wives and/or mothers, that I don't feel those who choose to stay home are negating the purpose of feminism at all. They are exemplifying the FREEDOM we have to CHOOSE!

I've actually recently encountered more attitudes AGAINST the working mom, so I am seeing a different aspect here... on one local board I visit regularly, my peers are saying that Sarah Palin should not be running for Vice President because she has 5 kids, one of which is special needs and one of which is 17 and pregnant. They feel her place is at home with the kids.

These are supposedly liberal-minded democrats who typically support women in the workplace... the one who is most vocal (in particular) is a mom who runs several of her own businesses from home.

It boggles MY mind that women (WOMEN!) who are supposed to be liberal would be so judgmental and sexist when it comes to a fellow-woman's choice to work. I would much rather see criticism's over her politics/beliefs/platform than judgment based on something that men never seem to have to worry about.

I just want equal pay for equal jobs. Women haven't been given the advantages in the past that we have now. It takes a long time to catch up.

When people start reaching for criticism in something like that, truth be told, they've got nothin else - they're desperate and/or threatened.

_____________________________

Elleise
Clairvoyance Editor

I've still been pondering this. In my women's studies class we are learning all about feminism and based on what I am learning, I would say that a true feminist cannot be pro-life. Not based on their (the textbooks and what they are teaching) standards.

I say this because we were given the example of the women's sufferage movement. There were women who only wanted the right to vote and didn't really care to change anything else. They were not true feminists. The true feminists are the one's who fight in every area of inequality for women, including reproductive rights. So the people who call themselves "pro-life feminists" are not true feminists in that sense because they are cherry-picking which causes they support or don't support.

As a side note, I found the official "feminists for life" website today but have not yet had a chance to look it all over to see exactly where they stand on the abortion issue and what they are wanting to do about it.

Now that I'm an adult and have talked to lots of women, I realize I was raised a little differently. I hear other women say that girls are socialized to be mothers and caregivers. Not in my house.

I was told to go to school, go to work and don't look at boys, don't like boys, don't have children. My parents meant well truly they did and as an adult I understand what they meant. As a teenager they didn't want me to get too involved with boys and get pregnant. But there was no balance. Never once did they say "when you get older and start your family..."

So there I was 28, married and pregnant, I kept hearing my father's voice in my head: "have two and three kids and it ruins your life." I was groomed to be a provider NOT a mother. So this caused a lot of internal conflict and turmoil. In short I do have some feminist sensibilities in terms of being independent, working and providing, but wouldn't say I'm a card carrying feminist or anything like that.

Well the thing about Palin is that when you consider the whole hearth/home/family first rhetoric that the Republicans spout, you can't help but wonder, well WHO is and has been taking care of Palin's five children when she's out governing? If it's her husband or another family member well alrighty then. But if it's a paid nanny...it's just hypocritical I think.

I've read plenty of interviews that explains who takes care of her kids. It's not hard to find. She has a large extended family who helps her with the kids.

Even if it was a nanny, so what? There are a lot of rich people who employ nannies so they can work from home and not be interrupted constantly, or so they can work outside the home and know their kid is cared for. How is a nanny any different than sending your child to a daycare or babysitter? I'm a republican and I don't take issue with moms who choose to work outside of the home. I am one. I think attitudes are changing and people just don't want to see that. If working and having kids at the same time means your family is not coming first, then we have a lot of families out there failing right now and not putting family first because MOST families cannot get by on a one wager earner income.

I just don't agree with that sentiment. For the longest time this is what feminists have fought for, and now that they are getting it and people in the public's eye are doing it, they still aren't happy. Instead of giving women credit and encouraging them, we are going back to the whole, well she isn't putting her family first attitude. The republican party may have held that opinion in the past, but younger generations are getting more involved and they have a different opinion.

Grrl, I have been all over the forum today making up for lost time and am seeing you all over it. I assure you I am not stalking you! Here's an article I wrote "Feminist, Womanist or Simply Woman" it might give you some good places to start research for your class, I remember I had some good research links...BellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!

Ok...there's the link again. I see how I screwed that up!! You guys have a good night!
Feminist, Womanist or Simply WomanBellaOnline ALERT: Raw URLs are not allowed in these forums for security reasons. Please use UBB code. If you don't know how to do UBB code just post here for help - we will help out!

Hey, stalk away, at least it's intelligent conversation! LOL I always appreciate that, even if we don't always agree. Thanks for the link. I'm going to go read that now.