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

I think often about this question and how it affects how we view our political lives. I'm curious as to how the rest of you feel.

Do you consider yourself a feminist? single choice
	Yes
	No
	Sometimes
	Other
Votes accepted starting: 05/12/08 09:47 AM You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

I consider myself a pro-life feminist in the grand tradition of Susan B. Anthony.

I do not consider myself a feminist. What my ancestors did for the feminine my more recent predecessors have made very ugly. I just don't like what feminism represents anymore, to selfish and too much 'me'ism' in an effort to feminize even that which should not be feminine. Does that make sense? I have changed my mind after watching behaviors I found appalling I guess. And I am not that old, so that can't be it.

I understand what you are saying Calligrapher.

It is almost like some in the feminist movement are not only trying to get women treated equally as men, but want women to be men.

Sometimes I feel the feminist movement has taken away our right to be feminine. If we don't act tough all the time, then we are somehow letting down other women.

Like me, a SAHM, I'm one of the biggest let-downs the feminist movement has - yet I feel like I should be able to celebrate my choices just as much as the female CEO.

Oh yes, I get that as a SAHM. If I bring my children out in public I really get it sometimes! Yet many famous feminist women have died alone and childless and lamented that fact. It's not all they pretend it to be. I am feminine, I am a woman and a strong one at that. I parent, I teach, I nurse, I contend with a child's rare and random genetic deletion, I diaper, I homebirthed and breastfed for pity sake. Yet, I ride 4 wheelers, can change my own oil (though why bother when you can pay someon to do it at your house these days)work on my Suburban, paint, build, run a tiller. There needs to be balance in life. Living on either end of an extreme isn't healthy. My sons will be masculine men, my daughters will be capable women. I figure if some militant feminist doesn't like me, too bad. Too much Celtic blood in me says they can lump it.

I am a very strong woman who was raised by a Dad and Step-Mom who told me,
"Female or male doesn't matter-You're a thoroughbred. Run your own race."

I also like the Indian saying,
"A lion's cubs are lions all, male and female.
Both have teeth and claws."

Let us define what we are trying to be or not to be shall we:
(From Answers.com)
Feminist:
1)Belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.
2)The movement organized around this belief.

I pick number one and I AM a firm believer in that definition and what it stands for...what "I" am or am not is totally MY business what others may think is their's...that IS what equality is all about afterall...

The question to answer is what defines "social, political, and economic equality." To me political equality is the right to fully participate in our governmental society. It would include the right to vote, to speak out on issues, and to run for/hold any office. Economic equality would include the right to employment in any job for which you are qualified and the right to be paid the same as any other employee for the same work; the rights to own property and make your own finacial decisions. Social equality is something I have more trouble defining. It would include the freedom to fully participate in society as an autonomous individual, as compared to places where women are restricted in what they can wear, what they can do, whether they can drive, etc. It would be interesting to see how others expound on these rights.

I am totally with you on this. A feminist "friend" spent a year and a half verbally abusing me over my personal beliefs and decisions on how to live my life. I decided right then and there that if that is the way feminists behave in the name of feminism, I wanted no part of it. If people have to get ugly and mean in order to further their cause, that tells me right there that their cause is not good. She eventually apologized but then dropped me as a friend when I had my 3rd child and was completely a stay at home mom. I honestly don't know what I did to turn her so against me. I am glad I am done with her and with having to hear about her cause.

Sadly, without exception EVERY marginalzed group has HAD to get ugly and mean in order to actually HAVE what is constitutionally theirs by law...I am guessing it is a good thing that some of us do not mind fighting those fights. My grandmother is 101 and she can tel some stories about the plight of women fighting for the vote; she knows because she was there...

If you think you know what happened then peruse this(and THIS was a small beginning):

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