Not Feminist Enough
Britt Karp
Issue date: 2/2/09 Section: Viewpoints
Last year I went to the 20th anniversary celebration of the Feminist Majority Foundation. Though my experience was incredibly amazing, I left feeling a little disappointed. Many of the female presenters spent their time speaking out against other women, outlining the type of woman we should strive to be and criticizing those that don't "measure up". I have found this attitude expressed by other self-proclaimed feminist students and academics. It's like they have developed this feminism calculator to determine whether or not other women qualify. Refuse to take your partner's last name? +3 points…oh but you want to be a mother? Sorry that's -5. Is career success your top priority? +4 points. But you like to dress up and shave your legs? Uh-oh I'm gonna have to take those 4 points away.
I don't mind professors pointing out the gender-typical behavior we're encouraged to take on, or female students taking advantage of progress made on their behalf. But I do take issue with women telling other women that they're not adequately fulfilling their role as females. First of all, this practice weakens the cause for women's equality. It acts to leave certain women out of this struggle and misuses our energy. It causes us to fight with each other over how women should act instead of working together towards a common goal of gender equality.
Secondly, I take issue with slimly defining what a "good woman" is because it seems to be the antithesis of what women are fighting for. Telling women that in order to be liberated they must do this and mustn't do that doesn't sound very liberating. In fact, it sounds like the kind pigeonholing we have tried to fight against! Let's say you so desperately want to have children but because it's "more feminist" you give up on your desire for professional success. Is that empowerment? I'm not talking about making necessary sacrifices, I'm talking about giving up on the things you love just to fulfill the feminist take on what a "good woman" looks like. Have we fought so hard against men confining and defining us just to have other women do the same to us?
I don't mind professors pointing out the gender-typical behavior we're encouraged to take on, or female students taking advantage of progress made on their behalf. But I do take issue with women telling other women that they're not adequately fulfilling their role as females. First of all, this practice weakens the cause for women's equality. It acts to leave certain women out of this struggle and misuses our energy. It causes us to fight with each other over how women should act instead of working together towards a common goal of gender equality.
Secondly, I take issue with slimly defining what a "good woman" is because it seems to be the antithesis of what women are fighting for. Telling women that in order to be liberated they must do this and mustn't do that doesn't sound very liberating. In fact, it sounds like the kind pigeonholing we have tried to fight against! Let's say you so desperately want to have children but because it's "more feminist" you give up on your desire for professional success. Is that empowerment? I'm not talking about making necessary sacrifices, I'm talking about giving up on the things you love just to fulfill the feminist take on what a "good woman" looks like. Have we fought so hard against men confining and defining us just to have other women do the same to us?
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Emily Birnbaum
posted 9/18/09 @ 3:13 AM PST
I've considred this before and I completely agree. The point of femenist activism is to support women who are fighting against constricting social boundaries, not to bash women who choose to live within them. (Continued…)
edit my paper
posted 12/21/09 @ 11:34 AM PST
I think that author`s point of view is right.
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