tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633361694976815244.post518201605159975096..comments2019-11-20T04:52:03.467-06:00Comments on Youthemisms: FeminismStephanie Smelyanskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03102082997551938671noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633361694976815244.post-530427539898504892015-03-09T09:16:10.303-05:002015-03-09T09:16:10.303-05:00Kali,
I agree with you that feminism is (today) a ...Kali,<br />I agree with you that feminism is (today) a total misnomer, thought it wasn't when the movement first started. One of the pros of keeping the label is that the name is attached to a movement with a lot of momentum and it's easier to achieve things if you have past accomplishments riding on your back. The con is that the movement and the word carry so much baggage that maybe the name is hindering the movement. I'd love to call the movement for gender and sex equality "humanism" or even just "gender equality" (the no-brainer title) but I think that changing the name distances the accomplishments of feminists past (not necessarily a bad thing) and makes it really hard for the movement to gain speed and actually accomplish something.Stephanie Smelyanskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03102082997551938671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633361694976815244.post-16434852487055357472015-03-08T20:22:51.529-05:002015-03-08T20:22:51.529-05:00Steph -
I actually wrote an column about this sam...Steph - <br />I actually wrote an column about this same topic in the Oracle, and I am in total accordance with you. But someone once said something to me that made me look at the situation a whole lot differently. Feminism could be a misnomer.<br />The concept and the actually definition of the world, for all those informed, describes support for both genders, but the word in its roots is perhaps a misleading way to describe what so many support. Don't get me wrong, I will still vehemently preach feminism, but part of me wants to call myself a humanist instead because that's really what it's about, everyone being equally human. Although women take on more of the struggle, maybe we should start preaching humanism. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633361694976815244.post-73623130453260344482015-03-06T09:32:30.327-06:002015-03-06T09:32:30.327-06:00Ruxi,
I think that everyone should accept that fem...Ruxi,<br />I think that everyone should accept that feminism means believing in the equality of the sexes (and now genders). However, what that means in practice is something that's fluid and changes from people to people in my opinion. I think it's dangerous that some people think that feminism means man-hating or female superiority so it's important that there's a widely accepted dictionary definition that's progressive but not controversial. Some people apply the definition to female empowerment, other people use it for women to gain the same opportunities as men. Feminism can have a personal meaning for people, but that shouldn't invalidate the dictionary definition.Stephanie Smelyanskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03102082997551938671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3633361694976815244.post-19112400073814855152015-03-05T15:37:21.336-06:002015-03-05T15:37:21.336-06:00Stephanie,
I really like how you explored the wor...Stephanie, <br />I really like how you explored the word "feminism" in the different contexts in which it appears! Honestly, I think feminism has become so personal for so many people that sometimes you can't even pin down a definition that works for everyone. Perhaps there is still one single definition of feminism and many people just miss the point, but I think it's one of those words that gets its timelessness and power from being so malleable to the individual. For example, feminism to me means that I know my worth as a woman, but I feel no anger towards men as a whole. For other people, like those on Tumblr, feminism means something else, and I can't say I agree with everything. <br />Do you think that we should just accept that feminism is just one of those liquid words that takes on a different meaning for everyone? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com