Comments on: Are You Ever Reluctant, Outside of Feminist Circles, to Call Yourself a Feminist?

By: DontFearTheReefer

DontFearTheReefer — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 07:22:12 +0000

When I was in high school, I would go out of my way to state that I wasn’t a feminist because I thought that it would make me seem unattractive. I hope I can be forgiven for my youthful ignorance; I wised up pretty quickly when I got to college. After I stopped caring what people thought, I even reached a point where I was actively trying to alienate people who I saw as unfeminist, or at least bring them out of the woodwork, by declaring myself. Sometimes I feel really reactionary and I think I’ve probably gotten too strident, but I go to a big public university where frat culture runs rampant, and sometimes I feel like I see misogyny, sexism and the degradation of women everywhere I turn. The catalyst for this new, reactionary side of me was a women’s studies course I took last semester. For a class that was made up primarily of, I would assume, self-identified feminists, there was a lot of unfeminist bullshit being thrown around in discussion. I feel like I have to be vocal about what I believe because I see feminism dying all around me. Which sounds kind of bleak, but being an out-and-proud feminist has also allowed to find a few like-minded people on campus who I wouldn’t have met otherwise, so it’s not all bad.

By: dancingteacups

dancingteacups — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 20:36:18 +0000

Hmm. I don’t know if I ever come out and say, “I’m a feminist” apropos of nothing. Usually if people ask me straight out it’s because I’ve made a feminist-sounding remark (or, let’s face it, gone off on a rant, that happens too). And then my answer is, “well, obviously.” Being raised by a feminist mother, it’s more of a fact of life for me than something I’ve chosen to commit myself to. At this point I don’t know how to not be a feminist. It’s usually obvious to everyone I spend more than ten minutes talking to about politics, I imagine.

By: fabulousrobots

fabulousrobots — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 17:07:28 +0000

I do not hesitate ever. It’s how I’ve been raised, and I don’t really care if people dislike me because I am a feminist. That means they fucking suck.
I have a BA in Women’s Studies and I am so proud of it. I also have really awesome friends, a super cool boyfriend… all of whom support the evil feminist agenda.
My coworkers constantly talk bad about themselves and their bodies. Sometimes I can’t take it anymore and tell them we are all attractive, educated women and we should have a women-positive office where we don’t demean ourselves.
One of them will say, “Oh that’s right, you’re a feminist.”
Damn straight.

By: yogarugbywork

yogarugbywork — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:10:42 +0000

I had not given much thought to the issue until someone told me I was a feminist.

I kinda thought I wasn’t nearly active or political enough to have earned the label. Her rationale was that being in a male dominated career and sport and EXPECTING to be treated as an equal and with respect made me a feminist.

I still feel that “feminists” must be more vocal and active than I am, but I like the idea that girls can look at what I do and know that the door is open for them too and that boys see women CAN officiate men’s sports and be scientists.

By: Bekka

Bekka — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:00:36 +0000

I have to field defenses on feminism quite often actually. My boyfriend is WWII re-enactor and I love the opportunity to dress up, look pretty, and surprise the big boys when I can drink more, spit farther, talk more eloquently and intelligently than they ever could (even when drunk!)

Often times they try and dismiss it as “angry feminist man hating bullshit” but I’ve actually changed a few minds. It’s not easy changing an ultra-conservative’s mind to see my way, but I do it.

Unfortunately the general response is that they pull my partner aside and say something along the lines of “You need to keep that woman on a shorter leash”. He always defends me though and tells them that I am my own person with thoughts and opinions and I’m not afraid to express them, besides, if he did try to “keep me on a leash”, he would have an incredible backlash to deal with! I’m so glad to have a man in my life who understands and supports feminism.

I try to never announce “I’m a feminist” if I can avoid it, but it becomes blatantly apparent very quickly. I do however, correct people, even strangers, when I hear them getting off woman-hating bullshit. I try very hard to keep my female friend self-deprecating themselves.

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 17:58:19 +0000

I am a teacher and after hearing three degrading comments directed towards women in two days (this seems to be part of the everyday language of male high school students), I made my announcement in class, “I never want to hear that again! I am a feminist and it really disappoints me to hear sexist comments repeatedly from guys in this school.” That is when I walked away and sat at my desk for a few minutes to cool off.

It is strange to me that whore, bitch, and cunt are common words used by male teenagers. They usually say they are just joking, but these gentleman need to become aware that comments like these are derogatory and offensive and joking or not, they are not okay to say. These situations are ignored way too often, making these comments more and more acceptable. Luckily, these gentlemen have a feminist teacher who is going to speak up.

I am becoming more and more comfortable with announcing my feminism when I feel it is necessary and yesterday it definitely was.

By: SpicyPlumChatni

SpicyPlumChatni — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:42:46 +0000

If I were asked point blank, I would always answer in the affirmative.
In social setting that consists of my peers, I tend to not worry about railing against patriarchy or calling people out on their sexism and misogyny. I do tone myself down considerably when I am in the company of my older relatives or friends of my parents. I will still call a spade a spade, just more politely. In such situations I simply point out that I find such and such sexist because of … I don’t argue beyond stating my view because the older generations simply dismiss me and use my confrontational attitude to make my parent’s lives miserable.

I have never unidentified as a feminist as a result of wondering what people will think or if they will react negatively towards me. The only time I have been reluctant to self identify as a feminist, is when feminists have ignored complex issues of race, immigration etc. and isolated immigrant women and women of colour. I have (and continue to do so now) spent a lot of time wondering if feminism does include a migrant woman of colour because there have been plenty of moments where I felt I was invisible to the movement.

P.S: I came here via Feministing and am thrilled to hear your voices in detail since I have always enjoyed your comments on Feministing and Jezebel. Thanks and good luck.

By: CollegeBookworm

CollegeBookworm — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 04:34:53 +0000

I pretty much always call myself a feminist. My friends- who are generally of the ‘I agree with feminist ideas but I’m not a feminist’ type- are all aware of my feminism. But like Britni, I’m studying Women and Gender Studies (majoring, probably) and that makes it more obvious, when I talk about my classes and I’m spending an entire semester on women’s health. Plus, I’m in The Vagina Monologues, and our campus feminist organization. It’s kind of a duh.

By: aspiringexpatriate

aspiringexpatriate — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:39:32 +0000

Actually, I never claim to be a feminist. Just like I never claim to be a nice, decent, or good guy. Because I don’t think I can give myself a title that deserves respect. But I do tell people I can be a bit of a bastard. Because, well, can’t we all?

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:59:43 +0000

I love throwing it out there that I’m a feminist and seeing how people react. If they react poorly, or seem unsure, then I tell them the dictionary definition of feminism.

fem⋅i⋅nism
[fem-uh-niz-uhm]
–noun
the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes

Nowhere in there is anything said about hairy legs, hating men, sexual orientation, or brassieres.