When we asked for a new word for feminism — hoping we could do better than Beyoncé, who suggested something “catchy like ‘bootylicious'” — we were, obviously, being tongue-in-cheek. There’s nothing wrong with the word feminism, and if you believe in equality, you really should embrace the word — there’s strength in numbers. However, for many it’s not so simple.
As Limeade wrote:
It boggles my mind to no end when I see comments (from women in particular) that begin with “I’m no feminist, but…” or those that try to radically separate themselves from any word related to feminist or feminism. Civil and social and equal rights for women is all feminism IS and what a feminist supports.
Really, the negative connotations should be directed at people that are NOT feminists, thus implying they do NOT support civil, social, and equal rights for women to be equal to that of men. Because, hello, that’s all it is. It isn’t asking for special privileges above men, it isn’t asking to flip the script of society around with men on the bottom rung, and it isn’t even about man-hating whatsoever. It’s about equality. Simple. Demonizing the word(s) isn’t helping anyone.
That said, we got some great comments on the original piece, as well as some interesting emails.
Alexandre argued:
Personally i really like the term feminist and think it’s ignorant for young people in 2011 to try and distance themselves from it. i believe that the taboo associated with that term is a symptom of the systematic way that women and women’s interests are stigmatized and reduced to either trivial or banshee-esue concerns.
I also believe that the treatment of feminists as a humorless ‘man haters’ finds it’s pop culture roots in the very strategic and aggressive treatment the feminists and feminist politics in sleazy gentelmen’s mags like playboy, hustler and GQ.
it’s so like our culture, both women and men to feel uncomfortable wearing the prefix ‘fem’ because all of those effing misogynists successfully convinced the world that Fem and Masc are opposites, moreover that Fem is the opposite of power & powerful.
Emily thought:
Why does “fem” need to be involved in an ideology that should gain the interest of everyone, not just those that would define themselves as “fem.” Also, let’s face it…”Feminism” as a term is notoriously jaded and has a weird set of characteristics that go along with; ie-feminists must be men hating, bra burning, no shaving feminazis. Cut the crap, the new term should be “FUCK PATRIARCHY”. I mean the most fundamental usage of the term patriarchy. White male dominance that has enabled (specifically) our society to reap the benefits of and perpetuate sexism, racism, ageism et al. I’m fascinated by the new feminism of Rihanna, Beyonce, Kesha, Britney, and Nicki. They run the world.
Kristy wrote: