What ISN'T a feminist?

[Taverner]

I am a feminist, as are many here. Many of us have varied opinions, and most of us disagree.

Feminism is a big tent, bigger than the Democratic Party and bigger than Liberalism as a whole.

But what isn't feminism?

If you ask me, I would say faux-feminist authors like Caitlin Flanagan and Danielle Crittenden are wolves in sheep's clothing.

They rail against second and third wave feminism saying it's out of touch with women, and then go on to celebrate homemaking, church, being a stay at home mom and the other staples of 1950's Americana.

What say you?

[Warren DeMontague]

1. Sarah Palin. Phylis Shlafly. Anyone anti-choice.

For starts.

[obamanut2012]

2. Patricia Heaton and her "Feminists For Life" are NOT feminists

Good one.

[Neoma]

3. I support whatever a woman wants to do with her life.

I don't care if they cook or knit or whatever.

What isn't feminist: telling women that they HAVE to do those things.

[LadyHawkAZ]

4. Anything that tells a woman she MUST fit a particular mold

in order to be a proper woman, is not feminist.

[Whisp]

5. a woman who makes it to a power position

and continually has to show how 'tough' she is - just like the boys.


so whats' the point then if things will be the same whether men or women lead? That's why I'm not all That fond of a first women president (but it sure would be a BFD if a Elizabeth Warren got it), all I care about is someone who can change things for the better - man, woman, black, white, straight, gay, catholic, muslim, etc., all those things mean nothing but the hearts and brains and bravery are what counts.

[Neoma]

6. What bothers me more...

Women... Besides super models with weapons, aren't shown to be tough.

Unless you count Murphy Brown I guess.

[Taverner]

7. Aurora from Terms of Endearment?

[Neoma]

8. Never saw that.

[Zorra]

9. Women and men who believe men are superior to women due to their belief in,

and obeisance/adherence to, misogynistic religious institutions and the dogma of these religions. These women and men believe that women are inferior to men because of their belief that women were created inferior to men, and therefore are inherently inferior to men, because they believe that some deity/church/clergyman/scripture has told them that this is true, and they accept this as true, and act accordingly. These misogynistic, patriarchal religions are often prevalent belief systems within societies and cultures that characteristically have an institutionalized misogynistic patriarchal system.

Contempt for women appears to be a cornerstone of both Paulism, Islam, and Mormonism:

Example One:

"But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (I Corinthians 11:3)

"For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man." (I Corinthians 11:8-9)

"Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." (I Timothy 2:11-14)

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything." (Ephesians 5:22-24)

Example Two:

"They ask you about menstruation. Say: 'It is an indisposition. Keep aloof from women during their menstrual periods and do not approach them until they are clean again; when they are clean, have intercourse with them whence God enjoined you....'" Quran 2:222,

Men have authority over women because God has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them. Good women are obedient. They guard their unseen parts because God has guarded them. As for those from whom you fear disobedience, admonish them and forsake them in beds apart, and beat them." Quran 4:34

"Women shall with justice have rights similar to those exercised against them, although men have a status above women." Quran 2:228

"If you fear that you cannot treat [orphan girls] with fairness, then you may marry other women who seem good to you: two, three, or four of them. But if you fear that you cannot maintain equality among them, marry one only or any slave-girl you may own." Quran 4:3,

Example Three:

Mormonism has created an ingenious system of oppression, in which opposition towards men is tantamount to arguing with God. The Mormon religion makes no distinction between clergy and laity, at least with regard to men (Laake 9). All Mormon men are ordained as members of the "priesthood," with the absolute authority to preach the gospel, bestow blessings, prophecy, perform healings and baptisms, and generally speak for God. "Their priesthood gives them the right to advise and instruct the Saints (i.e., Mormons), and their jurisdiction extends over all things spiritual and temporal" (Snowden 134).

At age twelve, boys become members of the Aaronic, or lesser priesthood, and at nineteen become eligible for the Melchezedek, or higher priesthood. Members of either priesthood are higher authorities on everything than are non-members. Women are, of course, excluded from the priesthood. This practice in effect says that a woman's prepubescent son is more qualified to advise her than she is to advise him. The official explanation is that women are kept from having the priesthood because women are more spiritual than men, therefore, men need to have the priesthood to teach them how to be better people (Johnson 86). Women are also told that, because they have the all- important ability to bear children, men need the power of the priesthood merely to remain equal with them.

The most notorious example of Mormon treatment of women is, of course, the practice of polygamy. In early 1843, Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon church, announced to the press that, despite rumors to the contrary, the Latter-Day Saints did not practice polygamy and believed it was an abomination (Wallace 53). He spoke the truth as far as the vast majority of Mormons was concerned, for polygamy is expressly forbidden in the Book of Mormon. However, Joseph himself had been married to at least eleven women besides his legal wife by 1843. (Wallace 52). The first of these, in 1835, was a seventeen year old orphan who had been taken in by his wife, Emma Smith. Joseph apparently married all of these women without the knowledge of either his wife or his fellow Mormons (Wallace 52).

On July 12, 1843, Joseph Smith declared that God had given him a new revelation concerning marriage and he revealed it to his brother and other high-ranking male church members. This revelation from God, at one point, specifically instructed "mine handmaid Emma Smith, Joseph's wife" to accept this doctrine and allow Joseph to have as many wives as he liked, as long as they were all "virtuous and pure" (Snowden 191). Emma Smith was a very strong-willed woman, and Joseph was so frightened of her wrath that he sent his brother Hyrum to inform her of God's plan. Emma was understandably scornful, and threw Hyrum out of her house (Wallace 55). Later, she managed to obtain a written copy of the revelation, and while in Joseph's presence, tossed it directly into the fireplace. However, the damage had already been done. Joseph is said to have been married to twenty-seven wives at the time of his death (Snowden 282). Emma left the church after his death and later denied that her husband had ever practiced polygamy (Wallace 65).

There are other major dogmas that blatantly state that women are inferior to men. Women and men who are adherents of these dogmas and buy into the misogyny of these dogmas are not Feminist, IMO.

And these dogmas themselves are, of course, not Feminist.