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Are you a feminist? (If so why, if not why not?) (lemmy.blahaj.zone)

submitted 4 days ago by dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Might help also to describe what you think feminism is, since it's one of those terms that is overloaded.

I once had a physical therapist tell me she wasn't a feminist because she thought women couldn't be as physically capable as men when serving as soldiers, and seemed to believe feminism requires treating women exactly like men.

I told her I was a feminist because I believe in equal rights for men and women, an idea she did not seem so opposed to.

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[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

oh interesting, the idea is that being a feminist is more than just about beliefs, it implies something more, like being an activist ...

I tend to think identifying as a feminist is a lower bar, it just signifies you are in favor of equal rights among genders. I would have no problem identifying as a feminist just broadly - like on a bio, or in conversation.

I have to think about your meaning more, though - I feel like I have some sense of that, it's maybe a bit like being "vegan" - it implies not just a belief, but maybe also actions you take. Perhaps being a feminist implies something like that in your world, that you are actively engaged in the feminist movement - whether organizing, theorizing, etc.

Either way, thanks for expanding my mind!

[–] hakase@lemmy.zip 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

it just signifies you are in favor of equal rights among genders

It doesn't "just signify that" though, as much as feminists act like it does. The term "feminist" does signify a person who, at least ostensibly, is in favor of equal rights among genders, but using that term also, necessarily, implies belief in the harmful dogma that is inseparable from the term itself (patriarchy theory, etc.). This creates a false dichotomy that makes people feel that in order to support equal rights they must also buy into feminist dogma, and that's not at all the case.

Luckily, though, feminism doesn't have a monopoly on gender equality, and it's important to let people know that fact, both because of how incredibly misleading "feminism just means gender equality" is and because there are plenty of other more useful, more egalitarian frameworks through which to view the push for equality.