I did it. I finally came out of the closet. I told a friend I am a feminist and she laughed in my face.
Granted, on the surface it’s a pretty unbelievable assertion. After all, I’m a young mother of two boys. I stay at home to raise them full time. My husband is the primary breadwinner. I can occasionally be found bent over a toilet scrubbing the heck out of it.
Not exactly the poster child for NOW.
But for me, feminism is about choice. Because of feminism I have the choice to vote, the choice to get an education, the choice to run for public office, work in medicine, or the choice to stay at home.
I once read an essay about how true feminists had to be lesbians. The author argued that a French soldier would never fight all day in the resistance only to go home and sleep with a Nazi. Any married woman was essentially doing the same thing.
It’s probably the only essay I can recall from my college days because it really irked me. It represents a form of feminism that has swung so far from the daily life of the average woman who loves equality between the sexes but also loves her husbands, children, and the opportunity to become whatever she wants.
One of my favorite champions of feminism, Leonard Pitts, recently addressed the subject. He said years of negative association has landed the term “feminist…in syntactical purgatory.” Women who espouse its principles shun identification as a feminist.
I certainly don’t want to return to way things were before feminism. Back to the days (and I’m quoting Pitts again) “…of casual beatings. Of casual rape. Of words like ‘old maid’ and spinster.’ ….Of going to school to find a man. Of getting an allowance and needing a husband’s permission. Of taking all you spirit, all your dreams, all your ambition, aspiration, creativity, and pounding them down until they fit a space no larger than a casserole dish.”
Because of feminism my life is better and so is yours. Because of feminism we are free to pursue our dreams. So I’ll say it again, hopefully this time without the laughter.
I am a feminist.
No laughter – only applause! The public face of feminism *should* be more diverse – I hope others follow your example.
I am a feminist too. No laughter here either. I stay at home with two kids, freelance graphic design on the side and love what feminism in it’s honest form has given me. I love this article. Thanks for sharing.
I like that “in it’s honest form” because I really think we’ve gotten side tracked. Thanks for commenting! And I always think it’s awesome when someone figures out a way to raise kids from home and still do a little something for income or for yourself on the side.
Whoa Natalie – I got on here, read your entries and thought “WOW – HUGE topic!!”. I don’t think your quote box is big enough for all I need to write so I will voice simply here.
“Feminist” is an extremely easy, tricky, or volatile word, among other things, depending on who you talk to, but I think nobody would dispute it means something completely different to everyone. Unfortunately, most people only see the version written in the newspapers or on t.v.
I would say I am NOT a feminist just because the world now seems to define feminism as someone who not only believes in, but promotes gay lifestyles, women having career first, abortion, etc…all the ills of the world have somehow become wrapped up in feminist rights and I don’t want anyone to even associate me with any of that. The ole “If it’s called a duck it must walk like a duck theory”.
If you don’t believe in these things (i.e. the media’s feminist agenda) you are said to not have a brain, to not know how to think. If you stay home with your children you are said to be “boring and stupid”.
I don’t think the feminists quite know really what to make of someone like Sarah Palin so she is bashed.
The raging feminists of today think all of the values and morals that are in sync with God and the gospel are out dated and don’t apply.
When the feminist movement started it was about equality, I don’t have a problem with that because that is in keeping with the gospel. Now it is just about getting rid of traditional families and God. Satan is using it as a tool.
Now with all that said, I understand where your personal statement of feminism is coming from so it is probably good you have a blog to explain it but isn’t it sad that it has to be explained?
I will enjoy reading future installments! Good luck with the writing:))
You are so right, Cherie! It is such a shame that we have to explain what we mean by feminist.
The liberal feminist mentality just makes me crazy – and I’m tired of them saying they support women and then watch them attack anyone who doesn’t fall in line with their views. Just doesn’t seem to be very (to use their term) equitable.
So, I guess that’s where the blog comes from.
Thanks for commenting. I’ll always be interested to what you have to say for future posts.