***This is my last post here until graduate school is done but I'll comment from time to time but I felt it was something necessary to bring up to spark debate here***
Recently my girlfriend and I started discussing feminism in relation to western civilization, people of color, and all that is in between. It was quite interesting because I didn't know she was feminist until we started talking about social issues and I noticed she was quite outspoken in her reference to women (mind you upon making her point she always referenced women and oppression). During the conversation, she exclaimed with pride "and yes I am a feminist!" with such a feisty attitude it was quite funny. However, I informed her I'm an egalitarian, and I believe when we discuss issues of equality, it should be across genders, races, religions, disabilities etc
When I think of feminism I think of the scholastic literature of Catherine Mackinnon and Andrea Dworkin who famously exclaimed that pornography was rape. In fact, Dworkin once stated in the following:
"Romantic love, in pornography as in life, is the mythic celebration of female negation. For a woman, love is defined as her willingness to submit to her own annihilation.... The proof of love is that she is willing to be destroyed by the one whom she loves, for his sake. For the woman, love is always self-sacrifice, the sacrifice of identity, will, and bodily integrity, in order to fulfill and redeem the masculinity of her lover."
Catharine Mackinnon followed suit and once said:
"Show me an abuse of women in society, I'll show it to you made sex in the pornography. If you want to know who is being hurt in this society, go see what is being done and to whom in pornography and then go look for them other places in the world. You will find them being hurt in just that way."
Dworkin:
"I have spent 20 years writing these books. Had I wanted to say men are beasts and scream, that takes 30 seconds."
Although these are two radical feminists their view, their literature and views are being taught in women's studies courses and many young impressionable girls tend to end up like this woman:
What is Feminism?
According to Merriam Websters dictionary definition feminism is
1 : the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes
2 : organized activity on behalf of women's rights and interests
Although definitively its core base is about equality, the interest that feminism takes is on behalf of women which is different than being egalitarian. To be egalitarian means you believe in the removal of social inequalities among all people. Feminism, which is comprised of other aspects such as Eco-Feminism, Radical Feminism and Marxist-Feminism, are all concerned about the world from a feminine perspective. I personally do not believe feminism at least expressed in the western world speaks for women of color who may have it twice as hard than their no-person-of-color counterparts. Western feminism is more vocal because it is composed of many white radical feminists like Dworkin and Mackinnon who are outspoken on social issues concerning women and men. For them, the radicals, when can do no wrong in a world of patriarchy because in one way or another patriarchy has influenced women in some way.
The problem with western feminism as I see it, is that there is too much yelling, screaming, and blaming of men for some social issues women may be held responsible for. For example, many feminists are vocal when it comes to rape as they should be. But what about women who falsely accuse men? Sure statistically it does not happen as often but it does and it presents a problem that some women will often use their undeserved sense of entitlement and victimhood to accuse men of sexual assault or rape for personal gain. Often times I hear the age old adage, "women want equal rights but not equal responsibility."
Is that true?
I think what we teach our young girls in women's studies across the United States when we dive into the literature of Andrea Dworkin and Mackinnon is that women are perpetual victims. It seems women are absolved from all responsibility because after all "patriarchy made me do it!" the irony that women can utitlize both privilege and victimhood as if it is a switch like a stove which you can turn on and off is a powerful tool. Funny how people of color get blamed for utilizing social welfare programs yet society has yet to put a microscope on the very demongraphich that utilizes it the most: white women
(See:
White women benefit most from affirmative action — and are among its fiercest opponents)
Although the subject isn't about race there is a type of intersectionality that goes along with feminism in relation to ethnic demographics. But is feminism a part of egalitarianism? Some would say yes and no, but I believe in the affirm it is a big no. Therefore I leave you all with this:
