Poll: Are you a feminist?

[sqbr]

So, I've always had a certain amount of interest in women's rights, but always felt a bit put off by feminism for reasons I couldn't articulate. I eventually decided to dig a bit and either get over it or figure out what the problem was. In the process I've become convinced of two things:
(a) I am a feminist, and feminism still has a lot of important work left to do
(b) There are a bunch of things I don't really like about the feminist movement as it actually works

And I got curious about you guys experiences and identities.


If you're not sure what the definition of "feminist" is, well... afaict there isn't a completely agreed upon one, but here's a bunch, afaict the consensus is along the lines of "Thinking society deals with gender in a way that, on balance, harms women, and that this should be corrected".

[Poll #1169959]

I'm especially interested in women who don't identify as feminist: do you have an issue with feminism, or do you think it's ok but just don't see any particular need to identify yourself that way? Other people's povs (including mens!) are also welcome, though.

And yes, vegetus, this does give you leave to rant a bit :) Though I would remind everyone to be civil, openminded, and tolerant. Keep in mind that we have some very different POVs here, any one of which will probably strike at least one person as Wrong And Dumb. Please take any narky arguments outside and try not to start any!

As for myself, well, you can see my (mixed) opinions on this lj. ithiliana's post Racism Imbroglios, White Feminist Bloggers, RWOC, and deja vu inspired me to make this poll, I particularly liked the line:

Within feminist discourse sisterhood became simultaneously an unquestioned assumption, an unexamined bond, and a mode of controlling behavior and containing difference.

Comments

[alias_sqbr]

I think that sort of "Us vs Them" attitude is disturbingly common across generational boundaries. I haven't encountered it that much in my dabbles in feminism (though I have a bit) but I've seen it in science fiction fandom (which is totally the same as the feminist movement :))

Also I suppose it's rather like the general way people tend to characterise the past as homogeneously racist and sexist etc, which then magically transformed to this wonderful time when noone is racist or sexist at all, so we don't need to critically examine the past because it is done.

Although I'm a feminist, I see people who don't identify as feminist because they are actively chauvanist very differently from those who support equality in sexual politics, but don't want to work with feminists because they've witnessed that "mode of controlling behaviour" . It's about the goals, not identity politics to me, so the latter is perfectly valid if all you see is movement drama /prejudice hampering the goals.

Absolutely. I get a bit annoyed at feminists who go "Why would anyone not identify as feminist? It just means 'seeing women as people', I guess they must not think women are people". While definitions and identity are very important, actions speak louder than words, and I'd rather someone who was feminist in principle but not in name than vice versa.