Pat Robertson once described feminism as "...a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians." I'd like to think that most sane people wouldn't put a lot of stock in what Pat Robertson has to say about anything, but even such an extreme and laughably inaccurate definition is indicative of what some people think about when they think of feminism. Feminism has a very bad rap in certain circles. There are a lot of people who imagine feminists as angry, militant, overly-masculine lesbians who despise all men on principle and who believe that we should be a purely matriarchal society. They couldn't possibly agree with or even get along with men because of their irrational hatred of anything with a penis. By the same token, no man could possibly agree with them without becoming traitors to their own gender.
As I am writing this, I am realizing how ridiculous this concept of feminism truly is. It's almost cartoonish, really. Real feminists do not hate men. In fact, many of the feminists that I know have husbands or boyfriends whom they love and respect very much. They also do not believe that women should be in charge over men. What feminist truly want is for men and women to be treated equally. No more. No less. I think it's really a shame that more people don't realize that. I've met plenty of men and even some women who practically run away screaming from anything having to do with feminism because of the misconceptions that they have. I'd like to think that more people would be willing to stand up for feminist issues if they realized that the movement was about social justice and equal rights and not declaring war on men.
That being said, the big question on my mind is whether or not I would truly call myself a feminist. The short answer to the question would be "yes," but there is more to my answer than that. I can be called a feminist as long as I am standing up for women's rights, but I don't believe in standing up only for women. I'd like to think I stand for social justice and equality for everyone in general. I may wear the label of feminist when I stand against the ill treatment of a woman, but I will also stand up against the ill treatment of anybody. Historically, those in this country who haven't been white, privileged, heterosexual Christian males have been the victims of some kind of discrimination or prejudice. Women happen to fall under a large umbrella of people who have been treated unfairly for being different from those who are in charge, but the same can be said for Blacks, Asians, Latinos, Native Americans, the handicapped, and GLBT people. In other words, I believe in standing up for anyone whose rights are somehow being repressed. If the rights of white, privileged, heterosexual Christian males were being repressed, I'd fight for them too.*
Yes, you can call me a feminist if the shoe fits because I would agree that it does at least part of the time. I'd prefer not to attach a label to myself too firmly, though.
*I know there are some people who seem to think that white, privileged, heterosexual Christian males are being oppressed. Believe me when I say that this is not happening. Just because there are people who disagree with white, privileged, heterosexual Christian males doesn't mean that they are oppressed. They are still very much in charge, no matter how much they say that their "American way of life" is being threatened.
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