I can certainly see where you're coming from with equating feminism and overall equal rights with regard to race, class, orientation, etc. However, I think this broad definition of feminism somewhat dilutes the effectiveness of feminist advocacy. Feminist advocacy, to my mind, is a category reserved for those issues which specifically affect women and girls differently. If we allow issues that are not women-specific to enter the arena of "feminist" advocacy, we dilute the only true forum for airing grievances that affect women specifically.

Thus, my definition of feminism is somewhat more narrow. I would say that feminism is advocacy in those areas that specifically affect women differently from the rest of the population. I fear that coupling this explicitly anti-sexist message with accompanying anti-classist, anti-racist, and anti-homophobic messages might dilute the message.

This is not to say that racism, classism and homophobia are not important and essential issues requiring advocacy. My contention is simply that these issues are not necessarily synonymous with feminism, and that their advocacy, while often coupled with feminist advocacy, is not "feminist" in the most narrow definition of the term.

I think grouping feminist advocacy with anti-racist, anti-classist, anti-homophobic advocacy under the grouping of "equal rights advocacy" is reasonable, and preserves the distinctions between these disciplines.

kbz

I think it depends on what jobs you're looking for. If you are specifically applying to a job with a women's rights organization, then I think it's absolutely appropriate to mention "feminist advocacy". But if you wind up applying to other jobs, using the term "equal rights advocacy" is more useful.

I sued to be really proud to call myself a feminist, but since I've started reading the feminist blogosphere I've stopped calling myself one, and I find it, frankly a real turn-off when anyone calls themselves a feminist now. Feminism has been co-opted by too many tangentially related mvoements, so that it isn't even serving it's own core goals. Look at how anti-colonialism has co-opted feminism; Israel is a much, much friendlier place from an anti-sexism standpoint than the palestinian territories, but most feminist organs have become shills for a bunch of Hamas-led theocrats because of feminism's fellow-traveler status with anti-colonialism.

Why hasn't there been any post celebrating the election of Tzipi Livni?

And why is it that when I read feminist blogs, I find that issues of sexism and misogyny take a back seat to issues of racism and classism? And why are communist/socialist/collectivist movements trying to untie the victories feminism made for permitting women to make the same choices as men in their equivalent demographic bracket? Should we be sitting around and waiting for a race to the bottom where all men are equally entitled or all women are equally subjugated by sexism before we start talking about issues of sexism?

I call myself a feminist because I really do see it as one title among many that means I'm in support of equal rights of everyone. I personally feel that feminists *have to* be engaged in these other issues a) because of the intersectionality of oppressions and b) because we can't all really be free when we aren't all on a level playing field. I'm willing to explain why I feel that way in a more in depth manner if people are curious.

So, yes, I'm a feminist (and when applying for advocacy jobs, I mention that) and I care A LOT about issues that specifically effect mostly women. That said, when I'm looking at and participating in other movements, I don't take off my feminist hat. It's part of who I am and at the core of my personal and political beliefs - it doesn't come off, and I don't think that I would be as effective an activist or as informed without the idea that feminism is tied in with everything else.

I think it is important in all of these issues to have a sense that "we have out movement and we support yours". Basically, you do have to focus on something, but if we aren't all paying attention to and helping each other (in the face of oppression, various -isms, conservative politics, etc), we are going to go absolutely no where fast.

If you're particularly worried about being clear to your future employer, why not "feminist and equal rights advocacy"? Then you're really being clear.

I am a self-proclaimed feminist and am surprised at how many people (usually women) CRINGE at that term. Their perceptions of what feminisism is are twenty years behind the times. I have had to tell people "No, I'm not a lesbian." "I am, in fact, happily married to a man." "Yes, I like make-up, short skirts, and push up bras." (or would, if I had small enough breasts, but that's besides the point). People aren't aware that you can be a feminist and still be *feminine* and not hate men.

People still have this idea of the butch, man hating feminist, and that is not always the case anymore.

Drives me nuts. Argh!

I've also been wondering if the intertwining of feminism and progressive politics has been somewhat responsible for the decline in women identifying as "feminist". I am a progressive. But, I must acknowledge that there are opposing strains of political thought that are prevalent in American society.

I've seen progressive feminists all over the interwebs stating outright that feminism is completely inseparable from democratic socialism, peace activism, animal rights activism, veganism, anti-war activity, homosexual-rights advocacy, labor-rights activism, anti-Republican activism, and universal healthcare advocacy. Some have even said that feminism is, at its root, striving for the elimination of "all forms of oppression" -- with a VERY progressive definition of "oppression" (i.e. a definition that I agree with, but that many independent or conservative individuals would not). Let me be clear -- I agree with every single one of the above-listed movements (with the exception of veganism ... I really like steak).

I've also read strains of thought that say that Christianity, religiosity, marriage, and even heterosexuality cannot coexist with feminist thought. Granted, many of these proclamations emanate from the most radical feminist enclaves. However, it concerns me that "feminism" is becoming simply another word for a female progressive.

Despite my progressivism, I think it could be unwise to exclude from "feminism" all people who agree with us about sexism, but may disagree on another of those issues. Is it wise to explicitly exclude from "feminism" anyone who isn't uniformly progressive? Can no true feminist be capitalist, conservative, or Christian? Can a feminist not be in favor of "limited government", privatized healthcare, low taxes (even for the rich), or aggressive national defense?

I'm not so sure. Just thinking aloud, but I think we'll need the support of more than just progressive women to truly make gains for the feminist movement. Perhaps we should be more inclusive of those who aren't progressive. Maybe I'm wrong though ... like I said, just thinking aloud.

kbz

I agree with the fact that the word "feminist" is used in the wrong context very often these days. I disagree with what was said that you should call yourself an "equal rights" advocate. Don't get me wrong, it's not that women aren't fighting for equal rights but in certain cases it is involving women's issues and there is no reason why the word feminist is incorrect. Equal rights, I feel, is something slightly, though not completely, different from fighting for equality for women and standing up for what they believe in and what they deserve. And to tell someone that they should call themselves an "equal rights" advocate instead isn't right. There is nothing wrong with referring to one's self as a feminist if you are fighting and advocating for women's issues which is what feminists are doing.

Does the word "feminist" even mean anything anymore? I'm afraid it's becoming one of those empty words like postmodernism, or patriot (haha). It just seems to mean so many things to so many different people that it has lost any one definition. So many women online argue about who is or isn't a feminist, and what is and isn't part of feminism.

If someone asks me if I am a feminist, I say yes, of course, because I think I would look crazy otherwise, but I don't really feel sure that I know what that means. I believe that women face unique challenges and disadvantages in society that will never be fixed until women are represented equally in news, politics, and business. But is feminism concerned with women only, or with all oppressed groups?

Is feminism (capital-"f" Feminism?) an institution? During the democratic primary I was disgusted by the things that historical leaders of the women's movement said about women who didn't support Hillary. Am I supposed to fall in line? Am I not a feminist if I disagree with the spokeswomen for feminism? Maybe we need some fresh, powerful terms. These are just questions that I don't know the answer to, but maybe someone does ...

I'll take a break from trolling to give you a real response.

I am pro-choice, I am VERY pro-gay rights, I am anti-racist, and I'm not one of those girls who thinks sexism is a myth, but I, like most girls, refuse to call myself a feminist,

I am pro-choice, but I'm not vehemently so, and even though I would never vote for a pro-life candidate or pro-life measures, I still have reservations about it, and I think women who have multiple abortions are irresponsible. That's strike one against me and feminism.

I think sexism is real, but I think feminists over-react to EVERYTHING, and I do not want to ally myself with women who are like that. Axe commercials don't oppress you. Comedians making jokes you think are sexist do not oppress you. Sorry, but white middle/upper class women just aren't that oppressed. I'm a lower class mulatto woman, and I'm not oppressed. I have encountered very little sexism, and even less racism in my life, and I just can't feel sorry for a bunch of whiners.

Lest I approach the realm of tl;dr, I'm gonna stop there. But those are just a few of the reasons why most everyone considers feminism a "dirty word"