"Feminazi"

This is a direct address to all people who use the term "feminazi" or "feminist nazi" to describe someone you don't agree with. Because, you see, I get sick enough of all the eye-rolling at pro-woman sentiment, but this phrase makes me want to beat the shit out of the person who uses it.

By using that phrase, not only do you show your own pathetic cowardice, you also try to belittle the work, the blood sweat and tears of every woman who fought tooth and nail to acquire respect for herself as a human being. You belittle the work of the foremothers who worked so you, and/or your daughters, sisters, and mothers could vote, hold a job, be respected, acquire higher education, run for elected office and have reproductive rights.

You also take a huge shit on the pain and suffering of six million people who were killed, tortured and starved for being different. You think the Holocaust is funny? You think calling someone a "Nazi" makes you sound intelligent? Or was it tolerant?

You think it makes sense to call someone a "Nazi" because they believe in equal rights? Because they argue with you? Because they see something sexist that you, in your possible blindness, could not?

So you use the term "Nazi." Because someone who thinks that a boyfriend locking their girlfriend in his house to control her, who thinks that rape should be punished, who thinks women should have access to reproductive health is in the same league as those who believe in ethnic "purity" and ethnic "cleansing" at any cost. You think a feminist is in the same league as the group of people who slaughtered six million people.

I understand, it's because they disagree with you. And a Nazi is someone who takes a stand on an issue you're uncomfortable with. That's the proper way that word should be applied.

Anne Frank did not die so you could smear a movement that worked for social equality, she did not die for your effort to belittle a person who opposes you.

This is what Feminism looks like:


And this is what Naziism looks like:

You can't tell the difference?

Posted by Wendy_notsid - November 26, 2008, at 07:16AM | in Anti-Feminism
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64 Comments

[0+] Author Profile Page aleks said:

My home ec teacher casually threw that term out once in jr high. I was shocked.

You also take a huge shit on the pain and suffering of six million people who were killed, tortured and starved for being different.

Although "the Holocaust" as used by scholars refers specifically to Nazi genocide of the Jews, of which about 6 million were killed, when referring to Nazi persecution in general, "6 million" is a lie by omission: the casualty total due to the concentration camp system was between 9 and 11 million, and if one includes the often forgotten systematic murder of Soviet civilians, mainly by starving, the total civilian death toll of Nazi persecution reaches 16-18 million.

Way to forget 11 million people, ass.

Yes, so sorry for merely remembering what I was taught in school, but it hardly makes me an "ass." I wasn't "forgetting" anyone, I simply was ignorant that the "six million" estimate was grossly inaccurate.

I'm talking about how it's an inappropriate and insensitive thing to call ANYONE, because equating that with feminism is idiotic and wrong.

And no, I'm not pretending that insane man-haters don't exist. I'm saying using "Nazi" as an insult is gross and unjust.

I find it funny that tammiamibutcher thinks because I object to people using that insult, I immediately support all forms of so-called "feminist" ideals. Yes, thank you, I can tell the difference. I'm not defending intolerance, I'm saying "Nazi" is an inappropriate thing to call them. But obviously, since I don't count women who hate on home-makers and think all men are evil are Nazis, I must support what they stand for.

This was about th insult and how sickening a name it is, and how misapplied, not a rant on female supremacy. I really wish that you would have been able to tell the difference.

[0+] Author Profile Page lilred0904 replied to Alice :

Alice - what's with the attitude? I was also under the impression that it was 6 million who died, and I'm sure that many other people think the same as well. If you care to enlighten us about the fact that several more people died during the Holocaust, please do, because it's very important. But you don't have to insult any one if they're not as knowledgeable about it as you are.

[0+] Author Profile Page aleks replied to lilred0904 :

Six million is the estimate for Jews murdered by the Nazis, but is commonly mistaken for the entire loss. Because we were the primary target and most Nazi propaganda as well as scholarship relates to Jewish victims, people think of the Holocaust in terms of Jews killed, but gays, Gypsies, Communists, dissidents and deviants of all kinds were killed in the concentration camps. The common estimate for the total death toll of the Holocaust is usually 11 or 12 million, meaning about as many non-Jewish victims as Jewish.

[0+] Author Profile Page lilred0904 replied to aleks :

Thank you, Aleks.

[0+] Author Profile Page aleks replied to lilred0904 :

I do have a semantic problem with "Anne Frank did not die so you could smear a movement that worked for social equality, she did not die for your effort to belittle a person who opposes you."

Anne Frank was not a soldier or a resister and she did not sacrifice herself for any cause. She was an innocent child who was murdered because of her religion. I don't mean this in any way as an attack on the author. I do think the phrasing implies some kind of choice to be a martyr, that she did die "so that" or "for" something. She didn't give her life, it was stolen from her.

Yes Alice, I'm sure forgetting 11 million people was the sole intent of the OP. Jesus.

[0+] Author Profile Page doubleb said:

You seem to be assuming that everyone who uses the term "feminazi" uses it in reference to all feminists.

Nope, the OP doesn't seem to be assuming that at all. You seem to be coming from the perspective of a guilty conscience.

It is still obnoxious at best and bloody ignorant at worst to use that term, regardless of who it is applied to.

[0+] Author Profile Page aleks replied to Dori :

Exactly right. If it's used in reference to anyone who's not engaged in mass genocide, it's grotesquely inappropriate.

[0+] Author Profile Page doubleb replied to Dori :
You think it makes sense to call someone a "Nazi" because they believe in equal rights?
That sounds not only like all feminists but all people who believe in civil rights at all. And the whole context implies that the infamous "you" who is using the term uses it whenever someone disagrees with them at all. You seem to be coming from the perspective of defensiveness. See what I did there?

I'm not saying it's a good idea to just call people you don't like Nazi's. I'm not disagreeing that this is a valid point of concern. Certainly many people who say "feminazi" are referring to all feminists. Certainly it is a generally bad policy to make outrageous statements of any kind.

However, no one complains when Seinfeld has a "Soup Nazi". And they shouldn't. Colloquial use of "nazi" in reference to anyone widely intolerant or oppressive is pretty normal. It doesn't mean that the people using it are horribly insensitive to the plight of Jews during the Holocaust.
And yes, there are women out there who are just as blatantly sexist as all of the evil men they purport to hate. Jestfully calling them a "feminazi" because of their intolerant attitude is not horribly insensitive and inappropriate, it's jovial. Obviously Nazi's are not funny, but making it taboo to make fun of Nazi's or use their image or likeness in a humorous way is just as dangerous as ignoring their reality. As a Jew, I find nothing inherently wrong with this term.

[0+] Author Profile Page aleks replied to doubleb :

However, no one complains when Seinfeld has a "Soup Nazi".
*************
You've got to be joking? There was a huge uproar. Seinfeld also had an episode about making out while watching Schindler's list, so I'm not certain "Seinfeld said it, it's not offense" is a great argument.

[0+] Author Profile Page doubleb replied to aleks :

I must have missed the whole uproar.

[0+] Author Profile Page rustyspoons replied to doubleb :

I was uncomfortable with Seinfeld using the reference "Soup Nazi", for one.

I also recall seeing an interview with the soup chef the character was based on, and he also expressed displeasure with the use of the word "Nazi".

As for "feminazi" it was originally coined by Rush Limbaugh to describe pro-choicers, parroting the idiotic fallacious anti-choice rhetoric that abotion is like The Holocaust.So yeah, between the cavalier dismissal of the gravity of Nazism and the Holocaust, and the simple association with Rush Limbaugh, I automatically lose respect for anyone who uses this word.

I'm a jew too, and I have a problem with anyone conflating Nazis with something that isn't mass genocide originating from a fascist eugenics program.

just because you are a jew does not mean you speak for all jews.

[0+] Author Profile Page doubleb replied to Dori :

I wasn't claiming to. Merely pointing out that it isn't offensive to all Jews either: only those who choose to be offended by it.

@doubleb
"only those who chose to be offended by it"

Excuse me?! Only those who CHOSE to be offended by it?! Do you see at all what is wrong with your statement? As if being offended by something is the fault of the person who is offended, and not the inconsiderate asshat who said the offensive comment?! (yes, I'm referring to you). Nice way to shift the blame from what you said to someone else. At least take responsibility for what you said, it's plain and clear up in the comment thread.

Sorry for my misspelling of "choose"....twice (doh!)

[0+] Author Profile Page doubleb replied to meeneecat :

I could choose to be offended by you calling me an inconsiderate asshat. Instead, I just realize that you're upset, much as you are with every comment I post.
I'm not sure what you mean by blame or responsibility. I wasn't posing any blame to anyone. And I'm not sure for what I am supposed to be denying responsibility.

I was only referring to one way it is used. The post is quite long, and I don't think it's fair to judge my whole post by one sentence alone.

[0+] Author Profile Page doubleb replied to Wendy Notsid :

That was only an example. I honestly got the impression from the entirety of your post that you weren't discriminating between uses. But since you were, I agree with you completely. When it is used in a serious way by people like Rush to describe all feminists, it is certainly offensive and vulgar.

[0+] Author Profile Page Toni replied to doubleb :

Everytime I've ever heard the term "Feminazi" it wasn't about a sexist woman. I've always seen it used at people like the editors of this site. The MRAs use it to describe all feminists, that it no longer means what it mostly likely was created to describe: a female supremist.

I think its a bit problematic to use the word "female supremacists" because it has no context socially and institutionally. Unlike "white supremacy" or "male supremacy"...Referring to "female supremacists" is problematic in the similar way that calling POC "white racists" is problematic. It just has no context socially or institutionally in the same sense that racism against POC has or sexism against women does (i.e. "white supremacy" and "male supremacy".)

Why exactly does it matter to whom they are referring? If the term is offensive, it's offensive.

Tell me, how are even the most radical, man-hating feminists like Nazis. Who are they trying to eliminate from the face of the earth? How many of them have they gassed? How much of their hate-filled propaganda have they spread? What exactly does their eugenics program look like?

Is it just me, or do most of the commenters on this thread seem to be bent on missing the point and going off on some barely-related tangent?

[0+] Author Profile Page gnomeChomsky replied to doubleb :

Based on my experience the terms 'feminazi', 'man hater', 'ballbuster' etc. are used interchangeably. They are used by misogynists to describe a woman who doesn't take any shit. i.e. The woman who calls you out for cracking anti-woman jokes or talking over women rather than quietly tolerating b.s.. For such people, women fit in two mutually exclusive categories: acceptable (read subservient and ladylike) or 'feminazi'.

There's also the curious fact that there almost certainly are some actual feminist Nazis. I've never seen one, but my experience with the Internet has told me that there exists no stereotype or strawman so ridiculous that there isn't at least one person who fits it perfectly, as one might expect given human diversity and the sheer quantity of people in the world.

But, of course, people who use that phrase aren't referring to actual feminist Nazis.

I dunno. I would suggest that one cannot be a Nazi and a Feminist. The two ideologies just do not fit together.

[0+] Author Profile Page aleks replied to Dori :

The real Nazis were patriarchal in every sense of the word, they believed in very strict traditional gender roles and glorified masculinity. But are there people who consider themselves to be Nazis and Feminists? It's a big internet.

Oh yeah, people could consider themselves both, but I'm not sure that is enough to actually be a feminist and a nazi. I could consider myself Minnie Mouse, but that won't make it so.

[0+] Author Profile Page aleks replied to Dori :

You are correct.

[0+] Author Profile Page Skwrr replied to Alice :

There probably is someone out there who thinks they are both, but that's one big leap of logic right there.
For instance:
"Woman's world is her husband, her family, her children and her home. We do not find it right when she presses into the world of men.

[Adolph Hitler, quoted in Lucy Komisar, The New Feminism]"

Way to miss the point. "Feminist" "Nazi" is not what people are referring to when they use the term "feminazi."

And I wouldn't call anything a "fact" unless I had some sort of evidence to back it up. Could you name any "feminist" "Nazis" or link us to their MySpace pages?

[0+] Author Profile Page tammiamibutcher said:

Difinitely agree with you on the inappropriateness of the word "Nazi". It's incredibly disrespectful and people NEED to find a different way to express that sentiment.

However, I think you are glossing over a huge amount of the way the word is used. Most people are pretty tolerant of people who think"a boyfriend locking their girlfriend in his house to control her, who thinks that rape should be punished".

What people tend to not be as tolerant of is the type of feminist who:

-Doesn't just hate patriarchy, but distrusts all men *just because of their sex* (but it's not sexist because they're so privileged!!!)

-Disapproves of women who are aware of their rights/freedom, but still choose to get married, have children, enjoy baking, etc. (Because anyone who chooses something for themselves that I don't like must be setting the entire movement back! All real feminists must want exactly the same things I do!)

This type of person does exist, I encounter them all too often.

On the other hand, most feminists are much better at balancing radical activism, with respect and tolerance for other people's choices. They punish personal choices that are crimes (or should be crimes), try to educate and liberate women, but don't force their views on them by pointing out injustices, and treat men as equals rather than as disgusting dogs (unless an individual man has indicated that he is a disgusting dog)

You can't tell the difference?

[0+] Author Profile Page tammiamibutcher replied to tammiamibutcher :

Last paragraph should say most feminists "try to educate and liberate women by pointing out injustices, but don't force their views on them"

So... because I don't think either party fits the title of "Nazi" and thinks the name is gross and misapplied, I obviously support what the former believes?

Like I said, I'm not defending intolerance, I'm saying "Nazi" is an inappropriate thing to call them. But obviously, since I don't count women who hate on home-makers and think all men are evil are Nazis, I must support what they stand for.

This was about th insult and how sickening a name it is, and how misapplied, not a rant on female supremacy. I really wish that you would have been able to tell the difference.

The example I was using was one I had seen so many times it's incredible. My friends and I have literally been called that numerous times for that exact reason. It was a specific example.

My point is, it's fucked up to call someone that no matter what your disagreement is.

[0+] Author Profile Page tammiamibutcher replied to Wendy Notsid :

So... because I don't think either party fits the title of "Nazi" and thinks the name is gross and misapplied, I obviously support what the former believes?

I never said that.

I agree with you on the usage of the term "Nazi". So yeah, I got the distinction there.

As I already said above, I just thought you were glossing over some nuances, and acting as though it's common for peope to get horribly insulted JUST because "they support equal rights". While really, the term is basically only used to describe the super-radical and intolerant feminists that I mentioned before.

I support your point, I'm just asking for a little more specificity, because I think that specific beefs with people (e.g., "EVEN IF a feminist is as intolerant as patriarchy, it's STILL not ok to compare her to a nazi") get more outcomes than blanket statements (e.g., "Man, you try to say that rape is bad and everyone calls you a nazi")

I'm not saying that your post was like my bad example blanket statement, I'm just trying to explain why I'm nitpicky about specificity when it comes to activist movements.

While really, the term is basically only used to describe the super-radical and intolerant feminists that I mentioned before.

umm...not true. Your point about blanket statements is, but "Feminazi" is regularly used to refer to ALL feminists, regardless of their actual behavior. Check out Yahoo!Answers Gender and Womens Studies category for evidence. Hell, I've been called a "feminazi" for stating that a drunk woman is not complicit in her rape. Its a word that was created by Rush Limbaugh to describe feminists as a whole in the US.

[0+] Author Profile Page tammiamibutcher replied to Dori :

Wow, thank you so much for this reply. This is EXACTLY the reason why I get super-irritating about specifics, because it allows me to fine-tune my understanging of what's going on.

I seriously did not realize that some people use the term to talk about ALL feminists. I do think there are also people who only use it for radical man-haters. It's really important to know that both kinds of people exist.

And if people didn't put up with my nitpickiness, I would never get to ask about these kinds of distinctions. So thanks for humoring me!

not a problem :D Its something that needs to be understood about colloquialisms, especially political ones.

Also, it is in poor taste to kick the underdog. If someone is saying that using the term Feminazi is wrong, it is in poor taste to ignore the main argument, and pick the worst stereotypical feminist you can think of, and make that the point of the discussion.

It rationalizes and defends people who use the term feminazi, because they obviously are only talking about this almost nonexistent minority that hates all men. I frequent a lot of feminist circles, and I really don't see that attitude a lot. Hell, we are on the feministing community site. How many posters do you see who categorically attack and hate all men? Does this point really need to be discussed in response to the original post?

No one is missing nuance here. Talking about castrating man haters does not bring nuance to this discussion.

I will say that I have never in my life met someone who used the term "feminazi" to mean a sexist woman or heard it used in that way. I have only ever heard it used in response to some perfectly reasonable feminist position. I won't say that people who use the term the way you describe don't exist, but it does seem to be used almost exclusively to belittle mainstream feminism.

[0+] Author Profile Page janeair replied to tammiamibutcher :

No one who has ever called me a feminazi has ever actually expressed interest in what my beliefs were. Usually it is a response to the fact that I am expressing any kind of opinion whatsoever and not sitting quietly and smiling like a "good girl". The first time I clearly remember being called that was in high school, and I certainly didn't have any radical beliefs then - I certainly didn't hate men and marriage and babies were something to worry about after I turned 30. I think the male teacher just didn't like that there were so many girls in an AP (advanced placement) class.

[0+] Author Profile Page Ziggy replied to tammiamibutcher :

I _do_ distrust men - most of them, at least. Considering crime-statistics (rape!) and the fact that I have been in an abusive relationship does make me distrusting - and that does not make me a nazi. Merely careful.

By the way - I am an open person. But I do not naively put trust in every male stranger I happen to meet.

[0+] Author Profile Page tammiamibutcher replied to Ziggy :

That sounds perfectly reasonable to not automatically trust everyone you meet. I'm guessing, though, that you also don't automatically assume that all men you meet are terrible people just because they are men.

But even if you did assume that, you still wouldn't be a nazi unless you also kill Jews. You would just be a feminist who is too extreme for my personal tastes. But then maybe I'm too mainstream.

"Most people are pretty tolerant of people who think"a boyfriend locking their girlfriend in his house to control her, who thinks that rape should be punished"."

I disagree...have you seem reactions to domestic violence awareness campaigns, as well as rape awareness campaigns? Check out Renee's blog and the reaction to DART's advertising regarding domestic violence. DV apologists infested her blog and say things like "women commit the majority of DV" and "feminists are responsible for DV"...Basically acting as apologists for those who commit the violence and saying that it's really the victims fault. There's no way that these people think batters should be punished since they apparently think it's perfectly okay for a man to beat a women.

There was also a post on this blog recently about a rape awareness campaign in Scotland "this is not an invitation to rape me" many rape apologists on this site deny what rape is and perpetuate rape myths that the site was set up to help correct. More than half the comments perpetuate rape myths, imply women are to blame, and other anti-woman rape apologist assertions. Even apparently after these apologists read the FACTS about what rape is, rape apologists/victim blaming still makes up a majority of the comments on the site. You say that "most people would think rape should be punished" but I say, it's obvious that for the many many people who don't even think rape is rape than I highly doubt these people will also agree that rape should be punished. (it's sort of an oxymoron, if a person doesn't think un-consensual sex is rape, than how can they agree that the rapist should be punished)

These are just two examples, however the apologists for violence against women get more and more numerous as you get into more male dominated spaces of the internet such as youtube and dig...just look at the reactions, including callous jokes and even threats of more violence at anyone or anything that criticizes or stands up against rape and DV...you don't have to look far and wide to read any of this misogynistic, rape apologist BS...it's everywhere...and it's not just on the internet, but in all media as well.

Also, as a survivor, it's just my personal experience that the world is not on the side of rape victims...there is often a second victimization for many survivors after the initial rape...and that is how society treats, views, and "deals" with rape victims.

Boy, that was a long rant, sorry about that - it's a little off subject...I hope people will forgive me for such a long, a bit off topic comment.

[0+] Author Profile Page Devonian said:

"You think it makes sense to call someone a "Nazi" because they believe in equal rights? Because they argue with you? Because they see something sexist that you, in your possible blindness, could not?"
Yes. Not me, of course, but that's exactly how these sort of people think. They also like comparing anyone else they don't like to Nazis (homosexuals, atheists, evolutionists, etc), even though the label usually fits them a lot better...

[0+] Author Profile Page aleks said:

reductio ad Hitlerum is never a reasonable debate technique. As Jon Stewart says, it cheapens you, it cheapens the debate, and it cheapens Hitler.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/44354/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-obama-and-hitler?c=Comedy

Ha! I teach Logic and Critical Thinking, and I warn all my students that comparing anything or anyone to Hitler, unless maybe they're talking about Stalin or Pol Pot, will earn them an automatic F. The whole "my opponent is like Hitler" defense is on the top of my list of sample ad hominems.

Feminazi is just a ridiculous word made up by Rush Limbaugh, I think.

Whenever anyone uses it, I always think of Godwin's Law:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_Law

Emotions run high, and everyone points at Hitler, because he's the worst person in history and (hey) isn't that person you're disagreeing with right this moment kind of like the worst person in history too?

That "feminazi" has entered the vernacular is revealing of a lot of inarticulate anger.

[0+] Author Profile Page Okra said:

Why has there not been a ringing endorsement of this post by all the commentators in this thread?

No feminist, no matter how "radical" and "man-hating" she or he is perceived to be, is in any way comparable to a Nazi. PERIOD.

Rush Limbaugh himself is NOT comparable to a Nazi (well, not until he begins crying for the blood of women or entire groups of minorities).

This "6 million" tangent of Alice's is precisely that: a tangent, meant to distract from the meaning of the post. I stand in complete solidarity with every Jew, queer, Romany, German minority-sympathizer and other person who was targeted in the hatefest that occurred in the first half of the 20th century--and even if I do not have all the information about the full dimensions of this hatefest, my solidarity still stands.

And so does my disgust of the application of the term to anything other than ethnicide/genicide/feminicide.

Using this term--along with "fascist"-- is an attempt to shut down dissenting and opposing viewpoints, and reflects the sad state of a society in which entrenched, no-nothing views subsitute for debate and discussion.

Doubleb once again (see several recent threads) has demonstrated why self-professed "moderate feminists" are often *not* feminist/humanist in many beliefs and respects.

"And yes, there are women out there who are just as blatantly sexist as all of the evil men they purport to hate. Jestfully calling them a "feminazi" because of their intolerant attitude is not horribly insensitive and inappropriate, it's jovial."

Please see my discussion above.

[0+] Author Profile Page Okra replied to Okra :

"Know-nothing." (I usually know enough not to type at full speed).

[0+] Author Profile Page Mariella replied to Okra :

thank you! I completely agree with you.

For real! I'm baffled by the little skirmishes that have broken out concerning the distinction between using "feminazi" to refer to all feminists versus applying it to radical feminists and man-haters. Seriously? Using the term "Nazi" to refer to anyone who isn't attempting to wipe out an entire ethnic group is offensive. Period. It not only shows that you have poor reasoning and debate skills, but it also makes ethnic cleansing and genocide seem trivial and unimportant. Not cool.

My feminist friends and I use 'feminazi' amongst ourselves as a joke.

Great post! I wrote a similar post about the term nipple nazi to describe people who are pro breasfeeding.

This post is beautiful. I shall bookmark it for future reference. Thank you!

[0+] Author Profile Page ForEquality said:

You're way off. Not all feminists are "feminazis". The term is used to describe feminists who desire the dominance of women and persecute men, much like Hitler desired the dominance of the Aryan race and persecuted anyone else. It isn't to describe feminists who are just in favour of equality (which we pretty much have by the way), but those who go too far, the "all men are rapists" types. Yes it's hyperbole, but it's meant to highlight the unfair discrimination of some radical feminists that men sometimes encounter.

"Yes it's hyperbole, but it's meant to highlight the unfair discrimination of some radical feminists that men sometimes encounter."

So, what do we women call some of the men who unfairly discriminate us? For equality's sake, should we create some equally hyperbolic mash up of "dickwad" and "Nazi"? Oh, no, because that would just be another example of our "feminazi"ness!

How about this: the term "feminazi" is (a) not used to refer to "only" those radical man-hating feminists, as anyone who has read this thread could attest to, and (b) is offensive no matter what because not even those feminists I keep hearing about who "hate" men have slaughtered millions of them and created an oppressive, fascist state while attempting to achieve world dominance through militaristic means. So claiming that because it is meant to highlight some perceived unfairness, that it is okay to use such an incendiary and hyperbolic term is ridiculous.

"It isn't to describe feminists who are just in favour of equality (which we pretty much have by the way)"

I'm curious; have you read much of this site or other feminist blogs or texts that explain why that is not true?

So, what do we women call some of the men who unfairly discriminate us?

I've used "misogynazi" as a rebuke in the past...

1) Most people who use the term "feminazi" use it to label any woman who disagrees with them or doesn't appreciate being objectified/discriminated against/mistreated in general.

2) Even if the term was only used to refer to women who want to dominate men, this is still very different from a nazi. Nazis didn't want to dominate other races, they wanted to eliminate them. Since there are no feminists who are advocating the use of concentration camps and gas chambers as a method of dealing with "the man problem," it's still a bad and even unethical use of the word.

3)"It isn't to describe feminists who are just in favour of equality (which we pretty much have by the way)" Seriously? Are you aware of the wage gap? Are there an equal number of women in upper management, positions of political power, holding equal positions in the arts/academics/movie and music production, etc.?

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume you're a troll from one of the Men's Rights websites. Otherwise, you just seem super ignorant, and I'm not sure which one is worse.

[0+] Author Profile Page ForEquality replied to Rachel_in_WY :

I'm not a troll. I'm just telling you (the plural you) how everyone I know uses the term feminazi, because nobody seems to be aware of that here. The nazi analogy is used a lot these days anyway, even by you feminists when describing some men, so it should be taken in stride whenever it is said, just like any other idiot deprecating your movement (if they have nothing to say other then feminazi, they're an idiot). Besides, it's just hyperbole used for effect, not a direct comparison. Can't anyone here understand that?

As for my belief that equality nearly exists, I hold that firm, and believe that women have all the tools necessary to reach the highest levels of management (the example brought up here), it's only a matter of 1) Time, and 2) Women actually wanting those things. To think that it can or should change overnight is to be in favour of affirmative action, and we all know what happens with that. But this thread is not the place to discuss that.

"I'm just telling you (the plural you) how everyone I know uses the term feminazi, because nobody seems to be aware of that here."

Interesting, that's not how you phrased it in your initial comment. Of course I don't know how everyone you know uses the term, but many of "us feminists" who are neither radical nor man-hating have been called feminazis repeatedly, for expressing the most moderate feminist thoughts and beliefs. If you'd care to read through many of the comments before yours, you would have found that out before chastising all of us for not properly understanding the use of the word.

And of course we recognize that going around comparing everything you dislike to nazis is a sure sign of an ignorant person with poor debate skills (again, see several comments above), but that doesn't mean it's acceptable or something we can't object to. Making light of genocide is not really something to be "taken in stride" as far as I'm concerned.

[0+] Author Profile Page chewey said:

It's interesting that I read this post and was called a feminazi for the first time ever within just a few days. I told a co-worker that I am a feminist, and without missing a beat he said, "So you're a feminazi."

This is not something people use only to describe a certain kind of "kill the menz!" feminist. This guy doesn't know anything about my views or beliefs, nor did he ask what they were, and still he automatically equated feminist with feminazi.

Sure, some people might differentiate between "mainstream feminists" and "radical feminists" and only use feminazi to describe the latter, but I'm thinking most people don't even care what you believe. If someone already has such a tainted view of feminism, are they really going to sit and talk with you at length about what you stand for to determine if feminazi is an accurate term for you? And that's really the problem. People don't have a good enough sense of what feminism is to know what it is not.

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