You are sadly misinformed... not to mention patronizing.

Yes, I am what you term an "old-schooler." But our outrage at BO being on the cover of Ms. magazine has nothing to do with him being a man. It's just the little detail that you seem to have completely missed: BARACK OBAMA IS NOT A FEMINIST!!

Please read this blog. Dr. Socks explains Obama's misogynist record far better than I could: http://www.reclusiveleftist.com/2009/01/15/the-turning-point/

I never meant to sound patronizing, though I can see how you would see that, CarolJ.

The link you provided is interesting, and makes valid points. I give you that. I am frustrated by the disconnect there is between the women that have given so much to the fight and the young women who are responsible for carrying it on. Perhaps my tone is this article clearly represents it. We have a lot to learn-but I think more importantly, much to discuss.

I agree with you on some points Emily. I would def agree with the cover demonstrating the unity of the two concepts. Another element about some of the resentment is because its not Hillary Clinton; but, and this is a big but, Obama will bring a new, fresh, and yes feminist perspective to all issues. Like you, as an 18-yearer, I cannot remember any government that has ever passed a major piece of feminist legislation or fully supported a feminist ideal. Obama is the first. Perhaps he may not be the most radical feminist ever, but he still meets a lot of the criteria and is going to do a great deal to help protect women's "interests." I think we can all agree on that.

I dont think you sounded patronizing at all. I know that you admire and love the founders and fighters of the feminist movement. But the name of the game has changed, there are different fights and different ways of fighting. Its not as clear cut of what we are fighting for, there is no BIG laws or anything. Obama represents a new way of fighting and thinking. He is going to make a positive difference for women. Period.

I think one of the sources of problems here is that there's a very thin line I think we have to walk -- on the one hand, we should be glad that we do finally have a president who appears to be a lot more devoted to feminist issues, but on the other hand, is he devoted enough? I think it's possible to be celebratory about the first while also maintaining the right to criticism w/r/t the second, although it puts us in a weird position -- championing a president for the improvement that he signifies while also criticizing him for the very real problems that he allows to persist.

Anyway, I think the Ms. cover is great, but not because I think Obama Is Like Totally A Feminist -- I think he's at least devoted enough in theory for it not to be totally insulting (the way it would be if they had chosen, say, Sarah Palin), and as long as that condition is met, I think any depiction of a well-liked mainstream public figure embracing the word "feminist" is a good thing. It's not about whether or not he really is a feminist, by whatever definition, it's more about making the word "feminist" visible in a positive light and thereby encouraging the social acceptability of calling oneself a feminist. In that sense, I think the cover design succeeds.

(Full disclosure: 25, considers herself pretty "old school" and radical in some ways and more "3rd wave" in others, voted for Obama in the Democratic primaries while registered Independent).

I agree wholeheartedly with idiolect about liking the image. That was my first reaction when I saw the cover. So many people in my generation (I am 20) have averse ideas about the word feminist - even the ones that hold highly feminist beliefs. Many of these same people campaigned for Obama. I hope that this image might help some of these people to overcome the idea that to actively fight for those ideas, that to be a "feminist", is somehow bad. Obama has such an intense following that he could certainly be useful in making the word "cool" again.

The superman pose is a little disturbing to me though, because I think that is where I see the complaints about all his criticisms being relavent. Instead of just depicting him as a feminist, it is like the pose makes him out to be the Ultimate Feminist. And as others have noted, there are many aspects that ought to be criticized. It is too bad Ms. couldn't have chosen some other pose, but I suppose this one is more attention-getting.

OK, I'm not exactly old-school, but I am almost twice your age, in spite of the fact that the college freshmen I teach think I'm "probly about five yrs older then us freshman" (sorry, but that one made me giggle).

I wasn't offended by the cover of Ms., but I understand the hesitance and misgivings that many older feminists feel. To understand it, you probably do need a more thorough understanding of the history of feminism. Feminists have repeatedly had promises made to them during campaigns which never came to fruition, and as time passed it became clear that the politician in question never intended to keep any of these promises. Many a feminist cause has been thrown under the bus once feminist support is no longer needed and championing that cause is no longer expedient. With repeated disappointment comes more caution, level-headedness, and yes, cynicism.

The older I get, the more interested I am in somebody showing me what they believe, rather than just telling me, and that requires reserving judgment. This also comes as the result of the many, many protests, run-ins with police, empty words by politicians who are just trying to get some good PR, etc. I was very passionate and optimistic at 18 as well (OK maybe more like 16), but repeatedly running up against a system of good ol' boys, patriarchal policies, and and corporate buyoffs tends to cool your passion, temper your optimism, and make you view the world with a jaded eye.

So I think it's important that younger feminists not be dismissive, not just because of the advances that older feminists achieved for your benefit, but also based on respect for the experiences and perspective of older feminists. When you're young, it seem blindingly clear that your perspective is the right one. However, one of the benefits of maturity is an understanding that somebody with whom you disagree may have a perfectly valid position based on their experiences, and that listening to these experiences and factoring them into your worldview is a very constructive thing to do.

Damn, this turned into a lecture. Sorry!

As a college sophomore and very sex positive third wave feminist, I found the Ms. cover incredibly comforting. As a self identified feminist from elementary school on and living in a very conservative area, I constantly felt marginalized when I expressed my identification, and I still feel that way in many cases. It was so upsetting to me when I first encountered second wave feminists that marginalized me as well, based on my "naive understanding of sexual politics."

I voted and campaigned for Hillary in the primaries but fell into the Democratic fold when she conceded. I resisted Obama as a candidate and convinced myself I was just voting Democrat, but the more research I did, the more I liked him. I loved that he made feminism acceptable to people whose knee-jerk reaction was to dismiss feminists as unattractive femi-nazis before they even open their mouths. Obama's Planned Parenthood speech changed everything for me. It made me feel accepted, and it gave me hope that the men in my life might even identify as feminist some day.

Ms. is reflecting the circumstances of our time. In this awful night of economic depression, cultural and real war, even just a Democratic president is a symbol of hope, but this man who identifies as feminist is better. He might not get a perfect feminist scorecard, but apparently I don't get one either. I feel that Ms. endorsing Barack Obama invites me into their fold as well as him, and I'm so happy to be there. I've wanted it for a long time.