.:Kuroloki Roku:. ([info]kuroloki) wrote in [info]feminist_101,
@ 2008-04-01 16:33:00
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Current mood: confused

Meaning
I've been struggling with the meaning, or purpose, of feminism for years. Can you tell me what feminism means to you?

This thought triggered by a post I stumbled on via LJ's front page:
http://community.livejournal.com/ohnotheydidnt/22013931.html


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[info]space_monkey340
2008-04-01 11:02 pm UTC (link)
To me feminism is about being able to make choices about my life and having equal opportunities.

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hmmmmmmm............
[info]k2katie
2008-04-01 11:33 pm UTC (link)
Well, Meaning and Purpose are two HUGELY different issues. To my daughter, your age, feminism is being able to choose between career and staying at home with kids, and sharing with a significant other who does what around the house. It's being able to pump her own gas, speak her mind, stand her ground without fear of being labeled a "girl". It's very subjective, personal.

To me, to us 50- and 60-somethings, feminism is the struggle to neutralize the Patriarchy, to level the playing field in reality. The Patriarchy has been described as "water to fish", ie, not recognized as vital since you are swimming in it and need it to survive. This is no small metaphor, it's powerful. Not a whole hell of a lot has changed since the early 1970s, just the window-dressing, the outward look. Men still are in power, in charge in this society and around the world; women are here and there, like a garnish on a dinner plate. Look around, women are still "less than". Don't let a few high-profile women in positions fool you; we are living in the Patriarchy, we are being "allowed" in. It is up to you and subsiquent to change it, change your children, especially your male children. The battle is real, keep it up. You GO girl!

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[info]cleargreenwater
2008-04-01 11:50 pm UTC (link)
I define feminism as affirmative action addressing the centuries of imbalanced, disenfranchised, unempowered and underprivledged state of women, with an over-arching utopian sub-current of neutralizing gender roles for either and all sexes.

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[info]baglieg
2008-04-02 01:42 am UTC (link)
Well I don't have an answer for that, but here are some nice snappy quotes on the topic from others:

“Feminism is the radical notion that women are people”

“I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism is; I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat or a prostitute.”

“Does being a feminist mean that I believe that I'm as good as any man? Yes.”

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[info]jocelynxheart
2008-04-02 02:05 am UTC (link)
Deconstructing existing biases/power structures/assumptions, and giving women freedom, power, and choice.

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[info]bitvacuous
2008-04-02 08:36 am UTC (link)
for me its the fight for equality on all issues, so we all are equally emppowered not equally enslaved. I find "I'll be a post feminist in the post-patriarchy" sums up my overall feeling rather well, doesn't define it though.

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