Comments on: What does “feminism” mean? http://www.mindonfire.com/2006/11/25/what-does-feminism-mean/ Religion, SF, and Other Speculative Fictions. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:55:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Caroline http://www.mindonfire.com/2006/11/25/what-does-feminism-mean/comment-page-1/#comment-2629 Caroline Mon, 27 Nov 2006 06:38:32 +0000 http://mindonfire.com/dev/2006/11/25/what-does-feminism-mean/#comment-2629 For me, an off the cuff definition of a feminist might be: anyone who hopes or works for less sexism and supports other women in their choices. I think this definition is so broad that it can encompass a huge range of feminists, which is fine with me. Like has been pointed out, it's probably more useful to talk about feminisms rather than feminism, since there are so many different varieties. But like you said, Miko, no matter what his/her particular take on feminism is, anyone who self-identifies as a feminist I feel an automatic connection to. For me, an off the cuff definition of a feminist might be: anyone who hopes or works for less sexism and supports other women in their choices. I think this definition is so broad that it can encompass a huge range of feminists, which is fine with me. Like has been pointed out, it’s probably more useful to talk about feminisms rather than feminism, since there are so many different varieties.

But like you said, Miko, no matter what his/her particular take on feminism is, anyone who self-identifies as a feminist I feel an automatic connection to.

]]> By: John http://www.mindonfire.com/2006/11/25/what-does-feminism-mean/comment-page-1/#comment-2630 John Mon, 27 Nov 2006 04:30:04 +0000 http://mindonfire.com/dev/2006/11/25/what-does-feminism-mean/#comment-2630 I've seen similar feminists within Mormonism as well, who work hard to defend the woman's place in the home and the man's sole right to the priesthood. There are Muslim feminists who defend the burka and the domesticity of Muslim women. I agree with you that these different perspectives are valuable. I'm reading some descriptions of transnational feminist movements for my <i>Women, Globalization, and Religion</i> seminar this semester. These groups have done wonders for women around the globe, providing micro-loans, passing laws against vengeance killings when women are raped, fighting the global sex trade, etc. Asian, Latina, African, and Middle-Eastern feminists have validly critiqued the Western feminist's propensity to ignore the influence of culture, class, and race and have helped to transform modern feminist discourse (think of the mujerista and womanist approaches). Maybe one lesson to learn from all of this is that feminism has never been monolithic, as much as the media and its opponents try to portray it that way. It has always been many feminisms in dialog and debate with each other, hopefully producing more enlightened versions. I’ve seen similar feminists within Mormonism as well, who work hard to defend the woman’s place in the home and the man’s sole right to the priesthood. There are Muslim feminists who defend the burka and the domesticity of Muslim women.

I agree with you that these different perspectives are valuable. I’m reading some descriptions of transnational feminist movements for my Women, Globalization, and Religion seminar this semester. These groups have done wonders for women around the globe, providing micro-loans, passing laws against vengeance killings when women are raped, fighting the global sex trade, etc. Asian, Latina, African, and Middle-Eastern feminists have validly critiqued the Western feminist’s propensity to ignore the influence of culture, class, and race and have helped to transform modern feminist discourse (think of the mujerista and womanist approaches).

Maybe one lesson to learn from all of this is that feminism has never been monolithic, as much as the media and its opponents try to portray it that way. It has always been many feminisms in dialog and debate with each other, hopefully producing more enlightened versions.

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