InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "How about scaring it? ... BOO!"

brandi should wrap herself in bubble wrap (kitten_patronus) wrote,
@ 2009-06-16 20:20:00

another random question
What is your knee-jerk reaction to the word "feminist"? Does it have a positive or negative connotation to you? How would you define feminism?

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	splott 2009-06-16 08:34 pm UTC (link)
	Depends on the context. I once told a friend that I don't identify as a feminist and he was SO shocked and offended on womenkind or something. As a political ideal encompassing the fanatical man-hating is not something I identify with. I agree with a lot of well, equal rights and all of that, but I don't think my reaction is a positive one, but it's not necessarily negative. (Reply to this)

	sira_ne_biber 2009-06-16 09:59 pm UTC (link)
	I didn't really have a reaction reading it in your journal. I think it really depends on who says it and what the context is. Otherwise, it's just another word. (Reply to this)

	worstangel 2009-06-16 10:48 pm UTC (link)
	Feminist knee-jerk reaction. I think of strong, proud women who do whatever they want (be that working in an office OR being a home maker), stand up for equal rights and don't take anything from anyone for their choices. It's a positive, strong word for me... that's really the best way I can put it. (Reply to this)

vikipedia
2009-06-16 10:55 pm UTC (link)

I have veeery negative connotations about feminism in general and that includes being considered a 'feminist'. But that mostly stems back to a very bad Women's Studies teacher who believed if your opinions strayed at all from hers, you were wrong. Feminism SHOULD be believing in the possibility that a woman can be just as strong and powerful as a man in every possible way. She turned it into a race and minority battle against "The Man". I think feminism is just being proud of being a woman and not thinking that because you're a woman that it'll hinder you in any way.

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	glitterberries 2009-06-17 12:03 am UTC (link)
	I think I fell into thinking "feminist" was a negative thing after I took Women Studies in college, like Viki. We would have to read these epically long dissertations on how awful men are and how you are setting the women's movement back if you let someone hold the door open for you. However, I don't find "feminism" to have the same knee-jerk reaction that "feminist" does. (Reply to this)

hafren
2009-06-17 04:22 am UTC (link)

I think it depends a good deal on context. In general I tend to be leary of associating with Feminism because I have ran into one too many crazy feminist types. You know the man-hating, if you choose to be a home-maker you've been brainwashed by the establishment, having sex with men is evil, sort of crazies. But that said, I don't typically have a negative connotation with the word. The negative feelings usually come within context of something that makes clear there is crazy afoot. Otherwise I tend to see it as the idea that women can make their own choices, do what they are good at, regardless of sexual roles, etc - and in that context I think it's a positive thing, if that makes sense.

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alsoknownas
2009-06-17 07:20 am UTC (link)

I'm a feminist, proud to be one, and I admit I get VERY TOUCHY VERY QUICKLY when people allow others who've taken it to a radical extreme ruin the word for them. I have the same reaction when people try to lump all Muslims or all Christians in a box because of the works of a few, loud, horrible people. Yes, there are some nasty, close-minded feminists. But I believe the principals of the word - and the ideals behind it - are essential to continuing to move forward away from current social/cultural/political tar-pits in which we're currently embroiled.

*gets off soapbox*

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