What is a "real" Feminist?

[Texasgal]

I keep seeing this line played out on DU over and over again... IE: "she's not a REAL feminist"

What the hell does that mean?

I'll give you my thoughts.. I have not the faintest idea what a "real" feminist is. All I know is that I feel uncomfortable with sexist talk, I feel uncomfortable when Women are labeled. I feel uncomfortable when someone missuses gender parts to describe a Woman and I feel uncomfortable when I see Women being passed by professionally.

I am not versed or well educated on Feminist views. I have no idea about third waves and second waves etc. WTF? What's all this talk about being a "REAL" feminist? What in the hell does that even mean?

I am here to LEARN. I am HERE to empower my sisters. Why is it such an issue? Especially on DU of ALL places?

[tama]

1. Not an expert

but there is lot of academic dogmatism and schism going on in the world of feminist theory. And there are many people who live of and for polemics. No complaints, just the way it is.

I'm currently reading Rauna Kuokkanen's views on feminism, autonomy, gift economy and what we can learn from experiences and ways of lives of indigenous women. Maybe that has also something to do with history of feminism: http://utoronto.academia.edu/RaunaKuokkanen

[patrice]

2. I have been hearing for a few years now that that NEEDS to get to some level of definition.

I'm going to follow the discussion.

One of my basic understandings as an individual is that the extent to which someone is real is affected by the extent to which they are authentically free. Without freedom, one can't validly identify reality, especially the realities about who one is and in what kind of world your being occurs, both of which would be important aspects of whatever Feminism turns out to be.

[Texasgal]

3. I understand you.

I'm just thinking, do I need some sort of badge to be a feminist?

I know what "I" feel is right and wrong.. am I wrong?

[patrice]

6. I don't think so, but, then, I'm a person who thinks you can trace variations back to somekind

of common root whether anyone recognizes that root or not, so, with or without a "badge", you/I can claim your differences with others and those differences can even outweigh any similarities if you so choose. Whatever that is to you (or me) and however you choose to manifest that and whatever the authenticities are, they are what they are, no matter what we call them, those validities are what they are anyway, because truth is, by definition, inevitable.

Nothing is absolutely 100% unique, different, nor is anything absolutely 100% the same, identical.

There are similarities and differences, sometimes equal, sometimes more, sometimes less, of one or the other and I don't think that my own perceptions of those traits can be respected unless I offer whatever respect I can find to be possibly valid to the perceptions of others. I don't feel compelled to identify with those other-perceptions, nor do I feel compelled to reject them. I'm more interested in whether I can identify validity in HOW they are acquired.

Perhaps you recognize some kind of pseudo-elements of what used to be called Transactional Analysis in this perspective.

[ismnotwasm]

4. Lets start with a dictionary definition

fem·i·nism [fem-uh-niz-uh?m]
noun
1.
the doctrine advocating social, political, and all other rights of women equal to those of men.
2.
( sometimes initial capital letter) an organized movement for the attainment of such rights for women.

Sound Good?

I'm not trying to be snarky, I like things simple.

[Texasgal]

5. No, I like this

and I appreciate it.

I'm just curious as to why someone here on DU would be labeled "not a REAL feminist".

[ismnotwasm]

7. Here?

Sounds like a bit of hurtful snark. There are a few who make, oh I guess you call it pretences to feminism, (mostly male) but out of the women, while there are certainly different opinions, but doesn't qualify over another. There are certain basic principles I suppose.



There are feminists who are very vocal about supporting and and promoting sex workers, and those who find the idea abhorrent. There's one division there. There are others. I wouldn't use that particular statement about someone. (Unless its a Camillia Pagillia type, her--I can't bring myself to tolerate)

[boston bean]

8. I can give two examples of what I feel are show stoppers for me.

1) you most be pro choice to be a feminist.
2) you can't deny the patriarchy

Either one of those criteria's are not met, I don't think one can call themselves a feminist.

That is my humble opinion.

[ismnotwasm]

9. Not bad!

I like it.

[CrispyQ]

10. I think those are two very solid criteria.

Well said.

[mzteris]

11. may I add something?

you have to actively seek and support EQUALITY!

(And FYI - one must support it for everyone or no one will achieve it.)