To quote David Lo Pan, “Now, this really pisses me off to no end!”
When I say I’m a feminist, people — sharing that sentiment or not — are confused when I don’t fit in with their personal definition of a feminist. And they proceed to correct me.
To this I say — Get over it.
Feminism is not a mindless adherence to one political platform or another.
Feminism is not man-bashing.
Feminism does not mean a het woman has to embrace a lesbian life-style.
What feminism is is this: AUTONOMY
“Autonomy (Greek: Auto-Nomos – nomos meaning “law”: one who gives oneself his/her own law) is the right to self-government. Autonomy is a concept found in moral, political, and bioethical philosophy. Within these contexts, it refers to the capacity of a rational individual to make an informed, uncoerced decision. In moral and political philosophy, autonomy is often used as the basis for determining moral responsibility for one’s actions.”
Feminism is Autonomy, which means I live my life according to my Gifts, Talents, Aptitudes, and Aspirations — or not.
It’s entirely up to me. And that is the crux of the matter.
Feminism means I dress any way I damned well please. It means I pursue any goals I damned well please. So long I as respect the individual rights [rights, not privileges -- never confuse the two] and freedoms of others, I will do whatever I damned well please.
Whether I have gonads or ovaries is not a part of that equation. My physiological sex has no bearing on the matter, of what I can achieve by using my intellect.
That I should be expected to conform to anyone else’s expectations in favour of my own is not only insulting and ridiculous, it’s laughable. That I should allow anyone to impose artificial limitations on my output and my expectations for my own life is, in a word, demented.
Who the hell does anyone think he/she is to preach [and screech] at me how to live my life, when he/she isn’t the one walking around in this particular skin? Those discoveries — and those mistakes, too — are mine to make.
But there are those who can’t handle this notion, because I’m not conforming to their definitions of the word ‘feminist’. They demand, “Well, then what are you??”
To which I answer, “I am a Human Being. What are you?”
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Friday March 28, 2008 at 1:00 pm
99ppp
The “femi-” prefix distort the message of destroying the idea of gender as consideration. “I am a human being” is sufficient unfortunately there are many too quick to place one in a box.
Interesting post.
Saturday March 29, 2008 at 6:32 am
Tina C.
“When I say I’m a feminist, people — sharing that sentiment or not — are confused when I don’t fit in with their personal definition of a feminist. And they proceed to correct me.”
I know what you mean. In general, I get the same reaction. It’s similar to the one I get when I tell people that I’ve been a liberal since before it became a dirty word.
Interesting post! And interesting site, too. I’ve got somewhere I don’t want to be but feel obligated to be, but I’ve bookmarked you. I’m looking forward to reading more.
Tina