What's the difference between a feminist and a sexist? How do you define a feminist and a sexist?
If you have nothing against men, but think women are better, are you a feminist?
I didn't mean to offend anyone. I was just curious.
2007-01-01 18:21:57 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Social Science ➔ Gender Studies
Feminism is a collection of social theories, political movements, and moral philosophies largely motivated by or concerned with the liberation of women. A large portion of feminists are especially concerned with what they perceive to be the social, political and economic inequality between the sexes which favors the male gender; some have argued that gendered and sexed identities, such as "man" and "woman", are socially constructed. Feminists disagree over the sources of inequality, how to attain equality, and the extent to which gender and gender-based identities should be questioned and critiqued. In simple terms, feminism is the belief in social, political and economic equality of the sexes, and a movement organized around the belief that gender should not be the pre-determinant factor shaping a person's social identity or socio-political or economic rights.
Modern feminist political activists commonly campaign on issues such as reproductive rights, including the right to safe, legal abortion, access to contraception and quality prenatal care, protection from violence within a domestic partnership, sexual harassment, street harassment, discrimination and rape, and rights to maternity leave, and equal pay. Many feminists today argue that feminism is a grass-roots movement that seeks to cross boundaries based on social class, race, culture and religion. They also argue that an effective feminist movement should be culturally specific and address issues relevant to the women of the society in question such as female genital cutting in Africa and the Middle East and the "glass ceiling" issue in developed economies. They also debate the extent to which certain societal issues such as rape, incest and mothering are universal. Themes explored in feminism include patriarchy, stereotyping, sexual objectification and oppression.
Sexism is commonly considered to be discrimination and/or hatred against people based on their sex rather than their individual merits, but can also refer to any and all systemic differentiations based on the sex of the individuals.
Sexism can refer to subtly different beliefs or attitudes:
The belief that one sex is superior to or more valuable than the other;
The belief that one gender is superior to or more valuable than the other;
Female chauvinism or male chauvinism
The attitude of misogyny (hatred of females) or misandry (hatred of males); as well as
The attitude of imposing a limited and/or false notion of masculinity on males and a limited and/or false notion of femininity on females.
2007-01-01 18:31:09 · answer #1 · answered by disturbedxxcalmness 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
When I was in college I asked myself the same question after taking a gender studies class. On some issues the professor had valid points, but then she would go off on these tangents that lost the entire class. As I studied the topic a little myself, I've found that feminism is like any other label. Some people are extreme, some are moderate, and some very quiet about what they believe. I think my mothers generation of feminists were more extreme stereotypically because their life experience was different then mine. I always listen when what you consider "extremists" go off, there is usually a point that can be found. Your talking about peoples lives so I can understand why if women saw a pattern of discrimination they would be emotional about it. Imagine being in a family where your parents told your little brother they were going to pay for college/trade school/his first house because he was going to have to be the provider for his family. But, then told you they wouldn't pay for college or trade school because a man was going to provide for them. An extreme example right?? Yet, it happens everyday in the U.S. This may not be a great example, but how would you feel about it? How would you feel if the next day your best friend told you that her twin brother was getting all the money for college so she couldn't go until, next year or never. Would your reaction be extreme if it had affected you in a personal way, before you saw it happen to someone else.
2016-05-23 05:24:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To be a feminist does not mean at all to hate men. It means that person believes that women are equal and should have equal rights in all social fields as men have: right for vote, education, work, advancing, equal payment, right for being elected. Moreover, women should be allowed to choose their partners freely, to plan their families, to have a right for abortion (what is still a taboo in many countries). Besides, feminists agree that women, concerning their specific position in society, should have specific legal protection from the domestic violence and from the people trafficking. So, feminism is dealing with many serious questions concerning preventing social injustice, promoting the position of women, and their human rights.
A sexist is a person who considers the opposite gender as inferior and it has nothing to do with real and serious feminism.
2007-01-01 21:14:16 · answer #3 · answered by Aurora 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
No, feminists don't think they are better, therefore they are not "sexist." They don't even try to suggest that men and women are the "same" they just believe in equal rights, equal pay, and equal opportunities. I'm a feminist, happily married, love my Dad and Brother, think guys are great, but "hate" the attitudes of some men that say we are inferior, but I don't hate men.
2007-01-01 18:28:57 · answer #4 · answered by wendy g 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
A sexist is some one who hates the opposite sex. A feminist is someone who believes that women and men should have equal rights and equal places in the world.
2007-01-01 18:25:21 · answer #5 · answered by i_hrt_snape 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I would say a "sexist" believe one sex to be better than another, based solely on their sex. A "feminist" is a political mindset, a person who believe that men and women should be equals.
2007-01-02 02:05:43 · answer #6 · answered by tabithap 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Feminist - someone who believes in equality for females, i.e. allowing them equal legal and politic rights as males.
Sexist - someone with biased/prejudiced opinions towards one sex or the other (ex: all men are pigs; women are so whiney).
Just because someone is feminist doesn't necessarily mean they have biased views towards men.
If you think women are "better" than men, I'd say that's more sexist than feminist.
2007-01-01 20:23:24 · answer #7 · answered by JudasHero 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Feminist:
Belonging to movements and ideas which advocate the rights of women to have equal opportunities to those possessed by men.
Sexist:
discriminatory on the basis of sex (usually said of men's attitude toward women)
2007-01-02 20:57:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a feminist is a lady who fights to achieve equal rights b/w males and females. . . however a sexist is a person who believes that a perticular sex -they could be on any of these sexes sides- is supirior to the other. . however feminists are just fighting for equal rights!!!!!!
2007-01-01 20:04:37 · answer #9 · answered by coco 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
A feminist respects a woman's right to vote, earn a degree, get a loan on her own, get paid as much as a man for the same positions, own a home, and make her own decisions. Sexism, on the otherhand, is a mental illness similar to racism related to disrespect, disregard, fear or hatred of the opposite sex.
2007-01-01 18:33:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋