How do we tell a radical feminist from a "true" feminist if they both claim to be about equality?

Question

All I can see are feminists saying that feminism is about equality, then claim that the acts of discrimination or examples of discriminatory laws that have been passed by feminists were the responsibility of "radical" feminists and that they aren't one of those. However, every last one of the feminists involved in the acts of discrimination and the discriminatory laws, claimed the EXACT SAME THING. In many cases the people that claim equality (even on here) will then go on to justify discrimination.

How can I come to the conclusion that OVERALL feminism is not a radical hate movement if the RESULTS of the feminist movement are the acts of discrimination and the discriminatory laws?

If they are different then surely someone can tell me why them seem to ACT in the same manner and can tell me how we can tell them apart.

So, how do we tell the difference between a "true" feminist and a "radical feminist" if they make the exact same claims?

Minvera: So judging them by whether they take the action of claiming that the wage gap is real would be a good way to go right? Someone's a radical feminist...

And dogtown, as far as I can tell the "third wave" feminists are second wave feminists that don't want to be saddled with the bad reputation and lack of credibility of the second wave feminists, so denounce them, then go off campaigning for the exact same things. They are exemplary examples of why I can't tell the difference.

Answer 1

Easy a regular feminist fights for womens rights where they get stoned, a radical feminist keeps "fighting" in countries where women have their rights already, she is just a looser that is only good at beeing a feminist. Just think of the Vagina monolgues do you think a steaming pile of poo like that would have make it on stage with the guise of feminism ?

Answer 2

I Believe I Understand Somewhat It Is A Language Battle Amongst Others My Preference To The Extent I Can Engage In These Discussions Is To Assume That The Correct Label If Any Can Only Be Fairly Applied By The Labelee This Forum Suffers From A Surfeit Of Labellers

Answer 3

The literal meaning of feminism no longer holds much sway because of all of the connotations that word brings with it.

The only way to tell if someone is actually interested in equality is by judging them on their words and actions. Smart women who are striving for equality should be able to see that distancing themselves from feminism would be beneficial in making it clear that they are about equal rights for all, not just rights for women with disregard for their affects on men.

The majority of women I have come across who happily pin themselves with the feminist label feel that just saying they are a feminist is empowering them and they foolishly think that being 'not THAT kind of feminist' is enough to make them look like equality is their goal.

'All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.' Many feminists today dont seem to see the irony in this quote.

Karma.
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Answer 4

The thing about radical feminists is that they are well aware of the fact that equality is best. It's merely their personal, individual opinion that men suck. But they know that attitudes like that won't do s-hit.

Answer 5

I think your question is worded badly. Maybe I miss read what you are asking, but here is what it seems like to me. "Radical" feminists are 2nd Wave feminists whose were fighting for equality from the 1950's through the early 1980's. Women such as Bella Abzug, Gloria Steinham, Angela Davis, Audre Lordes, & Riane Eisler. Each had their own "reason" for fighting for equality and many had "multiple" ways they were being suppressed by the systems in place at the time. Some were not of the dominant culture (read as non-White), some were not of the dominant sexual persusaion (read as homo sexual/bisexual/transgender). These women had some serious work to do and barriers to equality to tear down. Do you know that as late as 1974 a woman was not allowed to have a credit card in her name? Or that want ads listed what gender they were looking for so the only jobs available to women were what was called "pink-collar ghetto" work like asembly lines in factories or typing pools in offices or domestic work? Or that it was a legal ompossibility for a husband to rape his own wife? Read "The Femine Mystique" by Betty Friedan for the context which 2nd Wave Feminists operated in. In breaking down these barriers feminist groups made the mistake of attempting assimilation into the current system as opposed to changing the system altogether. The result was the White Women were able to achieve things that women of color were not, and "womens issues" were not defined to include things like poverty or sustainable child care. Women outside of the dominant paradigm, either by ethnicity or social class, felt marginalized by the women who were suceeding.

What do you refer to when you claim that "the RESULTS of the feminist movement are acts of discrimination and the discriminatory laws? Specific would be helpful in answering your question.

So todays Third Wave feminists, like Alison Abner, The Gorilla Grrls, Riot Grrls, Peg Yorkin etc. are quick to distance themselves from the Second Wave women and their ideals.

I am getting off the soap box now, but do your research before you make claims. Know what you are talking about, use concrete examples. We are not all bitches out for ourselves. If claiming the label of Femi-Nazi actually improved the conditions of women in society I would tattoo it on my forehead.

Oh wait, I just looked at the web sites you linked in your "about me" section and I am ashamed to say that I bit. You are just one of those men who like to wind up the feminists. Shame on me.

Answer 6

All people should be judged by their actions - not by the labels put on them.

You call yourself Happy Bullet, but I think every one of us can tell that you are not a happy person - even though you are labelled as such, your actions speak for you

Answer 7

if she hits you over the head with the strap-on, then she is the bull.

Answer 8

I LOVE THE ABOVE ANSWER!!!

Answer 9

they are both losers!