How many people have actually read about feminism or know what feminism is about?

Question

It seems there is a big misunderstanding about the term.

So I am curious about the following questions:

1- Where or how did you know about the word "feminism"?
2- Have you read about it, or are you repeating what others have said about it?
3- Do you know there are several kinds of feminism?
4- Have you met a feminist in real life?

Steve and Persian, why you don't answer to the question?

Steve, you are right, I read the question before you edit it. Thanks for your answer

Happy Bullet, perhaps what I will ask you pertains to a new topic, but I am honestly curious. First of all thanks for your honest answer, now my question refers to your last line. Why to judge all feminists just because of your own personal experience with them? It is like me judging all men because of some bad experiences with them.
I am conscious that not all men are like some characters I have met through my life. Don't you agree, that we have to give the benefit of the doubt to others, until we know them?

TERA; I think you can find your questions here:

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/Speech/rccs/theory84.htm

I haven't seen the film you mention, but I will try to remember that name ;-)

Happy Bullet, why did you delete your answer? It was a good answer

Kate, go to the link I gave to Tera. But nevertheless, from my own point of view, feminism has tried to bring equality to women all over the world and also to give women their right place in history. There is a wonderful history book from a feminine perspective called "The Prospect Before Her" by Olwen Hufton. It is an attempt to bring women into the history of social science. I find this as a woman extremely interesting :-)

Answer 1

I have read some works on feminism (Scully, Jenks are some of the authors of books on my desk right now).

I first heard about the word many years ago, I also grew up in the 60's and 70'- it was a very big concept on "All in the Family." (A son and father are involved in an accident, the father is killed, but when the son gets to the E.R. the surgeon says "I can't work on this patient, he is my son." Why or how can that be? that episode was on again last night.)

I was first accused of being a feminist in my Intro to sociology class (as a student) after announcing to the class that I support abortion rights, woman should be paid equally for equal work, they should have the right to vote, and the right to pursue any career they choose.

I know of various types of Feminism. As a sociologist I teach it. Am I an expert, no I don't believe that, so I keep reading.

I guess I have met a feminist in real life, perhaps in the mirror also.

Answer 2

Q: How many people have actually read about feminism or know what feminism is about?
A: I have actually read some but know very little as to what feminism is about as I am always given slightly varying definitions as to what it is.

Q: Where or how did you know about the word "feminism"?
A: The word feminism came up in classes I have taken such as history, psychology, and political science. In all these classes I was exposed to the word and the changes that it has made in society or the effect it has had on research.

Q: Do you know there are several kinds of feminism?
A: Yes I realize there are several kinds of feminism. There are several kinds of any group of people due to the fact that nobody thinks exactly like anyone else. Those whose thinking is similar tend to congregate together into groups of their own. They may be under a much larger umbrella group (i.e. feminism, masculism, Republican, Democrat) but they still must share common ideas to be considered a feminist, Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, etc. Otherwise the word has no meaning.

Q: Have you met a feminist in real life?
A: That is a good question and tough to answer. I would say that many of the ideas that feminists support are also supported by other groups such as Democrats or Libertarians. This is what makes it hard to say whether or not I have met any feminists in real life. However, I do think that I have met at least one, though I can't prove that she is so I try not to assume that she is one.

Answer 3

I have not formally read much about feminism. I know a little bit about Susan B. Anthony. I just looked it up on wikipedia. I am aware that there are several kinds of feminism. I have been called a feminist because I believe in equality between men and women. I'm for more stability in society. Who isn't? I don't know if I have met a real feminist or not. I know a lot of smart and intellectual women.

Answer 4

I don't think I'm one of the people you're querying, but I'll answer anyway.

1. I was there at the beginning when "The Feminine Mystique" exploded. Prior to that, I couldn't understand why girls were expected to live under one set of rules and boys another. It made absolutely no sense. And I remember the second wave, also started by Betty Friedan, whose assertions that men and women aren't the same and were made to complement, not compete with, each other. We're NOT "equal." We're "equal under the law." There's a difference. Deal with it.

2. Oh, I've read about it, all right. For years. The positives and the negatives.

3. Definitely, although this isn't high on my radar.

4. Ha, ha. Everyone - friends, family, coworkers, etc. - who's important to me. The men who've loved me (and the one who shares my life now). As well as a substantial number of the "I'm not a feminist but" crowd.

My favorite drinking game is the one where you take a drink whenever you hear someone say, "I'm not a feminist - I love having doors opened for me." I just smile to myself and think "someone else who doesn't get it."

And before you ask: I believe on principle that women should be eligible for the draft if it was reinstated. I don't like the idea, but it is what it is.

Edit: After years of feminism and many, many feminists, I have never met one who was "angry" or "hated men." This is just plain ridiculous.

Answer 5

1. How do I know about feminism? I grew up in the 1960's and 1970's so I can't remember when I didn't hear about feminism, but most of the time I heard how awful feminism was. It didn't sound awful to me, but that's how it was presented by the media, my church and my family (my parents are fundies).

2. I don't remember seeing many facts about feminism until college, since my tiny rural town didn't have a wide selection of reading materials to choose from. I was a psychology major, and one of my classes was the psychology of women, and it was like I had entered a new world, one that described how I felt. I tried a women's studies class (the minor was started at my college the year I took my first women's studies class), and loved it. It was such a different way of looking at society from the way I'd had to live with.

3. Yep, I knew there were a few different flavors of feminism in the 1970's-90's but I hadn't kept up with all the different types for the last few years, I'd gotten burned out after years of being a paid or unpaid activist.

4. Since I worked with a NOW chapter and worked at a non-profit feminist business and worked with gay/lesbian educational groups a few years, many of my friends, acquaintances and sometimes all the people I worked with were feminists. But I've gone back and forth working in the corporate business world, so I've definitely been around people that wouldn't be caught dead calling themselves a feminist. I also know a few fundies who would never call themselves a feminist as well. But I have met quite a few business women who call themselves feminists, they knew what it meant and didn't apologize for it.

As far as radical feminists go, I think if you say you're a feminist in this society, you're considered a radical feminist. I think in the US, it's radical to actually care that women are treated fairly. It's a sexist culture, it's going to be that way for quite some time. That's why there's such a big backlash against it, and why people who hate women have made sure they define what feminists are, so that no one but the brave are willing to call themselves a feminist.

The right-wing has tried their best to define a feminist as a man-hating lesbian. What the right-wing doesn't get is the irony- they don't get it that lesbians are indifferent to men, they don't hate men. The ones most likely to hate men are divorced heterosexual women-they're the ones I meet who are mad as heck at men. Lesbian culture revolves around loving women...men just aren't in the equation. lol

Answer 6

1. I don't remember where I first heard the actual word, but I remember when I was really young hearing references to it such as "burn your bra".

2. I read quite a lot about it in high school. The concept interrested me, and since I didn't believe that men and male dominance were the source of all inequality and problems (radical feminism), I felt the need to understand it better.

3. Yes, there are over 10 different types recognised, and probably more due to small subgroups and new movements.

4. No. I've known some girls and women who'd call themselves feminists, but whenever I've asked any direct questions, they've admitted that they're not really. I think some women claim this because they feel that life for women is unfair sometimes, but overall for them it's not a big enough issue for many of them to pursue changes.

I believe that many of the misunderstandings about feminism come from people only hearing about radical feminism. It's very easy to pay attention only to the extremes of an idea, and radical feminism created the most waves.

Anyone who doesn't want to read lots of books to understand this idea should look up the article in Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism

Answer 7

Explain to me flying horse what you consider to be a feminist or what feminism is about.
You see as a woman I have always fought my corner and for the most part been successful.
In my professional life I was competing with male colleagues but was fortunate to gain a good management position, the top one.
Politically, I have held national responsibility.


But I refer you to my opening question.
Am a woman no more no less.

Thanks for the info regarding book.
Will read and get back to you.
Cheers.

Answer 8

1. First heard about feminism in high school, really started understanding and embracing it/identifying as a feminist when I got to college.
2. I have read about--it is actually one of my hobbies/interests which is good since I'm a psych and wgs double major. :)
3. Yes.
4. Yes, I know tons of feminists, and I am one!

Answer 9

What I don't really understand is the term "radical feminist." Is a person considered "radical" if she is politically active in trying to get laws passed that give women equality? Were the women who lobbied for women's right to vote seen as "radicals"? Were the women who pushed for legislation that gave women the right to choose abortion considered "radicals"? Were the women who developed and distributed contraceptives seen as radicals? Or, were feminist "radicals" blowing up buildings and such to "prove their points" (if so, I've never heard of that...)? Serious question. I don't understand the meaning of the term. If anyone out there can enlighten me, I'd appreciate it. I hear so much negativity on "radical feminism" and I don't think I'm the only one who isn't clear on exactly what this term means. My idea of a "radical feminist" is someone who is politically active in the sufferage movement. Is this idea wrong?

I first heard and learned about feminism as a young girl, in school, in history class, when we learned about the sufferage movement and women's right to vote.

I've been interested ever since.

Have you ever seen the movie "Iron Jawed Angels"? If so, what is your opinion on how the movement was depicted in this movie? Close to reality, or something else?

(Sorry for all the questions, but I respect your opinions and would really like to hear what insight you may have on these ideas, Flyinghorse.)

Thanks!

Answer 10

1- Where or how did you know about the word "feminism"?
From my mom, and from some of her old feminist magazines (circa 1975) I found in my attic.

2- Have you read about it, or are you repeating what others have said about it?
I've done some reading about it. I can't say I've read BOOKS on the subject, but I've certainly read plenty of articles.

3- Do you know there are several kinds of feminism?
Yep.

4- Have you met a feminist in real life?
My mom, and quite a few other people.