image
12 comments
@Creativerealms
I'm thinking feminism is going to have to be redefined soon because that's not entirely wrong. A lot of dumb women, bad actors and politician have used sexism as a reason their failures and lack of skill/ knowledge. Add that to RightWingers warping it with pretending women are attacked for being homemakers and muddying the whole concept of equal rights.
I actually feel for the movement now more than years ago because it has been twisted out of shape unknowingly by bad approaches and knowingly as the RightWing 'slippery sloped' it (as they do with everything) into "women want MORE rights!"
What's worrisome in this far Right Trump America is we could see stupid legislation like "Women/ blacks/ Hispanics/ foreigners/ Gays/ Liberals have been in charge and running things too long, we need Conservative Men in charge of everything, That always works!"
There's actually two additional waves of feminism that have shown up over the last decade and a half. Fourth wave finds focus in feminism in the age of social media and more inclusion of trans rights. If you've ever had a transwoman yell at you for calling abortion a woman's issue, or for putting ovaries on your protest sign, or saying straight men and lesbians shouldn't be forced to date people who have a penis; congrats! You've met a fourth waver.
Fifth wave is still very new, but so far their focus is on feminism as it relates to intersectionality. I have high hopes for it.
Oh, there's also an absolutely bonkers transwoman who runs a WordPress blog where she claims to have invented fourth wave feminism (protip: no she didn't). She's trying to redefine feminism to the point that pre-op transwomen and cismen have more say than women do in women's issues. Her ramblings come up often when you search out fourth wave.
@ Canadiest
The problem with re-defining "feminism" or using another word for what feminism means, is that that change will never be the end of it. There are a lot of people very invested in undermining equal rights for women and, no matter what word or what definition we use, they will always attack it. Arguing semantics is just a distraction from the real issues.
Out of every 1000 feminists, 999 are going to be normal women fighting for equal rights. However, no matter what definition or word is used, people who oppose equal rights for women will always hold a spotlight up to that 1 wacko and say "This is what a feminist/equalist/egalitarian/person saying they want equal rights is".
It will never end and the only way to "win" is not to play their game at all.
@2029158
I guess I'm a Fifth Wave then? Rather odd because I find the notion of dividing them up into waves a little too strict for my tastes.
I just prefer to call myself a feminist. I have a friend who calls himself an egalitarian and, unlike most egalitarians, actually fits the bill. We're pretty cool with each other.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
To post a comment, you'll need to Sign in or Register . Making an account also allows you to claim credit for submitting quotes, and to vote on quotes and comments. You don't even need to give us your email address.
