Mostly because I have no idea what that means. Because of the strong connotations and ideas with the word, it's suggests something radical, passionate, and something that you should really know something about if you're going to take on this identity.
I’ve never really taken a class on the subject and I’ve never felt personally subjected to any serious oppression. To be honest, it hasn’t been very high on my list of woes. In the western world (or at least my western world), aside from an occasional catcall or vulgar hollers while walking down the street, the surface of daily life is pretty much unmarked. In general we can vote, we can work; we can wear really whatever we want and nothing is restricted to me as woman except for the sign on the Men's restroom. So yes, daily life is probably not awful for a white, middle-class woman. But then, there’s all the things hidden beneath the surface that is more difficult to notice-which the handout in class brought to light showing many facts that reveal that women are in fact still unequal.
I’ve Googled and Wikipidia-ed, finding many historical facts and theoretical definitions. However, I’m still uncertain of the why and what do we do? Why is this idea important, or more so than other?
After searching some general info about the topic of feminism, I still feel a little disconnected from the subject—Maybe because an objective point of view fails to give any solid definition. But isn’t this the exact problem bell hooks addresses? After reading hooks article, I found it very informative about the theoretical standpoint to feminism as well as the critique within it, but still it left a lot open to questions.
Why is it so difficult to define feminism? Why have women become the lesser sex but still vary so much in culture class and backgrounds? Yet they still need to ban together.
Ultimately, it comes down to the definition of equality—which can never really be concrete. What does this mean to a white, educated upper class woman compared to a working class minority woman to a woman in the Middle East?
…And then there are the women, who are perfectly content in their traditional roles.
As I was trying to google a little bit about feminism in general, this headline was particularly grabbing…if not amusing.
http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Evils%20in%20America/Feminism/feminism_is_evil.htm
The argument was hardly convincing, the evils of feminism supported mostly by Bible quotes. In this day and age, “because God says so”, is not held with the same authority as it once did. The site isn't very constructive or valid, but this just reveals another radical notion that is felt not even by men, but other women.
However, this made me wonder who is truly the enemy to the feminist movement—a movement aimed towards equality and positivity to the female gender. Is it these fiercely anti-feminists or is it the ones who fall by the wayside? Those who won’t associate with the idea of “feminism” because of the stigma attached. Those who are afraid to state any strong beliefs or feelings because of what the word “feminism” evokes. Thus, any hope in achieving a “feminist movement” may need to convince those in the middle, rather than those on the opposing side.
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