What's In A Word?: "Feminist"

I was in a meeting yesterday and I heard a woman describe herself as "a feminist."

And, I wondered to myself, "do women under 40 call themselves 'feminist' anymore?"

Now, old guys like me who were there for the 60s portion of women's fight for equal rights remember the use of that term being an important identity signifier. Women vehemently argued about whether or not it was possible to stand in solidarity with one another and not march under the flag of "feminism." Very many believed it was not. 

Fast forward 50 years (yikes!)

Coming into 2010, I see a lot of young women who live and breathe the equality ethos of feminism. But I rarely...never?...hear them using that word.

So, what say you: do women under 40 define themselves as "feminist" anymore?

Comments

[Average Jane]

It does seem to be falling out of favor, which I think is unfortunate. Of course, I'm over 40, so naturally I'd think so!

[dclaudekatz]

I think, as the feminist movement has matured, it has had to face (or else struggle to avoid facing) the differences in views among many that profess to "march under the flag of 'feminism.'" Indeed, it is no longer clear that it is possible for women "to stand in solidarity with one another" under any flag. A lot of young women have become disillusioned by what they see as the mainstream of feminism that doesn't reflect their own views. (And I've noticed that young women who do call themselves feminists often feel the need to include some kind of disclaimer dissociating themselves from a popular image of feminism.)

If you can put up with the dirty pictures, I'd urge you to read this essay with which "Furry Girl", a young former "feminist," launched her blog "Feminisnt", in which she now vociferously rejects the "feminist" label, though without having particularly changed her substantive opinions:

Introduction, or: How I learned to stop worrying and love the non (NSFW)

Also, these two subsequent posts:

Feminism is the shitty relationship you had in your early 20s

Biography of a pornographic polemic

(all NSFW)

[Ken G.]

I guess I'm another old-fashioned Alan Alda Feminist, but I certainly see the point of the previous commenter on the inability of any "ism" to contain all of any group, especially a group as wide and diverse as a gender.

By the basic, stripped-down definition of feminist, I mean simply, "One who recognizes equality of rights of all people, including the right to live free of gender-based discrimination."

But, yes, the definition has been loaded up over the years with all sorts of other things you have to agree with in order to be "the right kind of feminist."

[niti bhan]

I'd say move that cut off age to 45 adn then we'll talk :)

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