Does feminism represent all types of women; even those w/somewhat traditional values?

Question

Anti-sexism as a movement does sound decidedly less "gender-centric" than feminism but maybe I do need to bone up on modern day thought.

Answer 1

Yes, feminism represents all types of women around the world. A common misconception about feminism is that it is one main political movement, that of the crazy bra-burning fema-n**i's. This is an image that comes out of the 1970's radical feminist part of the movement, but does not speak for the movement as a whole.

In fact, there are a multitude of feminisms and this comes from the very beginnings of the movement. It can also be very personal. For me, feminism and gender equality is just that; equal opportunity and treatment of genders.

Throughout history there have been many forms, and these forms continue to create new ones. They include liberal feminism, radical feminism, ecofeminism, black feminism, global feminism, multicultural, etc...

In fact, the liberal feminist movement has many 'traditional' values.

Speaking as a feminist and women's studies major with a concentration in Women's history in the US, there are many different kinds of feminism and I highly encourage everyone to actually do their research and determine what kind might be a better fit.

I think that most young women today have an image in their head of what a feminist is, which comes from the backlash in the 1980s and 90's against the radical movement.

And in response to some other comments, I was never taught to hate men, nor have I ever done so. I (and many of my friends) have made an effort to include men in the movement, since we firmly believe men are as much a victim of gender oppression as women.

One book that I found very interesting which does a good job at defining and explaining this history is Feminism: The Essential Historical Writings, which chronicles the beginning of the movement in the 1850's until the 1920's. Following that is Feminism in Our Time, both by Miriam Schneir.

I have many more books and articles that explore the philosophies and theories behind feminism and might help you explore different kinds of feminism and find out that fits your ideas. (And I guarantee there is one!) Please let me know if you have any more questions as I'd be happy to answer them.

@Master_Beta

It is true that there are feminisms that represent women all over the world (global, third world and multicultural feminism to name a few) These do not all share the same value system at all and are often at odds with each other.  It is true that white first world capitalist feminists do dominate the public image of feminism, but there are many feminists who do not fit into that mold and I can recommend several if you would like to do some research.

Answer 2

That would be news to me..

I think the idea that everyone gets the same startline is held by most but then feminists start to look at the finishline so to speak and relate that back to where everyone started. If we all started at the same place i.e. equal rights and opportunities then the outcomes will almost certainly be unequal not because men or women are superior to the other gender but because some individuals are superior or inferior

edit: @ professor, I love how you're answering it too :)

But yea theory and practice remain separate and in practice feminism doesn't appear to represent all types of women. It can't because its ideology assumes that everyone must (or at least should) value equality. What about the women who don't? Are they written off or just labelled irrational? I wonder..

@ kaydi.. ."Yes, feminism represents all types of women around the world"

So what you value is what every other woman would value? As I said above what about those who don't value what you value? Are you allowed to imperialise them because you perceive that you're "right"

edit: yet feminism is a movement based upon ideology which must be consistent or by definition can't be feminism. You could argue that the means are different but the goals MUST be the same. So you'd then have to argue that all women value your goals. That's where the imperialism would lie

Answer 3

It certainly can; feminists have been SAHMs, religious, and even pro-life.

Answer 4

No.

Anti-sexism is a better movement than feminism.

Answer 5

No worries I don't take traditional as being oppressive; although, some may through the poisoning of Feminism, which by the way likes to brag it has everything to do with all women; it does not.  Were that so, I would be a feminist and I'm not about to do that.  Right now Feminism has more problems than Carter's has little tiny pills; problems that I as a stay-at-home-mom don't have, nor do I want them, nor do I want the problems everyone else is having when they argue about equality.  

Answer 6

If you mean wife and mother, then yes it does. At least the kind of feminism I support does.

Feminism means equality and respect, something you can strive for no matter what path you choose in life.

Answer 7

Of course it does.

I'm a feminist. While I believe the women at home here in the US, and in Britain and Australia and any number of well-off countries are doing fine, I think feminism is still important to fix the problems in other countries where misogyny is alive, well, and powerful.

Look at the women in Africa. They need empowerment.

Answer 8

No, it's mainly for the bitter man-haters.  If that's not you, avoid it.

Answer 9

I really doubt feminism does.

Just look at what others have 'exposed' about it.

If you birth a boy and then read some of the stuff you may find you turn heavily against it if you get in to it.

Some of the stuff that comes from feminist organisations is just wrong - in so many ways and I don't just mean in terms of facts (but those too are often wrong in so many ways).

There are too many examples.

@kaydi - you say that feminists have many different types that are at odds with each other, don't fit the mold. Are you basically saying that its like a corporation? You need the multi-cultural dept? Why on earth does an ideology have so many different branches - not to mention such a high funding from government? Hardly grass roots and in touch with anything much when it has such a high paying turnover.

Answer 10

I think that second-wave feminism wasn't very compatible with traditional values because at the time, traditional values were all but forced upon women. But now that there's more choice, I think feminism is more compatible with traditional values and is more about eliminating sexism than about eliminating a way of life.

Answer 11

Life-long feminist and writer Rebecca Walker recently came out to criticize feminism for its denigration of men and defending traditional values. This was very recent. She says that the leaders of feminism closed ranks on her for questioning, and she isn't the only one. Many intellectual women view feminism as intellectually dishonest, degrading, and counterproductive.

"As the child of divorced parents, I know only too well the painful consequences of being brought up in those circumstances. Feminism has much to answer for denigrating men and encouraging women to seek independence whatever the cost to their families."

-Rebecca Walker

Answer 12

No, this is a relatively common misconception amongnst the young (and, indeed, an attempt by the modern "movement" of Feminism to convince young women that it's a righteous cause).

The Feminism of post WWII was aimed at advancing women's right in a time when they were, indeed, being taken for granted.  There was NO HATRED associated with the cause.

Modern Feminists aka Man-haters have taken this otherwise righteous name and corrupted it to stand for a movement of hate.  Now the young, unwitting members will say they don't hate men, and sometimes they are being genuine, but the doctrine of modern Feminism is Written by the so-called Radical Feminists who DO HATE MEN.  If you don't hate men, then there are organizations that are much more appropriate than Feminism.  Feminism in the modern era (i.e. post 1985 is based singularly on the notion that men are to be hated by any means necessary).  "All men are rapists, that's all they are." - M. French, a highly impressive Feminists author put it quite nicely.  Men are the enemy of the modern Feminist.  It can be qualified anyway one likes for the sake of appearing righteous, it's not.  It's a hateful philosopy aimed at punishing modern men for whichever atrocities may or may not have been comitted in many moons ago.

If one wishes to find a movement to advance human beings than such movements include being anti-cancer or anti-infectious disease in third-world countries, but being ant-men, i.e. a Feminist per the modern definition (re: hatred of men).  Men will be eradicated by Feminism, but this is not in keeping with natural order.  It is wrong and unjustifiable to hate men in toto as men aren't all rapists nor are they all evil as Feminism would have you believe.

But make up your own mind after reading the writings of modern Feminists.

My personal mother, now deceased, took care of her children in their formative years (when alternative care would cost more than she make otherwise) and we turned out okay.  I'm a male, so inherently defective by Feminists dogma, but my sister is fine, so there must be something to this notion of a mother taking care of her children during the formative years.

But rember, I'm a man, and I am considered defective by Feminists Dogma.  Feminist Dogma is far from equality.  It is based on female supremacy.  So if female supresmacy is what you support, Feminism is yourr movement of choice.  I, for one, find supremacist movement silly to say the least, but in the modern era, only you can make the choice to hate men in toto.  In reality some men do good things, specifically for women, but these things will never come to fruition if Feminism has its ways.

Answer 13

It depends on what "traditional values" means to you.  Feminism represents those who believe women are inherently of equal worth and who believe in equal treatment - social, political, economical, etc.  Of course that opens the question of what is meant by "equality" but essentially if you do not believe men are inherently superior being that deserve special privileges based on s*x or gender role, you are probably a feminist.  

That said, not every "feminist" or "feminist" organization is likely to represent all types of women.  I am a life-long feminist who is often at odds with what is often thought of as "mainstream feminism."  

You CAN be a Stay-At-Home-Mom feminist. You could also be a Stay-At-Home-Dad feminist.  But believing that one s*x SHOULD stay at home because that is where they BELONG is "sexist."  (That is so regardless of which one you think should stay at home.)

I hope that helps.

Answer 14

I love how the antis (5/6) are answering this.  Yes it does- feminism does not place a value on women that limits their choices.   There is a lot of disagreement as to what a traditional woman is!    

Answer 15

Yes it does.  Feminists fought for the right for women to have choices.  Decades ago, if a married woman wanted to work, it was a problem.  People either thought that her family was poor or her husband wasn't making enough to make ends meet.  It never occured to anyone that she just wanted to work.  Thanks to feminism, women can work at home, work outside the home, or whatever they want.  

Two years ago, I was watching "Wife Swap" and there was a woman who was a real feminist, and she was a stay-at-home mother.  She taught her daughter the values and beliefs of feminism.  This completely shatters the idea that feminists are against women staying at home.  Maybe a lot of wouldn't choose that for ourselves, but that doesn't mean that we don't at least respect it when other women choose to do so.