Feminism and women's rights movements?

Question

The following are two questions posed by Gallup (for those unfamiliar with various polling sources, Gallup is an excellent stamp of accuracy to have when looking for opinion statistics) to women about their impressions of feminism and women's rights, with the exact phrasing of the question quoted, and the margins of error (when significant) accounted for by the two separate percentages:

"Do you consider yourself a feminist, or not?"

* Yes (26.09% / 32.53%)

* No (66.60% / 60.66%)

* Sometimes/depends (4.54% / not an answer option)

* Don't know/refused (2.77% / 6.81%)

"There are many social movements that try to have an impact on policy-making in our nation. Regardless of how much impact, if any, the Women's Rights Movement has had, please tell me if you personally agree or disagree with its goals."

* Strongly agree (45.38%)

* Somewhat agree (40.07%)

* Somewhat disagree (8.73%)

* Strongly disagree (4.24%)

So, while only a quarter to a third of women identify as 'feminists,' over 95% of women agree with the goals of the women's rights movement. This causes me to think that perhaps most women see feminism as something different from the women's rights movement.

So, my question is, do YOU see the feminism movement and the women's rights movement as different or the same? How would you have answered these poll questions? If you see the feminism and women's rights movements as different, what are the differences?

Answer 1

The Women's Rights Movement is about policy problems and goals that might help with those problems and issues that help women and their families.  This used to be closely associated with 'feminists' but the word has been high-jacked by the conservatives who have redefined it to mean 'L*****n, man-hating, promiscuous, drug-addicted child murderers'.  Most women are part of the first group but few want to be considered part of the second.

The conservatives are absolutely brilliant at redefining words so that no one wants to claim them -- 'birth control is the same as abortion' - 'democrats are those who want the terrorists to win' - 'freedom of religion means those of my religion are free to impose it on others' - 'compassion means feeling really bad that victims did that to themselves through their own 'poor choices' and 'education means making sure children don't have free access to information'.

Answer 2

Hmmm....

No wonder some of the girls who post here will write something of this nature:

"I am for abortion! I think women don't make as much as men! I think women need more rights! When I have a baby, I want rights to have maternity leave!

...but I don't consider myself a feminist!! :) :) :) :) Do y'all still like me since I added my disclaimer at the end? GOD I HOPE SO! I'm seeking online approval from everyone for some reason."

Yes, there are a few feminists who make the apples in the basket look bad. There's a few of (insert any type of advocate for any group here) who also make the apples in their ideology basket look bad - Christian extremists, anti-g*y and L*****n extremists, etc. etc.

Whether that's what's making women choose to not associate themselves with feminism, I can't be too sure, but I do see the type of answer I provided on GWS daily, hourly, minutely...by women who don't know what feminism is, don't care to learn, or have only read posts by the ones who make it look bad. Believe it or not, Gender and Women's Studies exists outside of Yahoo ladies and gentlemen. There are such things as books and articles :) :)

Answer 3

Tracy... I think that feminist have done a good job of scaring people away from women's lib also, you know as well as I that feminism has its radicals that cast a dingy light on women's liberation. Not to say that feminism hasn't accomplished allot of good, its just that every human rights based organization has its radicals, so blaming radical Republicans and appointing no blame to feminism would be flawed. Also, women that don't consider themselves feminism, but still advocate women's lib (myself included) are not simply "afraid" as you think, they simply don't share the same views as you... so please step out of your box before casting judgmental remarks.

to answer, I would consider feminism to be the major movement representing women's lib, but not the only one, so I wouldn't say they are one in the same. There are other "isms" that fight for the liberation of women such as equalism and humanitarianism. But this is an interesting question, helps to define the gray areas that I believe lead to so many misunderstandings, especially in GWS.

thanks for the great question!

Answer 4

What this means is that most women are feminists, but many are merely afraid to attach the "feminism" term to themselves, because tw@ts like Rush Limbaugh have been successful at scaring women away from the term through his drug-addled ramblings.

Answer 5

Modern feminism is very different to the original women's rights movement, which fought for basic human rights for women. 100 years ago, the movement was much needed; I support those goals, and I'm glad that women have now achieved equality. I've never met anyone who's against women's rights.

I'm not a feminist because feminism isn't needed any more today - women are more than equal in many areas of the legal system. I'd describe myself as an equalist or humanist, because I think we need to help the individuals of both genders in need, rather than looking at all women as victims of male oppression. Modern feminism is about special rights and gender neutrality, not equal rights, and I don't agree at all with it's aims.

Also, supporting a movement and advocating it are different things... I support animal rights, but that doesn't necessarily make me an animal rights activist.

Answer 6

Thankyou for the question.

Answer 7

Interesting question.  I thought they were the same thing.

Answer 8

I think the idea is that the women's rights movement has run its course, since women have few to no rights left to gain, and that feminism is what's been left behind. I personally don't see the difference.

Answer 9

Feminism is the politically correct term for the women's liberation movement.  

Most people recognize that the modern feminist movement no longer strives for equality and fairness.

Answer 10

Yes, these results ain't surprising. Feminism has always been linked with deviance and women who are either "inverts," or "too ugly to attract a man anyway." On the coattails of the early criticisms came a general rightward shift in American politics, coupled with an untimely rise to dominance of a seperatist Woman-Indentified Woman movement that pushed aside liberal and radical feminists alike in mainstream media depictions and RAP groups. To this day, "feminist" denotes either a slur, or a "different" kind of woman, suggesting someone who's ugly, prone to histrionics, rejects fundamental hygiene, and despises men. An ounce of truth, and fifteen ounces of media invention, but oh well :D

As to your question, the Women's Rights movement is a mainstream cause perhaps better labeled liberal feminism. It's distinct from Women's Liberation, which challenges patriarchy and gender constructs wherever they may lurk. Feminism encompasses both lib and rights, but is linked in the minds of many to feminism's more radical elements like Dworken, further explaining why people who believe in basic societal rights for women can't bear to use the word.

Me? Yes, I support women's rights, and yes, I guess I will label myself a feminist.

Answer 11

Most people see the benefits of women' s equality every day, but an unfortunately large part of the public discourse on feminism today is basically shouting ANDREA DWORKIN!!!!11!!1!11!!!!1!!11 FEMINAZIS!1!1111!!!!TEN!11!!!11! over & over again.

Answer 12

They are different: I am for women's rights, but against feminism which is promoting laws and attitudes that are anti-male.

"Do you consider yourself a feminist, or not?"

No.

"Regardless of how much impact, if any, the Women's Rights Movement has had, please tell me if you personally agree or disagree with its goals"

Somewhat agree i.e. I agree with the equality goals, but recognise that there are other goals too.

Edit

There is plenty of evidence that feminism has a very strong anti-male streak e.g. Sections 2 and 4 here http://www.freewebs.com/feminism-evaluat...

Answer 13

It's the classic "I'm not a feminist BUT............"

majority of females in western society are feminist...it's all in do they choose to label themselves as such.

The 70's feminism, radicals, and negative press make it so many women are scared to declare themselves feminist.