If feminism is about equality between the sexes, why is it called FEMINism, and not EQUALism?

Question

It sounds like an awfully convenient way to form a word that's supposedly about equality. It'd be comparable if I were to assert that whitism is about racial equality.

Can someone please justify this?

Answer 1

1. Reason- A great number of self-proclaimed equalist wish to take choices and rights away from women.  Stick around this section and you'll see what I'm talking about. Equalists have a tendency to tell on themselves.

#2. The movement for gender equality was started by women.  Therefore they should get dibs on what the ideology and movement is called.  If men had a need to start such a movement back in the 19th century we could call it menism or whatever, but since it started as a women's equality movement.....   It's really a no-brainer.

Answer 2

If they called it Equalism women would have to stick to it

Answer 3

Because it isn't about equality, feminism-feminine-women. Women over men, makes sense doesn't it?

Answer 4

In the first place the answer is in the question "IF"

Feminism is a game and the game will last as long as men are wimps, which is what they want to see

It requires two parts,

1. For women to make extraordinary claims about their abilities without the actions to back it up

2. For men to pretend that what they say is true and factual, and roll over and play dead till they have their way

In reality its meaningless drivel, and can get nowhere as long as there are a handful of real men left anywhere on the planet

Like any good human I believe in equality, but I wont be someone’s pup, they can go to the..**** lol

Answer 5

think about the affirmative action. it is called preferential even though at first it originated from the purpose of establishing an equality. it has changed it's entitlement when the the reversed preferential treatment arose. the name feminism will keep its title with a pursuit of gender equality until people generally accept there's too much advantages favoring women over men, which will occur in the remote future or never will.

Answer 6

Feminism isn't about equality, never has been and never will be.

Answer 7

Because equalism means equality. Feminism means equality for women so it's more specific.  

Answer 8

A so-called equality movement that excludes half the population is not really an equality movement.

Answer 9

Because a while ago, women were not equal, so promoting equal rights was the same as promoting women. Also, some radical feminists are still pro-woman-only, though most feminists aren't.

I suppose it could be called equalism now, but that would be a lot of money to reprint Gender Study books...

Answer 10

My GOD! Someone on yahoo answers can actually THINK???!!!

Answer 11

You can call yourself anything you want. The whole point is staying out of other people's way.  Don't sweat the title.  Don't be a hindrance.