In your opinion, what are the main reasons a woman would not want to consider herself a feminist?

Question

Just in case, for all those of you who automatically assume I have evil intentions with this question, I don't.

Answer 1

I'm a woman, and I am not a feminist. I am an egalitarian. The reason I do not consider myself a feminist is because I think men are still bound by gender roles as well.

Answer 2

Here are the reasons that I, a strong, smart woman, would NEVER call myself a Feminist:

I am looked down upon for being a Full Time Mother.

Feminism destroys children, men, and families.

Feminist thinking has sunk into our society to such a level that even our TV shows are littered with sitcoms where wives are smart and men are idiots.

Feminism started out as a wonderful thing. Just like Political Correctness. But it has gone on too long, been carried too far.

Answer 3

Because feminism has gone from equality of the sexes to superiority of the XX's.

Because though she feels women shouldn't be oppressed she also has some traditional views on what a women should do [i.e. be the primary caretaker of children].

Because she doesn't know what feminism is.

[completely agree with Mystery]

Answer 4

I pretty much agree with thebug, except that I've heard a lot of people say they're not feminists, they just happen to believe in equality.  (Possibly because they heard that feminists are ugly man bashers who want us all to burn our bras or some such thing and didn't look into it further.)

Answer 5

most men see them as ungrateful man haters. Maybe they don't wanna scare men off.

Answer 6

1) Fear of stereotypes towards feminists

2) She believes women and men should have confined and rigid roles

3) She looks down on the things that some feminists have aimed for (I once met an older women that thought women shouldn't vote).

Answer 7

I think feminoot has hit it spot on....

I think there's a hierarchy of importance - first she's afraid that identifying herself as feminist will make her less sexually attractive and likeable (stereotypes), this stops her ever finding out what feminism really means, and therefore, she doesn't believe in equality, because she has been misguided into thinking inequality is better for her.

Answer 8

I have no problems with feminism in general, I just believe it's more prudent to be an egalitarian.

Answer 9

Basically she doesn't give a crick about equality; what does it matter to her whether or not she can do the same things a man can do; to her it's like who in the crick cares; just so as long as it gets done. That's how she looks at it.  About that pay thing; best to earn a dollar is ease than to squabble and complain; translation: who cares who gets more; one way or the other those bills will be paid.  She also believes the women for centuries have been able to do great things without the title of Feminism. She believes that women are human-beings without Feminism.  She believes that women are strong without Feminism. You know something where I live over here in Saudi Arabia I should be feeling oppressed; only thing is; I don't because I have discovered it comes from me; I'm the one who decides that; not others and or society. I understand perfectly what Feminism is all about; always have; always will; only I don't believe I can call myself a human-being just because Feminism says so. I also believe no matter what is done to me I am still a human-being; no one can take that away from me; nor can any one/thing or whatever else you think of can give and or deny me permission to deem my self as such..Also when you come to think of it there are so many ways that a woman can rely on herself; without having a man around; even so; when he is around.

Answer 10

All the negative stereotypes of what a feminist is, for one thing.

Answer 11

I think when people hear the word, feminist, they think of an extreme feminist who maybe doesn't shave, who wants to always buy her own things, never let the guys open doors or maybe may make the man feel less worth or less like a 'real man'. And most women don't want to be portrayed or grouped with these extreme women.

Answer 12

Because of negative stereotypes. They think that if they openly call themselves feminists, people will assume they are hairy legged, bra burning, man hating lesbians. Which most of them probably don't want. They are also probably undereducated about the term and do not understand that it means equality between sexes and nothing more.

Answer 13

I would like to answer this question by addressing the intelligent remarks of Tar Hot-T-she makes a good argument.

There is a massive problem with the feminist agenda of today, and it’s not easy to explain

But in part, some of the problems have shown up in education, where single s*x schools have touted as a way to accelerate girls, and after two generation we now find that boy actually are the ones that benefit more from single s*x education, so we now have a situation where everyone are ringing their hands casting around for solutions, and at conference after conference I'm been approached, and then vilified when I state that I'm not a feminist, or sympathizer

>I have to agree with Tara on this one...by separating the guys and the gals, more concentration is focused and the guys seem to  excelling.

To recruit to the cause the new generation of young women, it is necessary to convince us to see ourselves as victims, but the young women it addresses have no concept of themselves as victims, and in-fact have strong self image and confidence

>Yes, but the "young woman who have strong self confidence and self image" ARE victims not because of anything they have or have not done but because of the way women are still treated today like "second class citizens" which they are not.

For example women are still getting paid $.77 to a man's dollar. This was something that man decided from the past because employers were afraid of hiring women because if they decided to have children, they would leave their jobs and have to be replaced. Nevertheless, it should always be equal pay for equal work for both men and women. So far this issue has not gone away and still needs to be balanced. The young high self esteem and self image women need to work on balancing this issue in some way or women will always be making less money for the same job as a man.

The second problem is when you do convince women to think as victims, how then do you make them strong and powerful people

>You convince woman that evens though they might be considered "victims," (I would like to think there not but alas they are still treated as such) it's nothing they have done, again it's society that has forced these differences on women today from uncaring men.

>And those differences between "men and women" should be balanced for example, sexual harassment and sexual discrimination, why hasn't the United States Congress adopted a Federal s*x Discrimination Policy, most Fortune 500 Companies do? What's holding back the Feds?

>Yet, Congress is still afraid of pushing this issue that sits on Senators and Congressman tables and remains there until a young highly self esteem woman makes this an issue and works to pass it through. Many countries already have such policies and the USA is still lacking in keeping women as second class citizens which they are not.

>Why isn't there a Peace Development Department in the White House? Why aren't more "feminist" women pushing this issue to help end the war in Iraq? We can't even protect our woman soldiers from rape and sexual abuse that's initiated in our own military bases, so why aren't more women protesting the poor and deployable treatment of women in the Armed Services? If we want to seek equality, then why do we let our male soldiers keep abusing and raping the female soldiers? The young high self esteemed women should be livid about these issues and help to put a speedy end to this war.

>Where some of the $700 Billion we spend annually could provide free Health and Dental Care, and Free Child Care Services because if both parents work to make a living, their young child not old enough to go to Kind or the First Grade, still need to be taken care of. Why should the mothers have to take time off from her job and raise their kids until there old enough to go to school themselves?

>Abortion is a hot issue and every state has a Pro-Choice agency that fights for Pro-Choice candidates in politics and works to pass bills through to protect a women's right to choose. It appears there is much controversy on this issue, and one Presidential candidate would like to abolish abortions, which in my opinion, is unfair to remove this right away from a pregnant mother.

Two things can and does result, 1) bullying with words, idea, and rhetoric

And 2) the further demonizing of men to keep the agenda alive

Sensible women of today see past both

>I disagree with the "demoralization of men" because some caring and understanding men are needed in the feminist community to help women with the battle of equality. By demoralizing men your pushing them away instead of convincing them that they should re-think the issues and not "feed into their arguments and stereotypical responses that they may have against feminist women. Why shoot your self in the foot?

>Use these men who want to help with women's issue and feminist issues so equality can be better established. They are many GWS programs at many Colleges and Universities throughout the country. Do we just **** these programs down and give up the notion of "feminism" all together? I would think not because the job is not finished yet.

>From the "unnecessary force feedings and beatings of prominent women" who helped women win the right to vote, all the way up to the first women Supreme Court Justices, first women Doctor,  to even a potential first Presidential candidate, feminism has come a long way, Women can do any job a man cans do and visa versa, it's just's in how each gender learns how to perform the task. (Name one occupation that either a man or women could not do?) There isn't any.

I work for ‘equality’, without the need for fear, victims or someone to blame for our faults, or hate!

>I just don't buy into the argument that woman should not be afraid to call themselves, "feminists" the same as men should not be afraid to call themselves, "feminists." It's just a term men and women use which may cause great confusion from past sources (like Gloria Stein ham, bra burnings, men haters, women wearing gray or colorless clothing, etc.)

Answer 14

I would not want to be considered a man hater and always attempting to out do men, as though we don't need men in our lives.



When people hear the word feminists it is constantly & consistantly attached to the B's like the Glorious Steinham.

Answer 15

Because she refuse to subscribe to an hateful ideology and  don't feel that women should have more rights than men; just equal.

Answer 16

Because they have bought into the negative stereotypes forwarded by radio hosts, and often the church, that feminists are lesbians, ugly, can't get a man, etc.  They women want to distance themselves from the word, or title "feminist," and yet they still want equality and believe in most of the things feminism is working for.  The backlash against the feminists movement is stronger that the original movement.  

     Many more traditional people who want the traditional kind of marriage erroneously think that feminism is against that life style, when all feminism wants to do is to ensure that that is the woman's real choice and not a paradigm forced upon her by her family or society.  

     There is also a pervasive myth that if women weren't working, that there would be no unemployment, and things would be just like they were in the 1950's.  This narrow belief disregards the fact that black people entered the working place en mass in the 1960's and 1970's with the help of affirmative action, about the same time as women began to demand equal wages for equal work without the help of affirmative action.  

     To turn back the clock you would also have to take all the people of color and make the sharecroppers again.  Many women worked in the fifties.  It is ridiculous and selfish for anyone to say or think, "I want you to give up your freedoms, work for lower wages, because I beleive that if you would just suffer a little more and do what I think you should do, that I might make a little bit more money.  That belief in itself is socialism, because it takes away everyone's right to "the pursuit of happiness" that is guaranteed in the US Constitution.

Answer 17

A woman wouldn't want to be a feminist because...

A. She believes feminism is a bad word, like "liberal" is, because people who actively battle equality and want to maintain past inequalites have MADE those things bad words. (I see you, Limbaugh.)

B. She is upset that her options have grown beyond the traditional stay-at-home set and feels attacked. Feminism doesn't demand that you go to law school. Feminism demands you do what YOU want to do. Some moron women THINK feminism means you cannot be a SAHM, and try to make those women feel bad about their decision. Those women aren't feminists, they're bullies.

C. She's trying to make herself more attractive to the men who hate feminism, and is ill-informed as to what feminism is all about.

Answer 18

1. she actually doesn't believe in equality.

2. she is afraid of the stereotypes.

3. she doesn't understand what feminism is actually about.

Answer 19

Whether you like it or not, feminism is a tainted word. It is associated with the radical feminists of the past who have made outrageous claims, pushed for sexist legislation, released dishonest propaganda and promoted unethical behavior. The "definition" of feminism is quite different from the motives you can discern from the movement's actions.

It doesn't matter what you think feminism is. It is tainted and is heavily associated with promoting the well being of women at the expense of men and children. Feminism's actions prove that it is not about equality.

I suggest that all "feminists" here who actually believe in equality should call themselves equalists rather than associating yourselves with dangerous radicals.

Answer 20

1. She doesn't hate men.

2. She is for equality.

3. She sees that feminists don't really stand for equality.

Answer 21

She is actually able to feel fulfilled by helping her man, and being a mother feels like a privilege, not a burden.

Answer 22

I've read nearly all of the books feminists hang their hats on. They philosophically don't make much sense to me.

If they did make sense to me and I did believe in the things many feminists try at achieve, I don't think I'd have a problem being seen as a hairy man hating cat lover.

Answer 23

Maybe if she's unsure of what Feminism totally is, she will hesitate until she educates herself, and does know.

Answer 24

It's mostly because she's afraid of being stereotyped as something she's not. That's the reason a few of my girlfriends gave me.

Answer 25

There is a massive problem with the feminist agenda of today, and it’s not easy to explain

But in part, some of the problems have shown up in education, where single s*x schools have touted as a way to accelerate girls, and after two generation we now find that boy actually are the ones that benefit more from single s*x education, so we now have a situation where every one are ringing their hands casting around for solutions, and at conference after conference I’m been approached, and then vilified when I state that I’m not a feminist, or sympathiser

To recruit to the cause the new generation of young women, it is necessary to convince us to see ourselves as victims, but the young women it addresses have no concept of themselves as victims, and in-fact have strong self image and confidence

The second problem is when you do convince women to think as victims, how then do you make them strong and powerful people

Two things can and does result, bullying with words, idea, and rhetoric

And the further demonising of men to keep the agenda alive

Sensible women of today see past both

I work for ‘equality’, without the need for fear, victims or someone to blame for our faults, or hate!

Answer 26

Perhaps she knows what feminism is, but considers it redundant in the face of standing for human rights in general.

(Also wanted to point out that Egohan had a great answer)