What is your definition of feminism? Is Hillary a feminist? Is Sarah Palin a feminist?

Question

Seems there is a lot of fear out there for strong women. I'd like to hear from both Dems and Republicans on how you define a feminist.

Answer 1

A feminist who is rational and doesn't spout stuff without thinking. That's how stupids talk. Women are better than this.

Answer 2

Liberal women always think that all women who are feminism have to be liberal and that's farther from the truth. You can fight for women rights and have different views on how you go about that.

Answer 3

A feminist is someone who believes that a woman should have equal opportunities and responsibilities as a man.  

I don't think feminism is intrinsically tied to abortion.  A woman can still believe in 'equal pay for equal work' and not support abortion.  

Feminism means being able to make up your own mind on these challenging and difficult issues and recognizing that everyone has a valid opinion, even if it disagrees with yours.

I think both Senator Clinton and Govenor Palin are feminists.

Answer 4

Feminism in its most elementary term means "pro woman". Hillary Clinton is a feminist. Sarah Palin is not a feminist.

Answer 5

I'm a Democrat for the last 9 months, Independent for 25 years before that, and an old school feminist.  Basically, being a feminist equals some very simple concepts.  Women are equal intellectually to men.  Women are suited to any job they are capable of doing.  Men and women have different physical attributes, but if a woman is capable of doing a job, there should be no barriers in front of her.  Women should be free to choose their own destiny, whether it be a career in finance or being a stay at home Mom.  And no other woman should ever criticize her for her choice.  Feminism isn't about busting b***s or being a hard azz or being militant or hating men or looking down on women who choose to stay at home or looking down on women who choose to work.  It's very basis demands that women be allowed to make their own choices in life, period, without repercussions or restrictions placed on them by man, woman or society.  That's a fingernail sketch and a great deal of it still has to be achieved.  

EDIT:  Yes, Hillary is a feminist, in every sense of the word.  I think that Palin believes she is a feminist, but I find her much too judgmental of lifestyles and choices she doesn't approve of to be a feminist in the true sense of the word.  She's probably as "feminist" as most right wing Republican women get though.  But of course as a feminist, I'm automatically examining whether I'm being unfair to Palin by feeling that way.  I'll still be thinking about that tomorrow...  Thx ;-)

2ND EDIT:

I read the article from the link you posted, which pretty much tells me your answer to your own question.  But what it also ended up telling me is that Palin is NOT a feminist.  This comment from the author of that article shows exactly why:

"Do I respect the decision of another mother and daughter to make that choice based on their own values? Yes, I do. And that - as far as I am concerned - is what it means to be a "liberal". "

Funny, this author seems to miss the basic point completely.  Does PALIN respect the decision of another mother and daughter to make that choice based on their own values?  No, she doesn't.  She respects only her opinion and those of her train of thought -that choice should be removed from women when it comes to children.  She wants to reverse Roe v. Wade.  It's not enough for her to make her own choices, she wishes to make the choice for every other woman in America based on her own belief system.  That is NOT a feminist by any stretch of the imagination.

Answer 6

They both are.  They both champion women's rights but in different directions.  

Answer 7

Feminism=Belief in the social, political, and economic equality of the sexes.

Both Hillary and Sarah are feminists.