Fear of Feminism

Shampoo suds and warm water sluice through my hair. Connie, my hairdresser, scrubs vigorously. She is a hearty woman in her fifties with a square jaw and strong opinions.

"I'm not one of those 'women's libbers' but I believe in equal pay for equal work" she says. Listening to other things she has to say on the subject, and the subject of women's education, and women's capabilities in general, I think Connie probably is a feminist, whether she calls herself one or not. I am also amused by the antiquated term "women's libber."

Of course, this isn't a phenomenon limited to older women who still think of feminism only in terms of bra burning and the Pill. Even I caught myself saying, less than a year ago, "I'm not a feminist but...."

As soon as the words were out of my mouth I had to stop and reconsider. It was the first time I really tried to define feminism. I had been thinking of feminism in stereotype, as a label for a group of women who hate men, have promiscuous sex to display their "empowerment", don't shave their legs, and so on and so forth. But as I considered feminism in terms of believing that women deserve the same rights as men, I realized I've been a feminist since before I knew the word existed.

Fear of being called "feminist" is a fear that makes sense. In certain circles it's an insult. The average person on the street looks upon feminism suspiciously or with outright hostility. It is a label, and as a label, it has many attached stereotypes, few of which are positive. In part, that is because the feminists that get the most attention are the most outrageous ones. The average woman going quietly about her work and volunteering at a domestic violence shelter or trying to start an affordable community day care doesn't garner the kind of media attention that a sex-obsessed starlet justifying her escapades as "empowerment" does.

It's human nature to attach labels and corresponding stereotypes to groups of people. It makes dealing with the world easier, and much less complicated. Sometimes, it is unavoidable, because we have no personal experience to base opinions upon. But stereotypes are always wrong for someone, especially in an area as diverse as feminism, which represents so many different groups of women that no one statement can accurately represent them all.

I consider myself a feminist. I strongly believe in my right to be treated as a full human being, with all the rights accorded anyone else in this society. I expect to be taken seriously and to have equal expectations and responsibilities placed upon me. I believe that contraception is a necessary and valid option. But (and there is always a but) I'm sitting on the fence on the abortion issue, seeing valid points for and against. And I accept "housewife" as a valid choice for some women to make. These are beliefs that many other people who also call themselves feminists may disagree with.

I think many more young women have feminist sentiments than call themselves feminists, if only because they are afraid of the label. There is also a large element of ignorance; of just not having thought about what feminism is, or why they should care. To many young women, it may seem as though feminism has accomplished its goals, because they personally have not been impacted in large ways by the fact that it hasn't.