Is it Feminist to be a Power Feminist?

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Is it Feminist to be a Power Feminist?

Just as we ask many questions about what it means to be a feminist, power feminist, or any other group that takes roots in feminism, it is apparent that these groups themselves are asking the same questions. Just in our text book alone there are almost a dozen types of feminist groups that have different stances on nearly every single issue in feminism. Outside of the text book there dozens more small feminist groups as well that surely do not see eye to on every issue either.

Some vocal “power feminists” that are listed in our “Gendered Lives: Communication, Gender, and Culture” by Julia Wood include Naomi Wolf and Katie Roiphe. These women both argue that the only thing holding back women is the artificial sense of inferiority and false sense of victimhood that many of them have in regards to how society sees them. Naomi Wolf argues that women should “stop thinking of themselves as victims”(84). Roiphe argues that by having non-violent protests against rape and sexual harassment along with Take Back the Night marches proclaims that women see themselves as victims. She ignores that fact that many women can see these events as uplifting and empowering for women. I don’t think it is very fair for these two women to say that they represent all women because they are both white and middle class as mentioned in the book, however I do believe they have the right to call themselves whatever they so choose. If they really do think women should stop seeing themselves as victims and they practice what they preach, then I believe it is fair for them to say that they are power feminists despite not fitting the demographics of many women who have gone through discrimination. However, I am not a woman...

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... on how to accomplish them. Power feminists really encourage women to step up and take responsibility for their own lives and to stop feeling like victims while other groups feel like they really are victims and choose to fight for their rights in different ways. It is safe to say that maybe these various groups will never fully agree on everything, but perhaps by cooperating even a little bit they can accomplish the goals they both share.

Works Cited:

Wood, Julia T. Gendered Lives Communication, Gender, and Culture. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2008. Print.

"Ladies Against Feminism FAQ Database - A Bravenet.com Faq." Bravenet - Web Hosting, Free Web Hosting and Web Tools. Web. 02 Mar. 2010. .

"A woman against feminism." Web log post. Blogger. Web. 1 Mar. 2010. .

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