Figuring Out Feminism Essay

1600 Words4 Pages

Webster defines feminism as both "the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes" and "organized activity on the behalf of women's rights and interests" (Webster 418). Equality of the sexes (in terms of rights) and the furthering of women's rights are seemingly positive aspirations; yet people tend to describe feminism using negative terms, and feminism today has acquired a bad reputation. "Radical" and "extremists" are adjectives commonly applied to feminism as a whole, when, in truth, feminists who adopt extreme positions constitute the minority. Moreover, these "gender feminists," or "militant feminists," as many call them, although they receive the most public attention because of their aggressive tactics and high …show more content…

According to Sommers, in her Figuring Out Feminism, "Equity feminists point with pride to the gains women have made toward achieving parity in the workplace," whereas gender feminists disparage these gains and talk about "backlash" (334). This gender feminist attitude seems contradictory in a time when people should recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of women. Of course, gender feminists describe society as "a patriarchy, a `male hegemony'...in which the dominant gender works to keep women cowering and submissive" (Sommers 331). However, part of their belief about women's low position depends on misquoted "facts" and other faulty evidence. They argue that women's eating disorders "are an inevitable consequence of a misogynistic society that demeans women...by objectifying their bodies" (328). Many times, however, the movie and fashion industry's portrayal of women isn't the cause of eating disorders. Anorexia, for example, stems from a chemical imbalance that translates into a negative mind-set and an unrealistic drive to please others at one's own expense. Psychologist and author of Secret Language of Eating Disorders, Peggy Claude-Pierre asserts that "With this mind-set in place, the slide toward eating disorders can easily be triggered by family problems, sexual abuse, a breakup, or typical teenage angst. Anorexics turn away from food unconsciously because food is life and their negative minds tell …show more content…

Says Gertrude Himmelfarb in her article, "A Sentimental Priesthood," gender feminists believe that "[i]f women are victims generically, by the same token men are culprits generically...Each man is inherently and potentially guilty...by virtue of being a man" (20). Equality feminists, by contrast, declare that women will get nowhere by the gaining of power, or by relying on the past for guidance as Adrienne Rich champions in her essay, "What Does a Woman Need to Know?" Women should not seek to overpower men and "punish" them for generations of oppression. They must instead understand that they cannot rightfully blame today's men for biases, attitudes, and traditions that people have passed down since the first established societies, or for the sexist sins of their ancestors. Gender feminists might respond that all men share the accumulated guilt that they inherited from their forefathers. But this argument relies on a distorted interpretation of the past. Instead of taking the "dimmest view of the past" as the gender feminists do, John Ellis takes a sensible approach to reform. He asserts, "successful reform requires that the past be viewed in a sober and accurate way" (65). The past should serve solely to illuminate the achievements and mistakes of previous reformers. Feminists must realize that they can

More about Figuring Out Feminism Essay

Open Document