Regarding Feminism
April 30, 2008, by Carine Fabius
If one is to believe what they read in the press, it is now unhip to be a feminist. I don’t know how this happened, but I’m saying it loud, I’m a feminist and I’m proud! I wish it sounded as catchy as, Say it loud! I’m black and I’m proud! But, I’m no James Brown. Every movement has its downsides. Although we still earn less then men do, women in corporate boardrooms no longer harken back to a time when alligators roamed the earth freely. We make more money than ever, but we work harder than ever. We wait longer to have children, are a lot more tired when we do have them, and spend a lot less time with them than we’d like. Some opt to keep working while others choose to re-evaluate; but we get to make the choice. We asked for equality in all areas of life, and got it—in a way. We now get to go to war! But we get sexually harassed and raped by the guys on our team like it’s their birthright. I sure as hell can’t figure out why anyone would want to go to war, but if you pay taxes, want to do it, and it’s legal, hey, knock yourself out.
Having said that, I have to add that I can see why some women cringe from feminism. When I heard that the New York chapter of NOW (National Organization for Women) issued a statement saying that Senator Edward Kennedy “betrayed” women by endorsing Barack Obama, it just made me shake my head. Since when is any woman better than a man? Would they have backed Condoleezza Rice, too? I’m certainly not comparing Condo to Hillary Clinton. Although she is not my first choice for many reasons, I‘ll vote for Clinton should it come to that. But to imply that she should be crowned Queen Bee just because she’s a queen isn’t just stupid—I fear it’s emblematic of strident feminism, and of U.S. politics in general. I’m horrified at how many people I talk to vote from a “gut instinct,” especially when that gut is ignorant, uninformed and disengaged. And, the women who make up the NY NOW chapter aren’t any of these things, which makes it all the more puzzling. Let’s face it, we are emotional beings; but emotion to the exclusion of all else makes us, and feminism, look bad. So, I declare here and now that even though I’m a nobody and no one cares what I think, I am endorsing Barack Obama because my gut and my brain and my heart tell me to.
April 30th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Right on! There’s a great line in an old dated movie (but what the heck, I’ll date myself): When emotion trumps reason, even though you win, you lose.
Voting for anyone because he or she makes you “feel” good about yourself and where you are at in your life is folly. Many (too damned many) felt Al Gore was elitist (new rightwing attack adjective) so they voted for the guy who made them feel okay about being the schlumps they are…and guess what? As a nation, we’re now hopelessly in debt, millions of Americans have lost their homes and jobs due to de-regulation and corporate greed, we’ve squandered our global credibility, thousands are dead on both sides of an unnecessary war and the man in the White House is clueless. I say, “let’s vote for the smart guy (or gal) next time.” Call him or her elitist if it makes you feel bad about yourself (and you like to do that), but I call it the right choice, the smart choice and the good choice.
April 30th, 2008 at 10:47 am
I was at a Pro-Choice march in Washington a few years ago, and was thrilled with a great T-shirt worn by men, women, young, old, big, small, all ethnicities — it said, “The is what a feminist looks like” — love it! I’m hoping that feminism comes back in style, the way Earth Day has as of late. As for putting people in boxes — I’m tired of it! Hillary = woman, Barack = black, McCain = old — sooo boring! Let’s get back to the issues, shall we?
April 30th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Oh Beezersmom: Thank you, thank you, thank you! You said it the way I’d love to! Amen, right on the money, you got it….Thanks for taking the time to write. You said it all.
May 1st, 2008 at 11:16 am
Hillary is my candidate. Not just because she’s a woman, but because she’s the first viable woman candidate, and now I have a choice. I don’t have to vote for the best MAN. Should Barack win the nomination, I’ll be pleased to vote for him. Either candidate is vastly superior to the debacle we’re living with right now. It’s not about voting for Hillary because she’s a woman, I’d never vote for Condie (too scary),and voting for McCain is like saying there’s nothing wrong with the status quo. It’s about voting for your daughter’s future expectations and more, so very much more. GO DEMOCRATS!! GO WOMEN!!
May 1st, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Carine you will always be my hero, and those of you that do not know Carine, pick up her latest book and you will have an eye opening, French, hilarious experience. Though, I am still on the fence about Hillary and Barack at this time, my opinion is changing every day. I can tell you that Carine has been a very strong intellectual, artistic and spiritual influence in my ever evolving life!! You go woman….Of course I will vote for him, if he gets the nomination…….
May 4th, 2008 at 9:58 am
I have lived through the pre-feminism and feminism, and now I think we are moving to the post-feminist era. Carine, you point out the essential confusion and contradictions of any movement that keeps moving! Thank you for making me go back and think about my own feminist principles and come up with some new thoughts.