I haven’t gotten very political on this blog. And trust me, it’s not because I’m not a political person. I honestly can’t tell you why this made me change my ways and give up my general separation of blog and political state.
It’s about Hillary. And feminism. And stuff.
Look, I don’t care if you hate Hillary for her political views or her odd marriage. I don’t care if you make jokes about her personality or her political decisions. But if you’re making jokes about Hillary really being a man? Or giggling while someone shouts, “Iron my shirt!” Then you’re an asshole. Because would you joke about Obama “really being white”? Or would you laugh if someone shouted, “Plow my field!” during one of his speeches? Maybe you would. And if that’s true, then go have fun in your cave. But if what I said about Obama REALLY offended you, why doesn’t it offend you when Hillary gets the same treatment?
Possibly because you’re like the woman who commented on The Soccer Mom Vote who claimed that feminism had ruined her life. I wondered how. Was it the right to vote? Own property? Get paid the same wages for equal work? Not being sexually harassed at work? Having maternity leave? Having rape victims not being treated like sluts? I was really dying to know how feminism had ruined this woman’s life.
I am so tired of hearing about “whiny” feminists. Did you know our maternity leave policies are on a par with Lesotho’s? That only 16% of our elected representatives are women? That date rape still happens?
What’s your take? Do you call yourself a feminist? Or do you think I’m being hysterical?
(all stats taken from this week’s Newsweek)
21 responses so far ↓
Yvette // March 13, 2008 at 10:26 am
double kudos. you are not being hysterical. and now we have this stupid ny governor abusing his power and authority with a prostitute. read the nyt opinion artical called The Myth of the Victimless Crime: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/opinion/12farley.html?em&ex=1205553600&en=47c8a9873124e3bd&ei=5087%0A
Thalia's Child // March 13, 2008 at 10:36 am
[sarcasm]Dude. You’re so whiny and complainy - it’s like you’re hormonal or something - oh… you’re pregnant, that explains everything.[/sarcasm]
I read something (somewhere?) about how our generation does not call ourselves feminists. That the historical stereotype of a feminist does not resonate with us. That we don’t actually understand what the women who came before us did to better our lives. Kinda makes me want to go out and burn my bra (except I’d get such a backache if I did).
I agree with you 100% - the slurs coming out against Hilary are completely unacceptable.
anglophilefootballfanatic // March 13, 2008 at 11:15 am
I think of myself as a traditional feminist…Donna Reed with rights. Equal pay for equal work, voting, mat leave (but only if paternity leave is universal,too!)….but I will stay home. I don’t like people looking down at me for that. It’s my choice. It has caused hardships. It is not easy. I don’t like H. I never have. I don’t think she’s representative of any of the American women I know and deal with on a daily basis.
colleen_katana // March 13, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Hell effing yeah! I’m personally not a huge Hillary fan, but I definitely agree with everything you stated!
Oh…and um…did I miss something in one of your posts?? You’re pregnant? CONGRATS! (I guess this means that we can’t down a few tequila shots together if we ever hang out, huh?=0)
Marci B. // March 13, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Amen, sister!! I was just commenting on another blog about how frustrated I was to see Governor Spitzer’s wife, Silda, standing right behind him while he announced his resignation. HOW and WHY did she do that? Why did we expect her to? Why not allow the women to maintain some integrity and have some alone time.
You are so right about the rude comments made towards Hillary. Our county has come so far, but has so far to go.
Kathryn // March 13, 2008 at 2:15 pm
No, you are not hysterical. Those comments are disrespectful, plain and simply. Just show a little respect for another human being. Is that so difficult?
I think being a feminist just means you believe a woman should be able to decide what to do with her own life. Who can’t agree with that? Want to work? Your choice. What to stay home? Your choice. Don’t want kids? Your choice. Want 12 kids? Your choice.
canadianflake // March 13, 2008 at 3:00 pm
While I never labelled myself a feminist…I am grateful to those that have lived and put themselves in harm’s way to make my life easier..
I can’t imagine why someone would think anyone else “ruined” their life???
Weird eh?
Jenni // March 13, 2008 at 8:05 pm
I’ve been guilty of being part of the feminist backlash, but I would never want to lose all we’ve gained.
I really hate men-bashing in the name of feminism (but I think that’s lessening now, too).
If being a feminist means celebrating that I am different than a man, growing my mind as much as I can, and birthing the way I want to (not the way some man in a white coat tells me to) then count me as one.
About Hilary…even though I don’t support her, I have been excited about the idea of a woman running. I have been sad to see the butch jokes. But I chalk that up to a complete lack of respect in general.
Reiza // March 13, 2008 at 8:12 pm
I’ve always been a feminist, but it wasn’t until I was in college that I really learned what the term meant and felt comfortable calling myself one.
Since I stay home with my kids, I have seen some of the uglier sides of Feminism. I am NOT, however, ruining my life or my daughters’. Thanks to Feminism, I have a choice. I’m not home with the kids because I have no other option. I’m here because it’s where I want to be. I’m fortunate enough to have a choice thanks to the work of those who came before me.
So yeah, I’m a feminist and I have no problems proclaiming that loudly.
jerseygirl89 // March 13, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Yvette - Thank you for sharing that.
Thalia’s Child - Thank you - and maybe we could do something else with our bras? Maybe we should wear them on the outside! That’d be a statement.
AFF - I see what you mean, but I wonder if anyone running for President is representative of anyone we deal with on a daily basis? I mean, do you know anyone who truly acts Presidential?
Colleen - Thanks ! And we’ll have to wait about 8 more months before we can do the shots, but then I’m totally there!
Marci - I know. I mean, why is is that if the woman does want to save her marriage she has to go out in public to be humiliated? Why can’t she wait for him at a resort somewhere?
Kathryn - Exactly! Choices are exactly what feminism should be all about.
Canadian flake - But why haven’t you labeled yourself a feminist? Is it because of how other people react to that label?
Jenni - I think you definitely count as a feminist - and someone with a good reminder about respect.
jerseygirl89 // March 13, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Reiza - yay! Bravo!
WordVixen // March 13, 2008 at 11:00 pm
I’m embarrassed to ask, but… what’s Lesotho?
As for feminism, I’m all about equality. What I’m not all about is the new idea of feminism that says men are sh!t, and SAHMs are single-handedly putting us back into the dark ages.
Then again, I loathe anyone who tells me what to do or not to do without a d@mn good reason.
April // March 14, 2008 at 1:01 am
I love you
LOL
Feminist here
And no, being a feminist doesn’t mean I hate men, or that I am a lesbian, I just strive for equality in this world… Don’t cha know men can be feminists too…
Not a fan of Hillary, but a huge fan of you xo
byrnedoutmom // March 14, 2008 at 2:41 am
You go girl! (Is that still the phrase?) What do I know I’m just a middle-aged SAHM. Ditto to WordVixen with the exclusion that I know where Lesotho is
jerseygirl89 // March 14, 2008 at 8:49 am
Wordvixen - That new idea of feminism is not feminism in my book, it’s shock value to sell books. And Lesotho is a small, very poor country in the middle of South Africa.
April - I love you too! And men can definitely be feminists too.
byrnedoutmom - See Lesotho explanation above.
And thanks!
LunaNik // March 14, 2008 at 11:14 am
Hoo-rah! Nicely said. I am hesitant to pin a label on myself but if I had to, I’d be a feminist. This post was brilliant!
anne // March 14, 2008 at 2:06 pm
OMG… I was watching George Carlin crack a joke in the late ’80s early ’90s about going into NOW headquarters and saying something to the effect of which one of you honies is going to come home with me and… (insert “womanly” duty here). I was INFURIATED. What if the whole woman scenario were changed to African American? I raged, but no one got it. I guess Carlin was too cool to say something so insulted. I was the one over-reacting.
Thanks for the post.
Meredith // March 14, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I completely agree with your post, and do call myself a feminist. I hate how people feel they have the right to be so hateful and spiteful to Hillary. I think it’s because they don’t really have much to attack, and they have to attack something.
Leslie // March 14, 2008 at 10:35 pm
You aren’t being hysterical. You’re right on. I completely agree.
I am a feminist.
You reminded me of a poster that hung on my wall all through college. It was the women’s liberation poster and it said: “Because woman’s work is never done and is underpaid or unpaid or boring or repetitious and we’re the first to get fired and what we look like is more important than what we do and if we get raped it’s our fault and if we get beaten we must have provoked it and if we raise our voices we’re nagging bitches and if we enjoy sex we’re nymphos and if we don’t we’re frigid and if we love women it’s because we can’t get a “real” man and if we ask our doctor too many questions we’re neurotic and/or pushy and if we expect childcare we’re selfish and if we stand up for our rights we’re aggressive and “unfeminine” and if we don’t we’re typical weak females and if we want to get married we’re out to trap a man and if we don’t we’re unnatural and because we still can’t get an adequate safe contraceptive but men can walk on the moon and if we can’t cope or don’t want a pregnancy we’re made to feel guilty about abortion and… for lots and lots of other reasons we are part of the women’s liberation movement. ”
College was where I first really learned what feminism was.
Regardless of personal politics, the fact that Hillary is running and is a true contender gives me hope. You’ve got to give the woman credit for kicking down some doors.
heathersway // March 17, 2008 at 1:29 pm
I am a feminist but I understand why some women avoid the label. It is true that there are some crazies out there.
PunditMom // March 24, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Yeah, I don’t get it either. Who in their right mind would really want to get equal pay for equal work?
I am a feminist and so is eight-year-old PunditGirl. In her mind, it would be craziness for “girls” and “boys” to get treated differently. Ah, youth.
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