Radical Feminism is Dead — Right….

[ismnotwasm]

12. I had always considered myself a liberal feminist

Then along came dubya and co. And I discovered I had magically shifted to 'radical feminist' I didn't care. One of the great joys as well as benefits of BEING a feminist is you get to define yourself. Set yourself free.

Sure there are perimeters, but its a far more inclusive community than its given credit for. I like feminists. I like being around feminists. Women who self identify as feminist are a living story.
Radical feminists often identify with left fringe politics, such as Socialism ( which shouldn't be considered fringe--but there you are) you'd think they'd fit in better here, given the arguments about liberalism and progressivism. I like men who like feminists. Mostly because I love a thinking man as well as a thinking women who is open to the other.

See the main feminist dialogue, one part that centers around rape and abuse, is actually the story of WHY these things occur. Once you know why, or even part of the why, there is action to to take, words to speak. This makes some uncomfortable. Mighty uncomfortable. Makes some indignant or angry.

That's cool. It's been that way for a long while.

But this coming up generation--- they know, like the article points out. These young women who got into male dominated fields thinking all is well, we don't need feminism Anymore..

BAM, there it is, patriarchy in all its sexist glory. Some may try to play nice, some dislike confrontation, some may be afraid. Some justify actions by claiming empowerment, although you can't choose objectification when you're born objectified, as Twisty, RadFem extraordinaire point out. Some may not even see a problem.

The Republicans have done themselves no favors with their incredibly Shitty approach to women's issues, and have done feminists everywhere a significant favor by showing just the tip of the proverbial iceberg of how bad it COULD get. What the ass end of heterosexist reasoning really looks like.

Women are getting it. We here, no matter which school of feminist thought we claim, are getting it. There is plenty of common ground.

And I believe by sharing stories and perceptions and experiences is where we find this large common area, but also where we differ and, that word again, WHY this is so. Only in this case, by sharing common ground, the differences don't have to be adversarial--or at least not always-- because you see, we are rebuilding the world. And a little confrontation now and again isn't going to hurt, we have our own journeys. The destination now--call it freedom, and equal human rights for women everywhere (a big umbrella term) That will be something to see.

As it is now, I only get to experience it in science fiction.