What is Feminism?
* To be inclusive of all people
* To consider women from a woman-centered perspective
* To work for freedom of choice and equal opportunity
“I believe that, at present, women are the best helpers of one another. ...I have urged upon the sex self-subsistence in its two forms of self-reliance and self-impulse, because I believe them to be the needed means of the present juncture. ...I have urged on Woman independence of an, not that I do not think the sexes mutually needed by one another, but because in Woman this fact has led to an excessive devotion, which has cooled love, degraded marriage, and prevented either sex from being what it should be to itself or the other. ...Now there is no woman, only an overgrown child. ...That her hand may be given with dignity, she must be able to stand alone.” Margaret Fuller, Woman in the Nineteenth Century, 1843
“...a movement seeking the reorganization of the world upon a basis of sex-equality in all human relations; ...would abolish all sex privileges and sex burdens, and would strive to set up wazzu the recognition of the common humanity of woman and man as the foundation of law and custom.” Theresa Billington-Greig, “Feminism and Politics,” The Contemporary Review, November, 1911
“Begins but cannot end with the discovery by an individual of her self-consciousness as a woman. ...Feminism means finally that we renounce our obedience to the fathers and recognize that the world they have described is not the whole world. ...Feminism implies that we recognize fully the inadequacy for us, the distortion, of male-created ideologies, and that we proceed to think, and act, out of that recognition.” Adrienne Rich, Of Woman Born, 1976
“Feminism is the political theory and practice to free all women; women of color, working class women, poor women, physically challenged women, lesbians, old women, as well as white economically privileged heterosexual women. Anything less than this is not feminism, but merely female self-aggrandizement.” Barbara Smith, in Cherrie Moraga and Gloria Anzaldua, This Bridge Called My Back, 1981
“It is a commitment to eradicating the ideology of domination that permeates Western culture on various levels - sex, race, and class, to name a few - and a commitment to reorganizing U.S. society so that the self-development of people can take precedence over imperialism, economic expansion, and material desires.” bell hooks, Aint’ I a Woman, 1981
“Is an entire world view or gestalt, not just a laundry list of ‘women’s issues.’ Feminist theory provides a basis for understanding every area of our lives, and a feminist perspective can affect the world politically, culturally, economically, and spiritually.” Charlotte Bunch, Learning Our Way, 1983
“Feminism means the collective empowerment of women as autonomous (independent, self-defined) human beings who shall have at least as much to say as men about everything in the arrangement of human affairs.” Bettina Aptheker, Tapestries of Life; Women’s Work, Women’s Consciousness, and the Meaning of Daily Experience, 1989
“Feminism is a much-hated political philosophy. This is true all along the male-defined, recognizable political spectrum from far Right to far Left. Feminism is hated because women are hated. Antifeminism is a direct expression of misogyny; it is the political defense of woman hating. This is because feminism is the liberation movement of women.
Andrea Dworkin
Womanist. From womanish. (Opp. of “girlish,” i.e., frivolous, irresponsible, no serious.) A black feminist or feminist of color. From the black folk expression of mothers to female children, “you acting womanish,” i.e., like a woman. Usually referring to outrageous, audacious, courageous or willful behavior. Wanting to know more and in greater depth than is considered “good” for one. Interested in grown-up doings. Acting grown up. Being grown up. Interchangeable with another black folk expression: You trying to be grown.” Responsible. In Charge. Serious.
Also, A woman who loves other women, sexually and/or nonsexually. Appreciates and prefers women’s culture, women’s emotional flexibility (values tears as natural counterbalance of laughter), and women’s strength. Sometimes loves individual men, sexually and/or nonsexually. Committed to survival and wholeness of entire people, male and female. Not a separatist, except periodically, for health. Traditionally universalist, as in: “Mama, why are we brown, pink, and yellow, and our cousins are white, beige, and black?” Ans.: “Well, you know the colored race is just like a flower garden, with every color flower represented.” Traditionally capable, as in “Mama, “I’m walking to Canada and I’m taking you and a bunch of other slaves with me.” Reply: “It wouldn’t be for the first time.”
Loves music. Loves dance. Loves the moon. Loves the Spirit. Loves love and food and roundness. Loves struggle. Loves the Folk. Loves herself. Regardless.
Womanist is to feminist as purple to lavender.
Alice Walker