Lilac Colored Glasses

I am a feminist.

Unfortunately this word, one that should ring true from the lips of most, if not all of the women I know and love, as well as pretty much any woman who asserts herself in such a way that she desires and/or achieves the rights, freedoms and equality granted to members of the complimentary gender (that would be men, by the way). I call men the “complimentary gender” because I don’t believe it does either gender any justice to label us as opposites. Men and women should not oppose each other. By viewing each other as opposites, we set ourselves up for the whole “compare and contrast” mode of thinking and it becomes a detriment to the development of a unified view of men and women as people.

Upon posting my proposal for the theme today, I had several people question my use of the ankh. I explained in a follow up post my rationale for the symbol as well as my mild disappointment at the criticism for an image rather than for the acceptance of an ambitious idea. I also had an overwhelming amount of positive responses though, so I moved forward with my idea. One friend in particular, however, prompted me for the topic of this post. When I posted about proudly proclaiming, he asked me why I had associated the ankh with my “feminazi agenda.”

First please understand that he was joking, at least in the sense that he is aware of my Jewish background and also most of my opinions regarding men, women and equality. He did not say what he did to discourage me, offend me or hurt me. In fact, I’m glad he said it like that because it made me stop and think about what exactly gives people the “feminazi” impression.

I had several Women’s Studies courses in college, though not enough for a degree in it. If I ever get the opportunity though, I would like to obtain a second degree in it, as I always found the topics quite interesting and compelling. My following statements are purely my impression of the feminist movement from what I already know. I wish I had the time to research it better, but I timed this pretty poorly, overlapping my first and probably only trip to Pittsburgh with a large project, and was unable to do the amount of research that I had originally desired.

Feminism and women’s rights movements originally served to allow women a life outside of the home. It sought to grant women the opportunities for education, the right to vote, control over her own body, mind, spirit and opinions. Early feminists strove to gain what all people want: freedom. In essence, during the early feminist years, women were seen as chattel; baby-factories whose only goals in life should be to produce offspring, keep her husband fed and happy and to look pretty doing it. If not for the early pioneers in feminism (Mary Wollstonecraft, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul amongst others) who knows how long or how severe the setback would be in the rights of women today?

Feminism began as the quest to secure basic human rights for women. Somewhere along the way, once some of the barriers had been chipped away and the foundations had been fitfully shaken, the purpose and meaning behind the feminism movement changed. When I was growing up in the early ‘80′s, it seemed there was more of an “anything you can do, I can do better” image that was tacked on to feminism. Women “trying to be men” was the male perception. Women proving they could do everything men could do as a means to earn equality was the female perception. This is where I think the vision of the “scary feminazi in a flannel shirt and combat boots bench pressing triple her weight and sporting a mullet” materialized. Not that I care if anyone reading this happens to look or behave like that….except for the mullet. I’m sorry but, male or female, feminist or not, mullets are just ugly. But hey, so is that teased bang look circa 1986 and I’ve seen plenty of people sporting that too, so don’t sweat it if you have a mullet; cut it, but don’t sweat it.

What people have to realize is that women and men are different and that’s okay. We aren’t opposites; we’re all made of the same types of cells and flesh and blood and bone, it’s just shaped differently. Even the organs that make us different are basically the same; they just started to produce hormones in different amounts while we were developing. Our bodies compliment each other. They make it so that we can find unity both within and without, physically, and if we’re lucky enough to find the right partner, spiritually as well. Women cannot do everything that men can do. Men biologically have more muscle mass; it’s a fact of nature. Men are stronger, that’s just how it is. Likewise, women have the capability of nurturing and producing life. No man will ever be able to do that (except this one and he cheated, so it doesn’t count). The point I’m trying to make is that we are different, yes, but I believe that we must embrace and love each other for those differences in a system that guarantees equality.

I am a daughter, a sister, a girlfriend, a partner.

I am a feminist.

I am your equal.

I am a woman.