Feminism today
The purpose of this article is to make equity feminists and nominal feminists (who have no involvement in feminism) to question why they call themselves feminists. This article stays away from historical feminism. It is likely easier to get feminists to admit that feminism isa noble movement that has lost its way then it is to get them to accept (as most MRAs believe) that it was morally corrupt from the beginning.
Have you had much to do with organised feminism recently Kaye? Why not try the 'feminism test'. I developed this recently and will be interested to hear your score. Score one point for each time you answer yes truthfully.
- (1) Have you physically attended a feminist meeting within the last month?
Please provide general details.
Attending an event online does not count. This question is specifically about meeting with other people physically at a feminist event. Feminists often meet physically at universities campuses so most people should have a feminist group meeting within reasonable commuting distance. You must answer no even if you would like to attend but cannot for practical reasons such as lack of local feminist meetings or lack of transport.
- (2)Are you a member of any government recognised feminist organisations?
Please state the name of the organisation.
Such an organisation would need to consider itself feminist and be formally registered with a generally recognised government such as a national government, or a state or provincial government. Examples of such organisations include the National Organisation of Women (NOW) in the United States or The Fawcett Society in the UK.
- (3) Have you posted to an explicitly feminist website in the last month?
Please state which website you posted to.
The website needs to openly state that it is feminist.
- (4) Have you read an article on an explicitly feminist website in the last week?
Please state the website that you read.
The website needs to openly state that it is feminist.
Reading an article after you start taking this test doesn't count.
- (5) Have you read a book on feminism by a self-identifying feminist author within the last year?
Please state the title and author of the book.
The book must explicitly state that it is feminist and the author must explicitly identify as a feminist.
Feminism is a living movement. The meaning can and has changed. Feminism is driven by people who are active in feminism. They're the people putting in the energy and time so they are the ones who run it and get to decide what it means today. Whenever we look at organised and active feminism we find anti-male policies. This is feminism today.
How you choose to identify is up to you. I'll just say that I would never identify with a movement I wasn't active in. Anyway, here is the full results table so you can see how you did:
3-5: You're probably a gender feminist. You probably believe we live in a rape culture and that men have been oppressing women for thousands of years (or more) through the use of violence. You probably believe that domestic violence is something that impacts women far more than it does men and that it is right that the government focus DV funding on helping women while providing few or no services for men.
1-2: You're probably an equity feminist. You probably believe that feminism is about equality but don't really have much to do with feminism today, if you ever did. You are recommended to look in to feminism today and decide if you agree with what is being said about men and about culture and whether this is a movement you really want to identify with.
0: Why do you call yourself a feminist?