The Feminist Stereotype

I decided to start this blog because 1) I love to write and 2) with all the important political things going on, I felt that some college girl out there should start a feminist blog.  There are plenty angry women out there blogging about all the anti-women things happening in this election, but there are just so few from my age group voicing their opinions.  We do care.  We have opinions, and we want someone besides our roommates to listen to them.  And so here I am.

I want to start by addressing the feminist stereotype.  You know the one I mean — big, angry white woman, usually a lesbian, who has forsaken bras and razors for the freedom of acting and looking like a man.  Think Rosengurtle in Boondock Saints (“Untouched by man”).  And some feminists fit that stereotype because they want to challenge gender norms and all that jazz.

Here’s the thing.  In some cases, by challenging gender norms, some women are in fact reinforcing gender norms.  By trying to be “unfeminine”, they are confirming the stigma that being feminine means being weak and delicate and emotional.  Why do so many people think that being a feminist means wanting to be like a man?  Why are so many people convinced that by wearing pants and no bras and short hair and hairy legs that they are helping the feminist cause?  Does this mean that if I like wearing skirts and doing my hair that I am not a feminist?

I believe I am a feminist.  I’m even female-power-esque on occassion.  But to me, feminism is not about pulling women up to the cultural status of men.  It means putting both women and men on the same level, without pulling one down or the other up.  By trying to act like a man in any sense, we would just be reinforcing the idea that being like a man is better than being like a woman.

Fortunately this is no longer a super-dominant stereotype.  The modern feminist can wear pantyhose and highlight her hair and be working moms.  In fact, I would say there are more feminists today who defy the feminist stereotype than perpetuate it.  And I don’t want anyone to think that I’m hating on those women who fit the feminist stereotype, because if that is truly what you believe and how you love yourself, I will love you that way also.  But don’t burn your underwear to prove a point.  It just gives those pompous male assholes another opportunity to shake their heads and say, “Those women, man.  They can use PMS as an excuse for everything.”

I am a makeup-wearing, leg-shaving, Gossip Girl-watching, sorority sister, and I am a feminist.

~ by defyinghestia on September 24, 2008.