Why I Prefer The Word “Feminist” Over “Equalist”

[sufrommich]

Men already have the power and the privilege.

We already have All The Things. Or, at least, Most Of The Things.

So, it sounds galling to be the ones who have the lion’s share and say, “I think all people should share in the spoils, not just women.” In other words, you’ve included yourself in that generic, unfocused “everybody” group. And this is where equalism / humanism / egalitarianism feels wifty, wonky, lazy, weak — it’s a pie’s eye view, a gesture with a limp noodle fingers, “Sure, sure, yes, we should all be equal, and we should all have ponies, and let them eat cake. The ponies and the people. Let the ponies and the people eat cake, in case I wasn’t clear.”

Feminism is there to address a very specific set of deficits. But it’s not exclusive. You can be feminist while being for the correction of other imbalances, too. You can be an EQUALITY FOR ALL person while still being someone who supports the particular cause of correcting these deficits.

If you want to right these specific wrongs — then you’re a feminist.

If you don’t want to correct them — then you’re not.

And if you’re not a feminist…

…then you’re really not much of an equalist, or a humanist, or an egalitarian. Meaning, it’s hard to say you’re for all SHAPES if you won’t be there for SQUARES in particular, you see what I mean? Being a feminist is part of it. As I see it, being a feminist isn’t taking anything away from anybody. It’s there to give, not remove — it’s all additive, not subtractive. And that, gents, is why I’m #HeForShe, and not just #WeForWe. I don’t need to confirm a world where you share with me, because the flow of power has already gone the other way. We need to learn to share.

http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2014/09/25/why-i-prefer-the-word-feminist-over-equalist/

Excellent article from a guy who gets it.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. To my way of thinking (and I am agreeing with this article) one can NOT be a Humanist

without also being a Feminist. So, anyone arguing against Feminism is not truly a Humanist.

[freshwest]

6. I agree. The term Humanist is abused as a self-righteous GetOutOfJailFree card.

Was brought as a Humanist, taught it in my public high school, and it applies to all.

Some attempt to use the term to claim superiority over other humans. That is not Humanism.

[seabeyond]

2. i literally saw what changing fem to humanist created. taking it away from women, and putting male

voice forefront at the expense of women. just a couple years ago, we had our lesson. fuck. that. shit. !!!

[CTyankee]

4. Hmm, I think you are onto something there...it has always bothered me when people

would say "I'm a humanist" but not "I'm a feminist."

Alas, some of those were women. My guess is that they didn't want to upset men and retreated to "humanist" as a way of saying "see, I care about you, too."

I don't back away from calling myself a feminist and I'll call out anybody who "corrects" me. As I have always said "humanism is feminism and feminism is humanism."

[nomorenomore08]

8. "humanism is feminism and feminism is humanism."

[CTyankee]

9. thanks. I think we're onto something, right?

[nomorenomore08]

10. Women are human. Therefore, women's interests are human interests. Pretty simple IMO.

[seabeyond]

3. this is very very good. just the snips. you are making me go in and reading the whole.

thank you

we all need to read this.

feminism is the ONE area, where it is THRU the womans eye.

our entertainment, policitcal, business, social, udicial world is thru mens eyes

this one.

is womens eyes.

[jmondine]

5. Equalist sounds like something you put in iced tea to make it sweeter.

[nomorenomore08]

7. You don't have to call yourself a feminist, but if you're really an "equalist" then that should

encompass equality for the female half of the population as well. Otherwise, you're just spouting hollow platitudes.