Reply #147: To me, feminism is not about stereotyping women [View All]

[pmbryant]

Feminism is not about honoring the feminine, but about treating women with respect, whatever their personality traits. Furthermore, there is no contradiction between being strong and assertive and being nurturing and compassionate.

The term "strong woman" is used as a pejorative by many men (and perhaps some women) who would prefer to return to a time when all women supposedly knew their place, didn't speak up for themselves, and essentially stayed out of men's way.

To me, one goal of feminism should be to change attitudes so that assertive women are not sneered at as "strong women", or "trying to act like a man", but instead are admired for their strength and assertiveness, just as men who act that way are.

Of course, a corollary goal should be to change attitudes so that men playing positive, non-traditional roles (e.g., stay at home fathers) are also admired more than they used to be.

--Peter