Should the term feminism be altered into something that everyone feels comfortable with?

[Layla]

Personally I don't find anything wrong with the term, as feminism is so much more than just a name , it's a movement which has aided both men and women and therefore a name simply shouldn't discredit its work. However , I was having a group discussion in class and many seemed to believe that though the concept should still remain there's no reason for the term feminism to still be a thing . Many went on further to say that the term humanism or gender equality should be coined instead due to the "negative connotations behind the word feminism" . So I just want to know everyone's opinion on this because I still feel like the term shouldn't dictate what the cause is aiming to achieve and therefore the name 'feminism ' shouldn't be an issue .

[James]

This has actually been discussed or brought up before. Its a good topic but im pretty sure there is a thread on this.

[Ross]

James is right, we have discussed this before for my part the word feminism has meaning and history not everyone will or should be comfortable or complacent with its message.

[Terri]

Dionne wrote: "They hate the idea and so it doesn't matter which word is atteced to it. They'll hate that word instead"

Sadly, I think you are right. I saw a woman on FB post negative things about International Women's Day saying she was NOT a feminist. Yet I know she tried to arrange a girl empowering event a couple years ago. What? I think she doesn't even know that IS feminism. She is a self-proclaimed conservative and I think she just thinks the word is negative etc... and that is a big part of the problem.

[Ross]

Terri if this woman us organising empowering events for women she is doing the work of a feminist more important than what name she gives her conviction. This is a positive.

[Terri]

Ross wrote: "Terri if this woman us organising empowering events for women she is doing the work of a feminist more important than what name she gives her conviction. This is a positive."

Yes - if only she recognized it. :)

[Tom]

You could always just call it Humanism. [Proper] Humanism encompasses feminism anyway, but it has that non-religious element that religious feminists might not appreciate. It's something, at least.

[James]

Feminism as a word has its place. While i encompasses gender equality for all it still specializes in inequality for women which is ok. i look at it a lot like BLM vs ALM. Both are fair terms to use but one specializes in the injustices that black men and women face vs other races.

I do agree with Ryan that i think feminism as a word will probably always have a push back against it. Its had a negative connotation with it for so long that its almost impossible to reclaim it to the point where other people will want to change their perception or accept it.

At this stage i think it will always fall down to the individual and how they want to label themselves and what makes them the most comfortable with their own identity.

[Almog]

I'm puzzled. Why should everyone be comfortable with feminism? What is the point of comfortable feminism? If we will fight the powers and strive for change we are going to have some serious negative connotations.

[Ross]

Feminism is feminism and will, and should in my opinion, be seen as it has always has been. People in general know what it means.

Incidentally Humanism is already a word it means created by humans as opposed to a deity for example.

[Bea]

Hello! The word feminism is the word I use to describe my point of view about topics related to it. I don't say it with a lot of pride, or shyness or defensiveness. I just say it, since it encompass what I believe in, equality for all genders, and the fight against the discrimination of the sexes. I do not think we have balanced everything out, and around the world people are still suffering, women are not allowed to vote, have no rights, cannot get a proper education just because of their gender. So yeah, feminism I believe is still a proper word to use, and I use it, and I say I am a feminist, and then hope that my actions speak for themselves and I see amazing human beings saying their're feminists, leading by example. So if we keep doing that, hopefully eventually the stigma will disappear

[[deleted user]]

Keith wrote: "I have an issue with labels. I generally consider myself to be a member of just one group; the human species. Yes, I am white, male, married, employed, privileged, a home owner and any other label ..."

Using the term "feminism" can easily make things difficult. It is charged with so much anger from the past, since the suffragetes and it has, in most people's minds, a negative sense. It seems to mean that women hate men and they only want to be the best and the dominant. But that is definately not the case. In the words of Emma Watson "It just always reveals to me how many misconceptions and what a misunderstanding there is about what feminism is. Feminism is about giving women choice. Feminism is not a stick with which to beat other women with. It’s about freedom, it’s about liberation, it’s about equality". So, feminism should be let go of all the misconseptions, since it is just a power movement of getting women free from inequalities, critisism, letting them be able to choose for themselves and be equal to men. BUT, feminism should be accepted by men too. It is not a woman thing, it is a human thing. Men should want to be free and equal to women as well. It is not a matter of gender.

So, I totally agree with you, the term should be not "chanced" as it has this type of strength. But what we should actually be talking about is "humanism", the power movement that will make all people equal, no matter their gender, their colour, their language, we should stop putting labels on each other and just accept other people's differences and our own as well.

[Terri]

I don't think another term would really make much difference, because sooner or later someone would declare them the same and then...

Also, there will always be those against the ideas of women's equality condemning things.

[[deleted user]]

That is the problem. There will always be someone to stand against the right thing to do.

[Nea]

I'm sure this was discussed before here in the group. But apart from that, here is my opinion:

I don't think the word "feminism" should be changed to make everyone comfortable. I don't think feminism has to be comfotable for anyone, actually, it has to confront the patriarchy, to challenge male privilege and to be intersectional, but it doesn't need to be comfortable to anyone. Many peope has suggested something that sounds like "equalitarian" or something like that, but I think a term like that will hide the real problem: this is a problem of gender.

Of course, there's so many misconceptions, but there will always be, no matter the name. The idea of women and men being truly equal and the disappearance of male privilege still makes a lot of people cringe today.

[Fernanda]

I believe there is a misconception and misused of the term Feminism! Feminism approach is a way to lead to gender equality! Not the only, but the one that has been in the spot lately!

[Sascha]

Ryan wrote: "feminism by name alone harms the movement. the history of feminism is deep and because of that history people refuse to move from the name even though its counterproductive to the cause. feminism addressing the feminine aspect without the inclusion of masculinity will never truly see success. ... when you have to explain to someone what feminism is because they are afraid of the name and misunderstand. that's a problem. ... feminism will never be successful as long as it remains the same and inherently excludes the opposite party. ... change the name you change the perspective. thus transforming into a movement that doesn't scare people away."

Ryan, I agree with you as far as you adress the problem of "excluding" men from the debate. But I disagree with you that this has to do with Feminism or the label Feminist. I think it's absolutely legitimate to adress the social problems of patriarchy and sexism by using the term Feminism and struggling to overcome patriarchy and sexism and aim for the goal of equal rights and emancipation of all people.

But in my view, men have to connect with Feminism by themselves! It's not the job of Feminism and Feminists to be more inclusive so that every man feels comfortable with Feminism and its goals! No, it's our job as men to connect with Feminism! We have to actively ally with Feminism and not passively wait for Feminism to be comfortable for us.

I'm not sure if it is possible for men to be Feminists but I'm convinced that we can be good allies to Feminism. It means in the first place to stand back and let women tell their stories and listen to their desires and needs and problems with patriarchy and sexism. And it means to learn to understand our privileges in society and at best use these privileges and turn them against patriarchy and sexism. And it means to smash the toxic masculinity which dominates male gender roles.

All of this is our job and our responsibility as allies with Feminism. And it's no easy path for sure! But we as men should stop demanding from Feminism and Feminists to always be comfortable for everyone! No, because Feminism is a struggle for liberation. And that means it will have to confront the power structures and social patterns of patriarchy and sexism. We as men have to "include" ourselves into that struggle for liberation.

And I think it's worth it because not only women are oppressed and discriminated by patriarchy and sexism but also many men are oppressed by conservative gender roles and toxic masculinity. This is our struggle as men. And we should stop demanding from Feminism to do this or that and to change its label and so on. We should start to find our own goals and desires as men for an emancipatory movement and society in solidarity with Feminism instead.

The problem is not the name Feminism because it's the correct way to adress social and political and economic problems which negatively affect mainly women. The issue should be to find a common way of connecting women's and men's struggles for liberation from patriarchy and sexism and toxic masculinity.

[David]

What term would people be comfortable with? I guess it could be called gender equality, but that term doesn't seem to hold the same gravity behind it.

Hmm...maybe the misinterpretations of the word feminism are a part of why it stands out so much? To clarify, I think that how hard people have been pushing for equal treatment is a huge factor, but I'm wondering if the people who got upset at the term might've helped push it to some degree.

[Ingrid]

I don't think the term should harm the purpose of the movement, but I totally agree that it certainly does at this point. Wich truly is a shame as the ground principle of feminism is full equality.

On the other side, I don't think renaming the movement would help at this point, as it is now associated with the movement anyway. So even though we might change the "official" name of the movement, the majority of people will know it by the phrase "feminism" anyway.

[David]

I recently saw the short movie Hurdle. I liked it, though I wonder if the reason that some people consider feminism to mean girls being treated better might be because the boys aren't mentioned so much in the subject of feminism. Don't get me wrong, I am fine with giving girls their chance in the spotlight, but maybe the boys feel a little left out?

I acknowledge that Hurdle specified gender equality, and I really liked the symbol used to represent it, but I'm wondering if this might be why some people think the way they do about feminism.

[Robin]

The problem with names is that people often tend to modify its original meaning because of the wrong perceptions and false ideas they have about it. Feminism in itself indicates a will for gender equality, whereas some people see it as a demanding hipster movement, and a cause whom only privileged persons have an interest in.

[Guada]

If we alter the term we are losing a cultural battle. Feminism tries to shed some light in subjetcs that are unconfortable, like the wage gap, rape and rape culture, homophobia, women murdered by their partners... just to name a few, so changing it just for others seems contradictory. It is here to talk about the unconfortable status quo. We do need to highlight the actual meaning. Feminism doesn't mean we want more than men, it is about equality. Maybe it is more about teaching the true meaning rather than to change the term

[ila]

Almog wrote: "I'm puzzled. Why should everyone be comfortable with feminism? What is the point of comfortable feminism? If we will fight the powers and strive for change we are going to have some serious negativ..."

thank you for pointing that out!
If someone wants to promote a positive attitude toward female empowerment, or advocacy or any specific aspect related with women and girls experience that's perfectly fine.

But you don't "rebrand" feminism to make it less threatening or less uncomfortable, because it's the idea that frightens some people, not its name.