Shattering the myth: feminism in not a dirty word

By Amanda Poppei

Are feminists and femi-nazis the same thing? Do women who support women hate men? Do feminist readings of literature reject all traditional theories? Do you consider yourself a feminist?

The answers to the first three questions are subject to long and heated debate, but the fourth should be a simple decision, a choice to align oneself with women's rights and equal status in the world. So why do so few women at Yale choose to label themselves as feminists? And why has feminism become a dirty word associated with a theory of female superiority and extremist tendencies?

As a feminist, I believe in the equality of the genders. This is certainly not a radical supposition; not only is it consistent with my belief in the equality of all people, but it is a view probably held by most of the Yale community. The connection of this view with the label "feminist," however, is not always accepted. Instead, college students often label feminists as man-haters, women who feel themselves to be superior to men and therefore have no need for them.

As a feminist, I also believe in the right of women to receive equal pay for equal work. Again, this is a belief that most people share (or at least profess to), and again these same people do not consider themselves feminists.

The acceptance of such a narrow definition of feminism is matched only by the position that feminism is outdated, no longer necessary in our politically correct world. A glance at a number of studies and statistics will assure anyone interested that women continue to be paid less than men, that women continue to be treated as inferior, and that the fight for women's rights is far from over.

As a women's center representative pointed out to me, feminism is what allowed Yale to be what it is today. Without the women's movement, the University would have remained all male (as it was until 1969). Certainly, the female population here cannot help but be grateful for that particular result of the fight for equal rights, and I imagine and hope that the male population is just as grateful.

Despite all these reasons to embrace feminism, Yale women just don't seem too enthused. This doesn't mean, however, that these women don't support the values of feminism. A friend said to me recently that she didn't call herself a feminist because she felt it would be hypocritical to claim such a label without actually fighting for the cause. But you don't need to join a group or participate in a rally to support feminism. While these are both worthwhile and important things to do, fighting can also include speaking up in a class discussion about gender in literature, letting friends know when jokes are inappropriate, supporting women in politics whose views you support, or buying season tickets to the WNBA.

Feminists need not fit the stereotype of male-bashing, belligerent, overly aggressive women who scorn all men's views and alienate themselves from society. Feminists can wear pink, they can value traditional readings of ancient works, they can have a great weakness for ballgowns...and they can be men.

What this all comes down to is that feminism is a broad word, one that can refer to many different beliefs and values. The female student who just wants a fair shot at a CEO position is as much a feminist as the lobbyist who fights on Capitol Hill for equal wages or the Peace Corps volunteer working to bring birth control options to women in non-industrialized countries. What unites these people is their belief that women are just as good as men. Not better, not more deserving--but simply equal.

Amanda Poppei is a sophomore in Calhoun.

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