Written by: Guinevere Pandolfi
Artwork by: Guinevere Pandolfi
WHAT IS FEMINISM? WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A FEMINIST?
In most early societies, women were given less rights than men and had no legal status at all. This unfair treatment gave rise to many protests to increase women’s rights. In 1848, the first wave of feminism emerged as women fought for the right to vote. Following, in the twentieth century, the focus of feminism was shifted to a group effort of self-empowerment with a focus on reproductive rights and sexuality. The aim of feminism continuously changes, thus, so does the definition. While there is not a consensus, the general definition is the belief that women deserve equal rights and opportunities as men. Anyone can be a feminist because all it comes down to the belief that men and women should be given equal opportunities.
EQUALITY VS. SAMENESS
Helena Cronin, a Darwinian philosopher and rationalist, makes a clear distinction between sameness and equality between the sexes. Cronin explains that many people try to treat women and men the same as if men and women are psychologically, on average, the same. However, while there is discrimination amongst the sexes, women generally prefer jobs where they can work with people and men generally prefer jobs where they can work with things. Furthermore, as a result of our patriarchal society, we often value traits that are more often seen in men, but look down upon a woman exhibiting the same traits. For example: while a man may be described as determined and goal oriented, a woman exhibiting the same behavior will more likely be described as bossy and narrow-minded. Additionally, when it comes to job applications, women are more likely to be described with nurturing adjectives whereas men generally get described with adjectives praising their capabilities and intelligence. Indeed, these misconceptions and practices should be closely evaluated and changed. Instead, the important distinction between equality and sameness that should be emphasized is that while women and men generally have different interests, both sexes should be offered equal opportunities.
WHAT IS DARWINIAN FEMINISM?
Before I discuss what a darwinian feminist is, I will briefly explain the beliefs and observations of the man, Charles Darwin, whom this idea is named after. Charles Darwin was an English naturalist and biologist. In addition, he believed that men were intellectually superior to women. Darwin also hypothesized that all species evolve due to natural selection: the process by which the survival of the species depends on its ability to adapt to and reproduce in its changing environment.
Darwinian feminists do not have the same beliefs in gender and equality as Darwin, but they do apply Darwin’s idea of evolution to gender roles. Darwinian feminists believe that a woman’s role in society changes to best fit the current framework of society. Feminism evolves, and so does the role of women in society, so whatever role is the most adaptable for the current environment will be what women take on.
ARE THERE OTHER TYPES OF FEMINISM? WHAT ARE THEY?
Yes, there are over a dozen different types of feminism with subcategories even within those. Here are a few more common types:
Liberal Feminism- A more muted form of feminism that works within society to make subtle changes towards equality amongst the sexes.
Radical/Cultural Feminism- One of the strongest influences in feminist thought and ideas that emerged from civil rights and peace movements. From radical feminism emerged cultural feminists (some even still use the term “radical”) who coined the term “nasty” because they are assertive and portray other “masculine” attitudes when expressing their beliefs about economic, social, and political equality. “Radical” feminists got their label by arguing that “oppression of women [is] the most fundamental form of oppression” because it is woven into all other forms of oppression such as racial, cultural, and economic.
Eco-Feminism- Eco-feminists focus on spiritual and theoretical aspects of feminism in relation to nature. In particular, they emphasize the idea that patriarchal societies treat women and nature similarly, for they are both exploited, abused, and fetishized. Thus, eco-feminists want to change societal values to focus on environmental restoration so that humans and nature can develop a symbiotic relationship.
CHANGING THE NARRATIVE:
Ultimately, while there are a wide range of beliefs and subcategories within feminism, it is important for us to remember that all feminists value equality between sexes. It should not matter what someone looks like or how they express their identity. We should see people for their capabilities, and if anything, celebrate their differences.