Reclaiming the F Word

The New Feminist Movement
by Catherine Redfern and Kristin Aune

Sometimes I argue with a few people whether feminism is the right word to use anymore. By continuing to call myself a feminist, does this only further the confusion around what that really means? For me, it used to elicit images of the mother in Mary Poppins, while Mary Poppins cared for her children Mrs. Banks (Glynis Johns) rallied for the vote for women.

But that's certainly not entirely what it means, is it?

From the book's website here

I picked up this book for the shelf of the Northern District Toronto Public library (my current favourite for content) a bit by happenstance. It had a curious cover and the titled rubbed me the right way, right away.

"I'm not a feminist, but..."
Redfern and Aune start by pointing out that despite claims that either feminism is dead or the other extreme that feminism has gone way over-the-top, most people do align with feminist values, it's just that they don't call it like it is. They consider that "rather than thinking that feminism has failed because 'only' 25% of women are feminists, we need to keep in mind that being an active feminist was never a popular choice, even in the 1970s. And 25% is a very good support base for a social movement."Furthermore, the methods might be a bit different now to show one's feminist stripes.

So why do people shy away from the word feminism? Redfern and Aune speculated that some may not consider themselves "active" enough to take on the label, while others are men who avoid it on the basis of their sex.  Some may also associate it with a particular feminist that they did not like or thought that it predominated with white, middle-class women's issues. Really, it seems obvious that the problem is in the definition of feminism.

Is feminism no longer needed?
No. Certainly things have come a long way in terms of women's rights, precisely as a result of earlier feminist movements, but there remains a lot to do! As Redfern and Aune say, "women's visibility  in popular culture doesn't mean women are valued, safe from violence or equal."And later in the book, "Women are still being raped, paid less than men, and access to abortion is restricted."

Defining Feminism
Through this book, Redfern and Aune sought just that, to identify what feminism is up to today. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges in feminism today is the "how"and "what" of equality, and debates certainly rage even among feminists over issues like pornography, the sex industry and men's role in feminism. As a disclaimer, Redfern and Aune note, "Not everyone will agree on the issues we've highlighted, and everyone will prioritise them in different ways. Even if you are a feminist, you certainly won't agree with everything you read here." But is that not part of feminism? Challenging the norm and embodying different beliefs in an open debate. In seeking to be liberated from oppression, it would be quite silly for feminists to then oppress others.

Feminism is...
... an individual survival mechanism: "It assures that you have the right to live your life the way you want and imagine a brighter future for the world. It prompts you to question the status quo, rather than assuming that the way things are is the best they can be."

... collective action: "Feminism assures you that you're not alone, that the problems you experience are shared by others, and that, as a woman or a gender non-conforming person, your concerns are important." and  "Feminism provides you with a support network for your interests and campaigns. It enables us to band together on issues we agree on."

... collective impact: "Feminism encourages us to consider the wider impact of our actions. In other words, it's not just about us, but is about ending sexism and liberating everyone from centuries of oppression based on gender."

Chapters
1. Liberated bodies
2. Sexual freedom and choice
3. An end to violence against women
4. Equality at work and home
5. Politics and religion transformed
6. Popular culture free from sexism
7. Feminism