I wanted to kill two birds with one stone in this video. The first thing I tried to address was the argument I’ve received since my video “What is Feminism?”, that if feminism is really about equality, it should be called something broader like “equalism” or “humanism”.
I’ve found people making this argument generally come from one of two places: one group believes work needs to be done on women’s equality but see it as part of a broader movement and might have a reluctance to call themselves feminists due to negative stigma (aka the “I’m not a feminist…but” crowd).
The other believes feminism is not necessary because men are equally or more discriminated against in society compared to women. Therefore they accuse feminists of talking about equality while ignoring male inequality. I think this video speaks more to the first group – it’s very hard to convince those who possess the intractable belief that men are disadvantaged that in fact women are still the marginalized ones, on the whole – no matter how many stats you throw out. But I will continue to throw out stats in other videos nonetheless.
The second “bird” I was trying to kill was the common misuse of the word “humanism” to refer to simply an extremely broad movement for equality for all humans. I know I get tired of hearing celebrities in interviews, not to mention friends and acquaintances say, “I wouldn’t call myself a feminist; I’m a humanist” to mean that they feel feminism has a negative connotation and that humanism is an adequate substitution that demonstrates their commitment to equality for all. In addition to erasing the specificity of fighting gender inequality, it misses the historical and current meaning of the term “humanism”, which also includes a commitment to the rational and scientific and a rejection of the idea of divine and supernatural powers. I’m sure some humanists get annoyed by this mischaracterization, too. At any rate, I h0pe this video helps to concisely clear that up.
I also wanted to give major credit to Finally, a Feminism 101 Blog, whose answer to this question helped me start writing my own for this video. They also address a range of other FAQs on their site that are worth checking out if you like these videos.
Transcript after the jump:
Hi I’m Jarrah Hodge, writer and editor at Gender Focus. Welcome to Feminism F.A.Q.s. One question I’ve heard a lot is about the term “feminism”. In my video, “What is Feminism?” I said feminism is about equality of the sexes. So why not another term like “equalism” or “humanism” some ask.
Feminists believe that our society’s gender inequality requires a specific lens. Because women are generally marginalized compared to men, they need narrative space for themselves and allies to discuss women’s issues and experiences.
Without naming the issue of women’s inequality, without analysis of and action on the systemic power structures that generally privilege men over women in our society, there’s the possibility that it might get de-prioritized.
But being a feminist doesn’t mean you can’t be an “equalist” too or that you can’t focus on other forms of discrimination. I, for one, believe that feminism goes hand-in-hand with other movements for equality such as anti-racism, because feminist equality can’t be only for some privileged groups of women.
And if you’re using the term “humanist” to mean believing in human rights and equality, you might just want to make sure people understand what you mean.
The term Humanism arose during the Enlightenment in the 18th century and referred to a movement promoting reason, ethics, and justice while rejecting religious dogma and the idea of divine and supernatural powers.
There’s a strong and vibrant humanist movement today that draws its legacy from that time, combining a commitment to human rights with a secular and rational worldview. It doesn’t specifically focus on gender equality issues. So you can be both a humanist and a feminist like I’d define myself, but one doesn’t really substitute for the other.
Feminism is, and always has been, a women’s advocacy movement. It has never advocated for gender equality and has actively fought to preserve extant privileges of women at the expense of men. So it is not possible for someone to be both a feminist and an equalist. You are either one, or the you are the other. You either examine civil issues through a rational and gender neutral lens, or you view them through a lens of feminist dogma and mythology.
Nu-uh
Thanks for a great and useful post. I wish this humanism question could be over and done with. sigh. and hurray for radical anti-hierarchicalism!
Wrong Tbyte YOU dont get to define feminism. Feminist do. Im a feminist. Guess what, I also work with men issues.
This general confusion with feminism is what makes me second guess its effectiveness. Don’t get me wrong, i am not anti-feminist but directly quoting the Wikipedia entry on Feminism i am to understand that “A feminist is “an advocate or supporter of the rights and equality of women”.[3]” Equality meaning between men and women of course which means overall gender equality. This directly contradicts Tbyte’s original comment. Please explain this!
Hi Liam,
I think the fundamental confusion comes out of the disagreement about whether or not women have achieved equality. I believe that they haven’t. I do gender inequality hurts both men and women and that men have unique gender issues that need to be addressed in order to achieve equality. However, when you look at real material issues like the wage gap, severity of domestic violence, and the damaging impacts of objectification on women and girls, it’s clear to me that we aren’t yet at a place where we can totally abandon the word feminism. Because of the history of women’s oppression, there still needs to be space for women and their allies to talk about these and other key issues.
That doesn’t mean we don’t talk to or about men. On the contrary – men are crucial to the movement going forward. But it’s a little like me going to an anti-racist meeting as an ally – it’s incumbent on me to examine my privilege and to listen to where other people are coming from, to understand I can’t fully appreciate what it’s like to be raised as someone who is characterized by race. Looking at something like Occupy is a good example of how, without consciously attending to it, even in an overall equality social justice movement, women’s and people of colour’s voices can get drowned out.
Anyway, thanks for your comment. Hope this goes a little ways to answering your question.
What a crap? Your post is too unclear. What are you trying to say?
Pingback: Γιατί φεμινισμός και όχι ανθρωπισμός; | ΚΑΜΕΝΑ ΣΟΥΤΙΕΝ
Tbyte is correct.
The author conveys a misunderstanding of humanism, perhaps only as a rhetorical device.
“Humanism is a group of philosophies and ethical perspectives which emphasize the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively.”
Its a big tent, join us.
I think humanism and feminism are both big tents and their philosophies are fundamentally compatible – we should be joining each other’s organizations and movements. But if you want action on gender inequality you’re going to get more of a focus on that in feminism, for sure. But my goal is not in any way to discourage people from exploring humanism.
For the record, I consider myself a feminist and a humanist. And I built the definition from several sources – it wasn’t just created for effect.
In fact the definition you use is from Wikipedia but with an important second part that you didn’t include:
“Humanism is a group of philosophies and ethical perspectives which emphasize the value and agency of human beings, individually and collectively, and generally prefers individual thought and evidence (rationalism, empiricism), over established doctrine or faith (fideism).”
Wikipedia has more on the links between humanism and secularism, but if that’s not a legit enough source you can also go to humanist groups and sites like Humanism.ca:
“Humanist Canada (also known as HC or the Humanist Association of Canada) is a national not-for-profit charitable organization promoting the separation of religion from public policy and fostering the development of reason, compassion and critical thinking for all Canadians through secular education and community support.”
Or ihumanism.org, whose “10 Points of Humanism” emphasizes a reliance on science and rationality in half the points.
Or the British Humanist Association:
“Think for themselves about what is right and wrong, based oreason and respect for others/Find meaning, beauty and joy in the one life we have, without n the need for an afterlife/Look to science instead of religion as the best way to discover and understand the world.”
Or the International Humanist and Ethical Union:
“…It is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality.”
I don’t see anything wrong with that, but I want people to understand the term rather than just throwing it out because they don’t like the term “feminist” and they think “humanist” is simply about equality for all.
religion has often been the root cause of the irrational belief that women are inferior to men. Therefore, claiming that humanism doesn’t pay as much attention as feminism to gender issues is rather false. The idea of promoting dogma free, rational thinking is the key to overcoming all inequalities. If there is anything that will prove equality in every aspect for all people, is the right thing; that would be science. Any other attempt at responding to these issues will create conflict, confusion and bias..further weakening/slowing down the movement to equality.
Right from the start we have an inequality. Where do I, as a male, find representation in the word Feminism? While I don’t encourage the use of “humanist” to mean that one is for gender equality, calling oneself a “feminist” to mean that you are for gender equality is not adequate either.
Would you join a group calling itself “Manist” that has stated goals of gender equality and promotion of all “mankind” and its individuals with respect and dignity regardless of gender?
How would using the title “Manist” make you feel? Empowered and confident that the label adequately states that you are pro-everyone be they male or female? I doubt it. Yet here we are told that a man, calling himself a “Feminist” can feel that it is an adequate title. I call farce.
Before I continue, let me state for the record that I am very pro gender equality. I married a strong intelligent woman and appreciated/encouraged her to speak her mind (she has since passed away). We made decisions jointly. I reject the idea of male supremacy just as adamantly as I reject female supremacy.
But I have simply been exposed to too much male bashing and glorifying of the feminine to buy that “Feminism” is truly about equality of the sexes. Once Feminism fights as hard to get women into hazardous occupations as it does to get women into boardrooms, then we can talk.
Feminism does try hard to get women into hazardous occupations.
Check out the debates on women in combat roles in the US recently. You think it was anti-feminists saying they should be on the frontlines?
Can’t support a video that doesn’t allow rating or comments. Censorship sucks.
Hi Mika,
Shutting down comments and ratings wasn’t a decision I took lightly. My comments were open for several months and I appreciated the occasional opportunity to engage in respectful discussion, even with people opposed to feminism or my particular arguments.
I thought long and hard about it after I found my videos being listed on Reddit downvote brigades and trolls calling on their friends to downvote the videos without even watching them. The amount of “go make me a sandwich”-type comments was such that I found myself without time to go through and really moderate to give legitimate comments and critiques the replies they deserved.
But it’s not censorship. Folks are more than welcome to express their opinions in their own online spaces and as you can see, comments are still open here on my blog (subject to the comment policy which you can find on the “About” page. I think this article from Finally, a Feminism 101 blog explains that issue: http://finallyfeminism101.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/online-interaction-and-free-speech/.
Anyway, again taking off comments and ratings on YouTube is really something I wish I hadn’t had to do, but unfortunately I think there will need to be a culture shift at YouTube before it can be a reasonable venue for reasonable discussion.
The fact that people don’t get this very simple thing is beyond belive. Actions of feminism is not only far from achieving equality but its million miles away from it. It’s purely about female supremacy. Even to associate the term ”Feminism” with equality is a huge joke.
Its just like starting an anti-racism movement and call it Caucasianism then follow up by bunch of privileges and double standards and handovers giving to white people by considering them the victims of other races then have bare cheek face to call it equality. Wouldn’t it be laughable?
Another example of United Nation that gives all privileges not to mention Veto rights to few countries and is head to toe covered in double standards for western countries in the name of equality and human rights. Today women are getting more findings,more rights,more protection ,more discounts and grants,punished much less for committing same crime by men if not forgiven ,hugely unfair advantage in family courts and parenthood rights and still play victims to get more and more.
. There are only two conditions when a person call her or himself feminist,either hugely selfish and narcissistic opportunist person or one with huge lack of knowledge of what feminism is truly all about and is trying to achive. Either way it will come back to bite feminist when unfairness and injustice is done to a man they love such as their own sons. I say this to all my sisters ,do not go ahead and call yourself a feminist just because you are a woman before fully understand it. Atleast look into men hating comments of some famous feminists like Hillary Clinton and Sharon stone and others have made publicaly. Feminism is crime against humanity and its a shame for a good women to be a part of this madness.
Pingback: Why men – and everyone – should speak out about misogyny in gaming | cheap cdkey
“-it’s very hard to convince those who possess the intractable belief that men are disadvantaged that in fact women are still the marginalized ones, on the whole-”
It does not matter in the slightest if women are in fact the more marginalized ones – you are presupposing a false dilemma. Namely that there is an either/or relationship between advocacy for men’s and women’s rights, and the decision for which to advocate is based on some calculus of net discrimination. The inevitable result of this approach is that, instead of achieving equal rights, we reach an equlibilurm whereby each sex is equally discriminated against. In this sense both feminists and MRA’s are equally culpable.
Clearly the false dilemma fallacy is avoided by a holistic approach to gender rights, predicated on the idea that unfair discrimination of any type in any area of society is unacceptable. Innate gender differences exist, and they do not grant license for unfair discrimination. Both feminism and MRA are archaic, adversarial organizations that must be subsumed under the common rubric of humanism if we are to live in harmony.