The word 'feminism'

I think there is a role for men in achieving the aims of feminism, and in awareness and self-awareness raising, and they should be involved in that capacity of course.

In that way, something like 'gender equality' is a good term, but there are many issues which are specific to women and not men - (eg relating to maternity). Also, men will not have experience of being discriminated against because they are female. Some find it annoying to be reminded of the reason that feminism exists, but the 'annoyance' is hardly the fault or responsibility of feminism.

No, no power for the menz. Can't they read the name?

oh but then people would object on the wotaboutthemenz basis - what about power for men? You want more power than them, not the same amount, etc.

Humanism sounds like nothing at all, it is so vague and there are so many ways it can be interpreted. Eg, Im a human, therefore Im a humanist? I believe humans should have the same rights as animals?? Its not really a useful term.

Go to the feminist group, and invite your DH too

If we do need a different word (thouggh I cant think why we would), then I vote for POWER FOR WOMEN. It all comes down to power.

Yes you can be a feminist humanist.

Or humanist feminist.

Actually I think I am one.

Or the other.

Or something.

exactly ThreeLittlePebbles. Usually when people say 'I'm not a feminist I'm a humanist' they haven't come across the word humanist in its normal meaning and are using it to mean something different.

coming back to the OP, I am roffling at the idea that we would go to a feminist group and slag off our dps.

Firstly because I can slag off my dp with anyone (not that I want to) - other mums at school, MIL, the till lady in Sainsburys - whereas for a good feminist discussion you need someone who shares the feminist point of view, which is much rarer.

Secondly because there are much bigger things wrong with the patriarchy than dh making mistakes in the laundry sorting - why would I waste good feminist slagging-off time talking about minor domestic irritations when I could be talking about violence against women or the pornification of culture or discrimination in the workplace?!

would either of these points help convince your dp?!

Lizzie10, I would happily do it too.

I'd be happy to do your survey Lizzie - are you going to post a link or PM volunteers or ...?

Exactly Omar!

by avoiding the term feminist we are giving away our power.... is what we are more palatable cos it sounds nicer? What we should be asking is; why are people so scared by the idea when all it means is equal rights?

If you called yourself an equalist it would not be obvious whose discrimination your were referring to. You could be talking about the elderly, or dwarves, or the population of South America.

But each group experiences discrimination in a different way, so while I may agree that it is wrong to discriminate against dwarves, I have no experience of knowledge of dwarf issues. So in what sense am I an equalist? I'm not - I'm primarily an environmentalist, then a feminist, then a supporter of social justice in general.

Yes, dittany, you have hit the nail on the head. Liberation now!

But you can bet if we called ourselves "humanists" or "equalists" the pressure to sort out all man problems first would become even more massive. At least at the moment it does what it says on the tin - tries to make women's lives better. Another label and you would have sooooo many people saying "what about the rights of men to do x,y&z, aren't men "human" too?"

Plus you would fundamentallt get the same shit directed at it whatever if it was called, if it was called Used Frog Parts it would be the same - it's the idea of women claiming power that is so scary to people.

I prefer to not get too hung up on the "label". You could say you're going to discuss:

• the number of female MPs

• sexism in popular culture

• violence against women and children

and who's doing the housework!

etc etc

Consciousness raising followed by some activism.

My understanding of humanism is that it is either of two things

1. is a philosophy that puts the role of the arts (humanities) at the centre of the devlopment of human charcter

or

2. an idealogy rejecting religious dogma, the supernatural and superstition.

If I've got it wrong, I hope someone will enlighten me.

I don't think humanism means "feminism plus men's rights".

I guess it depends who you speak to. After all, I'm happy to call myself A feminist and A woman so it isn't water tight.

WRT your OP. I vehemently don't think we should be ditching the word feminism for humanism. I'm not sure how they're different however the word on its own is relevant to the cause which is addressing oppression against women. Lets not erase the reference of women from the name of the movement for them!