Nicola Horlick says she is not a feminist. Does Nicola Horlick know what a feminist is??

[stillstanding]

Am completely confused .... see article

I mean it's pretty nonsensical for anyone semi-conscious to say they are'nt a feminist but for HER to say it? And in the same breath as calling for quotas to get more women in boardrooms??

It's just daft. Am actually quite cross ...

But it's about how people define themselves isn't it?

Most people when asked would agree that women should have equal rights and opportunities. Yet it doesn't follow that we live in a society largely populated by feminists (if only).

If you act like a feminist by doing feminist things and expressing feminist beliefs you are one whether or not you say you are one.

Just like the BNP is racist whether they say they are or not, or the government's cuts are ideologically neoliberal whether they say they are or not. Categorisation is not only available to the person being categorised.

Most people are feminist whether they believe they are or not. Most of the time they believe/say they're not as it is advantageous to do so due to the way feminism is misleadingly presented or they have bought into the way it is misleadingly presented.

I agree that categorisation isn't only available to the person being categorised. I suppose I'm not saying Nicola Horlick isn't a feminist. I'm saying I'm not surprised if she doesn't consider herself to be a feminist.

Most people don't. Why should we be surprised that she doesn't?

Ah yes I get you, yes I'm not surprised she says she's not.

"I think anyone on earth who says they are not a feminist is just a ridiculous human being.

Surely everyone has a mother or daughter or niece or sister? So it's ok that they suffer(insert your most niggly predudice)because they were born with a vagina is it?

No? Thought not. Then you are a feminist."

That's a fantastic quote! Can I put it on my FB page!? I love it!

Absolutely Flaming - ooh I feel famous

I am very surprised that she says she's not actually. Am always staggered when any person with any awareness says that. But am especially surprised when someone of her alleged intellect who has overcome the odds in an incredibly male-dominated industry would do so.

Having said that, I do understand why a person would not declare themselves to be a feminist ... If you asked me, for example, to describe myself you wouldn't find feminist in my description as I don't consider it to be one of my defining characteristics but that doesn't mean I'm not one. My problem though is with people who denounce it and declare that they are not one. I do think that's odd particularly in someone like Nicola who is so clearly a feminist despite any proclamations to the contrary.

I think you often find that very intelligent and successful people are staggeringly ignorant about stuff you would expect everyone to know about . Presumably because the reason for their success is partly because they are so focused on their goals that they simply do not waste time reading or talking or thinking about anything else. So it doesn't surprise me that someone who is held up by the media as the quintessential career woman and working mother would not have a clue what feminism means.

I can also imagine her not spending an awful lot of time with politicised women; she probably works with men, doesn't have much time for socialising outside work, and doesn't often talk about non-work or -family related things. I mean if she had a spare 20 mins on a train she would be on her Blackberry getting stuff done, not reading The Guardian or browsing interesting blogs on the internet.

Have not posted on "feminism" board before, but agree that it is the branding of feminism that causes so many obviously feminist women to deny it. They associate it with being an aggressive man hater.

Oh fuck it... I hate when someone I have always admired turns out to have feet of clay. I had the chance to meet her fairly recently but chickened out. Now, if I get the chance again, this will be all I can think of.

I am interested about the idea of 'branding' of feminism putting (some) women off the idea.
What is the feminism 'brand'?
Who controls the 'brand'?

I think the 'branding' is part of the backlash. People who are opposed to feminism undermine it periodically by misrepresenting what it is.

No, I know plenty of women who claim not to be feminists, despite behaving in a perfectly feminist manner. When questionned they often raise the "aggressive man hating" issue.

Agreed.
So, if feminism is defined and characterised by the desire to establish and protect equal opportunities for women...
and Nicola Horlick says this is not a feminist..
then Nicola Horlick is a moron who is contributing, shamelessly and unforgivably, to those who don't want women to have equal opportunities with men.
She is not just colluding with the backlash, she is adding to it.
Shame on her.

"I'm not a feminist but.... I will take the vote, equal pay, rights to own property, protection against DV, maternity pay, protection against being sacked for being pregnant, protection against sexual harassment that all those 'aggressive man haters' fought for, whilst at the same time insulting them and denigrating them."

itsalarf - I don't know if you were responding to me but I'm not disagreeing with you. I see this too. I was explaining where I think this misrepresentation comes from. Feminist ideas have been separated from feminism and replaced with a caricature. And I'd locate this in the backlash.

agree with your analysis, AliceWorld but I would locate it much earlier than the backlash.
The feminist movement faced opposition and undermining from the outset from those who wanted to preserve the status quo

I think that Faludi's backlash did talk about old backlashes. Framed as a cyclical thing, with a backlash every time progress is made.

Yes, have re-read your post and can see that clearly now Alice. I should point out that I talk as a "gut" feminist, rather than one who has widely read on the issues. Think so many women misinterpret feminism and believe it to be incompatible with, for example, being a SAHM, wanting to be married. This is why so many people, men and women, are naysayers.

up to her how she defines and associates herself.doesnt make her a lesser woman

Strange comment, scottishmummy. Of course, the way you define yourself and what you associate yourself with will impact whether you are a "better/lesser" woman.

Obviously we will all have different ideas on how we define ourselves or what good/bad characteristics are but it's bizarre to say it doesn't influence how you are perceived or your impact on the world around you.

not at all.if she feels incongruent with that label then it still doesnt make render her less than someone who is comfortable to use.seeing it so concretely doesn't allow for individual actions and interpretations. problem woth applying an label is that all labels come with associated baggage that may not suit or be applicable

Does anyone know what a feminist is?