How 'feminist' are you on a sliding scale?

[DingDongMerrilyOutOfSeason]

I consider myself a feminist to the extent that I believe in equality for women. However, I refer to myself as a girl (as in girls' night out), wax my ladygarden and stay at home with my DCs, although have worked part time in the past. I am pro-choice, although have to admit to judging certain circumstances in my head in the past but aloud I am always supportive, I believe in equal pay for women, I hate sexism and generally think that women should have the same opportunities and acceptance in society as men do.

Where does this put me on a scale? I have posted once or twice on feminism and all I seem to do is argue with myself! Maybe I think too deeply but I cannot get my head around why I do not always agree with feminist points of view. Is feminism generally about equality or is it more than that? I feel I am missing something...

Well put Trillian.

Hi, sorry Cat but I found that Feminism 101 Cat linked quite frustrating..

finallyfeminism101.wordpress.com/

The info is all over the place, literally its hard to navigate, and if I click 'What is feminism? It's more links, with nothing about what feminism is! And the page on Male Privilege is just about the example of a woman taking the mans name when marrying..

I found this one too www.feminism101.com/ and there seems little about what feminism is, or these different types of feminist there are (what I want to find out really...) Wiki's page on feminism wasn't much help either.

Is there anything a bit more like 'feminism for dummies? I think there is actually that book, but I want a shorter, freer version... Some definitions are too pat - 'feminism means equality and fighting the oppression of women' and what I want, basically is 'today's feminist issues are these... some feminists think this about that, others think this.'

I'll keep looking but if anyone has a neat summary/101 let me know x

Anyway, to be more specific about myself as a feminist

I support women having all the same opportunities as men.
Those in high power are overwhelmingly men, which must be changed (though I'm not sure how)
Mothers/Families need more assistance
Domestic violence needs to be treated more seriously (I suppose this includes woman on male too)
Wage Gap
Various issues all the the time where it screams sexism!

But on some other issues, I disagree with some rad fem views.

O, and I shave my legs and wear lipstick and sometimes even a hat. I don't believe hats are a feminist issue?

Can I just delurk to quickly say, that in my opinion that being a SAHM should not considered un-feminist, the problem is that that nurturing role is not recognised and valued in society in the same way as paid work.

Sorry because I know the thread has moved on, but for cultural/religious reasons, my husband removes his armpit and pubic hair. He thought all men did this and was absolutely stunned to find out the British men don't. It just goes to show how constructed our concepts of masulinity are.

I have always been feminist and I'd like to always be feminist and for me it's linked to my socialist politics and religion too. I would love to be more active though.

Good post, Trillian.

I've been a feminist since I learnt the word. I'm married, but didn't take DH's name. I would have liked to give DS my name, and DH would have been happy with that, but reluctantly decided that it wasn't practical (DH is SAHD, so it's always him at the doctor's surgery etc, and people are thrown enough by a man looking after a baby without them having different surnames). I work FT: my mother was a very unhappy SAHM because she felt she had no choice and I've been very consciously avoiding her fate.

I want women to be able to participate fully in the economy we've got, on the same terms as men, because money is power and that's not changing any time soon, but I also want the true value of "women's work" acknowledged.

I don't wear make-up or skirts and I have short hair, beginning to go grey: I'm resistant to "performing femininity" for myself, because it feels like such a waste of time and money, but I acknowledge that for a lot of women it's a pleasure and I wouldn't suggest that feminists shouldn't do it.

Undefeated, Kat Banyard's book "The Equality Illusion" is a good "feminism 101" type work, and it's pretty recent.

Sorry the link didn't help much. I've found it quite useful. But hey ho.