Femalism / Femalist

[GNCQ]

I watched Posie Parker on YouTube last night but I won't link to the video.

However, I did want to reference where I first heard the term.

She says, because "feminist" has basically been taken by men, and by women who are not centering women in the slightest, and doesn't mean what it should mean anymore (we're all familiar with "Everyday Feminism" with Riley J Dennis right?), there's a new term in need.

I think Femalist works quite well. Where "Feminist" seems to be linguistically linked to "feminine" (probably not the intention of the term but you can see it there) "Femalist" looks to be quite obvious what it's about.

Posie Parker is against "Gender Critical Feminist" as a term because in doing so you're basically supporting the idea of gender but from a protest position.

Protest Politics is not a position of power.

What's your opinion? I quite like the term instead of GC Feminist.

I quite like the term too, it's clearly linked to females and the rights of women and girls rather than the claim of being a 'feminist' but are what I would describe as 'lib fem', 'choice feminism' or 'men's rights activism'.

I don't want to associate with that or 'gender critical' as that doesn't suit with what my concerns are.

I am against sex-based stereotypes when they are harmful and am against Self ID and increasingly I prefer to talk about issues, policies and laws rather than labels. For the most part I don't find them helpful.

I'm waiting for the new range of t shirts to come out but also fancy one of her pink umbrellas.

Haha yes the "umbrella term" umbrella was really good. As was the we aren't mugs mugs.

I have been thinking about this too. It makes me think of "femoral" but that would probably fade. It seems like the best way to describe sex-based feminism.

One thought though is that the attack on sex as a defining characteristic also attempts to erase the same-sex-attracted. And even the opposite-sex-attracted I suppose. So in another way the thing I want to fight for is sex categories having meaning, but I can't think of a term for that.

Whatever new term chosen, it will only be demanded to be made “inclusive” down the line.

I sort of get it but IMO we need to try and keep "feminist", along with "female" and "women". It feels like too much of a pointless retreat otherwise.

I would like a word that describes women, (reproductive class female), thinking about women for the good of women (within the limits of truth and justice for all.)

Without it telling women that they have to think within certain political categories, or vote a certain way, or accept certain labels, or must give up on other areas of truth and justice.

In some ways I feel more hopeful about this possibility now than I have in the past.

@zzizzer

I sort of get it but IMO we need to try and keep "feminist", along with "female" and "women". It feels like too much of a pointless retreat otherwise.

But in alligning yourself with "feminists" you end up alligning yourself with Riley J Dennis.

I wouldn't want to be part of all that in a million years, so can I still call myself a feminist? Do I have to expend a ton of energy trying to prove that this person actually isn't a feminist, and people who agree with them are not feminist? And prove it how?

I think a break away is in order. Otherwise everything all goes down a whirlpool of infighting, which doesn't benefit women or girls in the slightest.

A lof of people don't consider GC feminists to be feminists at all so I think it's probably a good move to change the name - it will improve clarity on the issue.

Why are women having to give up words that have had for years and that are well understood because other people want them?

It makes no sense to me.

Well said NiceGerbil

Im a feminist

Ive been a feminist since i was about 12

Im not changing words to suit someone else

@RufustheSniggeringReindeer

Im a feminist

Ive been a feminist since i was about 12

Im not changing words to suit someone else

Seeing as now we already need to add a prefix "Gender Critical Feminist" instead of just "Feminist" to clarify our position, surely using one word is simpler than using three.

I'd basically agree that the label "gender critical Feminist" has problems.

I suppose to answer my own post "Femalist" is a made up word and not in the dictionary, so although I like it, it will inevitably end up meaning anything to anyone...

I think I might ditch "gender critical Feminist" to define my feminism from now on anyway.

I don't want to define my feminism as being critical of someone else's position that I do not believe in.

I centre women. That's all. That's a position of influence rather than protest.

I agree GNCQ

I don’t call myself GC....im really just very basic 😀

I think it might eventually end up in the dictionary...but some bugger will change the definition eventually

Inevitably any word chosen and popularised will be treated the same way as "feminist". I won't abandon the term "feminist" because of such tactics. I don't prefix it with gender critical, as to me, being critical of gender is an essential part of any feminism. That's in fact what started my thoughts about women's rights, as a result of my absolute hatred of sex based stereotypes and norms for girls and women that I experienced in my childhood.

@AssassinatedBeauty

Inevitably any word chosen and popularised will be treated the same way as "feminist". I won't abandon the term "feminist" because of such tactics. I don't prefix it with gender critical, as to me, being critical of gender is an essential part of any feminism. That's in fact what started my thoughts about women's rights, as a result of my absolute hatred of sex based stereotypes and norms for girls and women that I experienced in my childhood.

Good point - 'gender uncritical' feminism is a ridiculous idea.

Perhaps 'femalist' might sometimes be useful as an additional term?

"Femalist" sounds absolutely creepy

@CatherinaJTV

"Femalist" sounds absolutely creepy

Creepy? Why?

Maybe it depends how you pronounce it

I don’t think its creepy

But autocorrect hates me as it is

@GNCQ

Maybe it depends how you pronounce it

that's true, haha! In my head, I sounded like a Ferengi would say it

Ah, that'd do it!

@AssassinatedBeauty

Inevitably any word chosen and popularised will be treated the same way as "feminist". I won't abandon the term "feminist" because of such tactics. I don't prefix it with gender critical, as to me, being critical of gender is an essential part of any feminism. That's in fact what started my thoughts about women's rights, as a result of my absolute hatred of sex based stereotypes and norms for girls and women that I experienced in my childhood.

I think that depends - is it looking to cover just the same ground, or is it drawing a different set of boundaries? If the former it may be as you say or possibly could become a faction of feminism. If the latter I think it would be more likely to maintain it's ground.

I think it is as bad as the use of the word "womanist". It sound like somesort of earth mother, or matriarcal feminist.

I usually accept people calling me a feminist, but as it implies wanting equality with men (as though men are the something to aspire to) I would describe myself as a women's liberation. ie it is about liberating women from patriarchal society and its patriarchal norms.

I like the term Werewolf Woman.

@Wandawomble

I like the term Werewolf Woman.

That'd be a Wifwolf. (Man/woman used to be werman and wifman)