What is feminism?

[AmberTheHappyLuddite]

There has been a lot of discussion lately about what isn't feminist(ism).

I think it might be useful to consider what it actually is. What should it's aims be? Is there a one size fits all feminism or must it adapt to different cultures?

To me, feminism is primarily about freedom, respect and equality.

What do others think?

I think it depends on who answers your question.

To me, it's valuing women, femininity, female biology, the work women do, as equal to men, and also, freedom to make choices that suit each woman.

Feminism is the liberation of women from patriarchy.

This.

edited to add: which isn't to say that it doesn't incorporate all those other things, equality, choices, respect, etc. They are a natural result.

Zombie thread alert - this poster has been reported to MNHQ as they (he, most likely) has been resurrecting very old threads on FWR for reasons known only to themselves.

It's about not ending up worse off - legally, socially, financially or in any other way - simply because you happen to be born female.

Liberation from patriarchy and the astonishing idea that women are actually human beings.

I remember 2010 on here. FWR was literally dead, hardly any posts and I figured not much was going on.

Then a bloke in his 50s at my work turned up dressed as Little Bo Peep and I could not believe there was nowhere to talk about it. It still took a few years for it to kick off here but I really was shocked at how quiet this place was.

"It still took a few years for it to kick off here"

It's undeniably kicked off now!

52 years ago when I read my mother's copy of The Female Eunuch it was women's liberation. It still is. A few of the chains have changed shape, that's all.

To me feminism is the project to evolve society such that no woman's horizons, ambitions, freedom or safety are limited by her sex or by how society sees her sex.

That means in practice:

Challenging sexist beliefs about what men and women naturally prefer or are naturally capable of.

No longer tolerating men's sexual entitlement and agression to women and girls whether in person and through porn.

Ensuring through social
convention and where necessary law that the lifetime financial and quality of life impacts of reproduction and child rearing is borne equally by both parents whether they remain together or not.

Recognising that female bodies are more than a collection of disparate reproductive functions, and that when we perform such functions (or not) we do them within the context of complete human beings not reproductive functionaries.

Being woman centred. Recognsiisng what it is that connects the females of the species and valuing the varied voices and experiences that arise from that.

Also not devaluing the female body, its natural function or processes - and recognising and celebrating those uniquely female occupations and conditions ( motherhood, pregnancy, sexuality and so on)

All else is simply about being a human being - with individual character, personality and preference.