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From: cel@cs.duke.edu (Christopher Emery Lane)
Newsgroups: soc.feminism
Subject: Re: Is there a definition of Feminism?
Message-ID: <654526686@romeo.cs.duke.edu>
Date: 28 Sep 90 12:58:08 GMT
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ed falk said:

The rad-fem subculture I hung out with had developed such a complicated
set of rules of behavior, known as "politically correct", that I got
sick of the whole scene and refuse to be labeled feminist any more.

---- I say:

bell hooks suggests that one should not "be" a feminist, but one should
"advocate" feminism.  This is what I generally say.  A labelling scheme
that has "feminists" and "non-feminists" is inherently non-inclusive, i.e.
hierarchical (that's bad;-) ).  There are many experiences that might
make one not wish to be called feminist (like ed's experience), but who
really cares.  The important thing is the ideas and actions and people
that people support or oppose.

How about:

feminism is a movement that attacks the idea of hierarchy in the guise of
gender.  It affirms the fundamental value and connectedness of all
humans (or living beings?) and seeks a way of life that is in greater
harmony with our human nature than the current setup.

"Seek not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee." 

Pleasure shared is pleasure increased; pain shared is pain diminished.  


etc., etc.  

Chris Lane
-- 
"Life's a bitch and then you die."      cel@cs.duke.edu
Down with Gender!  
Enjoy today.