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What is feminism? A few thoughts by Alicia

      When I agreed to write up a page about what feminism means, I didn't think much about the assignment. Now, on the eve before this must go to press, I still have no idea how to define feminism. The problem is that no two people have ever agreed on a definition. There is still a lingering image of an angry, bra-less, militant woman whaining herself to a large building. (I would like to point out that I personally get a huge kick out of angry, bra-less, militant women, among others, but I realize they scare and/or anger some folks.)
      Even my own husband, who dedicates much of his life to actively working to help women and children, told me the other day that he was not a feminist. I had never considered the notion that he was not. To me, feminists believe that women should be treated with the samne respect as men. Who could disagree with that?
      Years ago, I took a Women's Studies course at the University of Kentucky. On the first day, the professor asked what we considered feminism to mean. As a class, we finally agreed on this definition -- the belief that women are equal to men and should have equal rights. Then the professor asked how many of us considered ourselves feminists. Out of approximately 25 women and men in the class, I was the only one who raised a hand.
      Why the fear of this three-syllable word? Are we so controlled by what others think that we're afraid of the assumptions people will make if we say we care about the rights of women? What idea was so horrible in feminism that the label can still be seen as a "dirty" word?
      Ultimately, what it comes down to is that you can define yourself with whatever words you like. The important thing is to treat all others with respect, safety, and compassion. To me, that's what feminism is all about.
      And now, a few thoughts from others on the subject...

The feminist agenda is not about equal rights for women. It is about a socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians. --Pat Robertson, 1992

Feminism: n. The movement to win political, economic and social equality for women. --Webster's Dictionary.

When I was a little girl, the men all went fishing and the women cleaned the fish. Feminism to me is when everybody cleans the fish. --Cyndi Lauper

Feminism is the radical notion that women are people. --Bumper sticker

A huge thanks to the Cottonwood County Youth Task Force for sponsoring "Jessie" in October, the ladies of Our Savior Lutheran Church and Teresa Lhotka for their financial donations, an anonymous man for the stuffed animals he brought for the children, and of course to our volunteers. Your support makes such a difference!


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