What is a feminist?

This morning we are hearing media reports that only one in seven women describe themselves as a feminist, according to a Netmums survey. I’m not going to question the methodology of the research, as I know that others are doing this already. I am, however, very concerned about our understanding of the term “feminist”.

My Concise Oxford Dictionary defines feminism as “advocacy of women’s rights on ground of equality of the sexes”, and “equal” as “the same in number, size, value, degree, rank, musical pitch, etc”. Could we agree here that equality of the sexes most likely refers to “value”? Therefore we have a simple dictionary definition of feminism as the campaign for women to be worth as much as men. To be of equal value.

Being pedantic, I don’t want to stop at a dictionary definition, though. Feminism is a collection of movements and ideologies, including political, advocating such equality. Equal value. Erm…if we don’t advocate equal value, what exactly are we accepting? Lesser value? Feminism is also, importantly I think, a school of academic thought based on the premise that we live in a patriarchal society, of which we are products, and the ideas and beliefs of which we have internalised to the extent that we are largely unaware of their power, or even their existence. It’s a way of thinking, and of understanding the world around us and our place in it.

Unfortunately, the term “feminism” has been hijacked and, in common parlance, tends now to refer to the desire to become as powerful as men, in a masculine way, or even more powerful, and often to put men down or to blame them, individually or collectively, for all our problems. Feminists are seen as women who want to be the same as men, who don’t want to be adored, protected and cherished by men, and who don’t wish to appear feminine. Sometimes as women who don’t think they need men. Just look at the gulf between these two ways of understanding this word!

If you’re still not sure, try Caitlin Moran’s definition of feminism for size. I am paraphrasing because I know the Ultimate Blog Challenge wants us to keep posts suitable for general release. Caitlin says, in How to be a Woman, that if you have a female body and if you want to be in charge of it, you are a feminist. Simple.

I am a feminist, but not because I want to be like a man. I don’t; I’m rather interested in feminine energy and doing things in a softer, more intuitive way. I shave my legs; I love it when a man opens a door for me and I am happy to celebrate our differences. If the right man came along, I would be happy to be adored, protected and cherished. But I do want to be conscious of the paternalistic framework in which we operate.

I’m happy to remove hair as long as I stay conscious of society’s pressure to do so and my own internalisation of that pressure. I’m happy to be feminine and girly as long as I’m also aware of the multitude of subtle messages with which we are bombarded all the time, which tell us we are less valuable, less powerful and which objectify us. Those messages which mean Bruce Forsythe is on the telly but Moira Stewart isn’t. The ones that tell me I need to apologise a little more, say thank you a little more and push myself forward a little less.

I don’t care if women want to be a Managing Director or stay at home and have babies. Or both (it’s hard – I’ve done it). I’m happy for them to advocate for “choice” which actually as far as I can see often translates to being incredibly stressed trying to decide the best thing to do in an impossible dilemma. Many women don’t have a choice and they are the ones who need feminism more. In my book, feminism is about value and about gradually escaping from the many, many ways in which we are still controlled. We have an extremely long way to go.

My big concern, today, is that we have no word for this now. If a lot of women want to distance themselves from the word feminist, how are we going to describe the need to have equal value and freedom from control, both overt and invisible? Or does this mean that we are going to accept things just as they are now? Hope not.