Extremists: Making Feminists a Negative Group

Extremists. The word leaves a foul taste in the mouth. Extremists turned the word “feminist” into a dirty word. Shaming a woman about her belief for equal rights is unacceptable. Grouping all feminists into one group is not just generalizing, but a slap in the face. Every feminist doesn’t hate men or desires a women-only society. 

I believe that women can fight fires or die for their country if they want. I do not, however, believe that tests or requirements should change. Changing the requirements for a job defeats the purpose of allowing men and women to do the same jobs. I’m not denying that there are some activities women are more capable of than men and vice versa. It’s a scientific fact that men usually build more muscle than women do. It doesn’t mean that only men should take jobs involving heavy lifting.

Each woman is different, so why would anyone think that feminists are all the same? Just because I disagree with abortion doesn’t mean that I don’t feel strongly about my right to an equal wage. We have a choice in what we believe, just as we can choose what we want to read. Reading a book with a severely flawed female lead doesn’t mean a woman “fails at feminism.”

An example of this case is the witch Rachel Morgan in Kim Harrison’s Hollow series. She is a bounty hunter/runner. She makes mistakes constantly. She’s a little sex-crazy. She falls into the “woe-is-me” attitude at times, but that doesn’t make her a bad female lead. 

Sometimes someone with a plethora of flaws feels more realistic. Harrison created a cast of characters that are believable because they are flawed. Ivy, for example, is a powerful undead vampire suffering from years of living in a type of hell. She impatient, overprotective and dangerous yet turns into a caring, loving friend. Harrison shows both the glamorous side the public see of being a vampire and the dark side of vampirism. She’s an interesting character because she isn’t perfect. Another example is Hermione Granger who faces insecurities and strives for perfection. She has problems admitting she is wrong. 

Just as each book character is a different, each feminist is different. Our person beliefs and experiences define how we fight for equal rights. Some of us participate in legal protest. Others write columns and blogs.

Unfortunately, extremists ruin our reputation. Say you are a feminist and suddenly people think you are out to get all men. Feminism is not a hatred of men. Extremists forced that notion upon the public.