ARE YOU PART OF THE WOMENS’ MOVEMENT?

It seems to me thata lot of people appear to ‘fear’ anything that has to do with womens’ issues. I think what people ‘fear’ or say they dislike are the stereotypes that follow people who support womens’ issues and especially Feminism or Feminists. Some

_ of these stereotypes are, ‘‘All Feminists are man- haters’’. This statement is both false and ridiculous! _T’msure that some people hate men. Certainly, this is not the majority. As far as I’m aware I don’t even know any ‘man-haters’. To put into context just how ridiculous this statement ‘‘all Feminists are man- haters’’ is, it would be the same if someone said ‘‘All jocks are dumb.’’ Both statements are false. What is wrong with these statements? The word ALL.

Another problem people have is grouping. Acommon error is to group everyone who supports womens’ issues under the umbrella of Feminism. There are actually three different movements; the Feminist Movement, Womens’ Movementand the Womens’ Liberation Movement. The three have much in common, butare different. So maybe someone who Supports womens’ issues ‘fears’ saying so because friends will group them and say, ‘‘You’rea Feminist.’’ In order to understand better, we must define what the Womens’ Movement, the Womens’ Liberation Movement and Feminism are:

Feminism is the more political of the three and is generally defined as the advocacy of equal rights and Opportunities for both sexes. Most people now accept Feminism asa historic, endurin g movement that has promoted changes beneficial to society asa whole.The Womens’ Movementisa broad generic grouping covering all issues that affect women and the Womens’ Liberation Movement, which ‘* grew out of leftist politics in the 1960’s’’ isthe obvious one of liberation. (All definitions are taken from the ‘Non-Sexist Word Finder: a dictionary of gender free ‘usage. Rosalie Maggio)

omething that you are probably all thinking now is he same thing a friend of mine said; ‘‘ Well, no, I

Campus Women

don’t hate all feminists, it’s just the radical ones that ruined it for the rest..”’ This is acop-out. I don’t think anything political gets accomplished withouta few radical people. Ex: How long would it have taken the Soviet Union to recognise the now independent states if things continued to go as slowly as Mikhail Gorbachev wanted them to.

In conclusion, just remember, not all people interested in Womens’ issues are Feminists, and not all (or even most) Feminists are man-haters. The next time you put someone or something down because they support Womens’ issues, think, if it wasn’t for these three movements, we wouldn’t have things like education, voting or the ability to voice our opinions today. Many of the things we take for granted have only come aabout because of the Womens’ Movements mentioned in this article.

So when you say you dislike Feminists, what do you dislike? All Feminists, the stereotypical Feminist or are you just grouping people under the word ‘‘ALL’’? If you give it some thought, you may just find that you are actually part of one of the three Womens’ Movements!

Tracy Smith

Quote of the Week: ‘‘ Whether women are better than men I cannot say, butI can say they are certainly no worse’’.

Golda Meir

Attention all those interested ina Women’s Centre on the Campus of UPEI. A committee is being formed to address the situation and your input is definitely needed. If you have any time atall, even just to brainstorm, we need your help. Please contact Dawn at 566-0708 (office), 566-0530 (messages) or 566- 5413 (home. Your time will be most appreciated.

PEI X-Press

September 19, 1991

Page 19