Introduction of Global Women's Studies

Several of my friends have asked if I refer to myself as a feminist. Because I am so very politically involved and I have so many friends who are like minded, many people have inquired of my opinion on feminism and my thoughts on the movement. I am always hesitant to answer this question, and I choose my words carefully. I’ll explain:

I am a conservative, but I follow both liberal and conservative movements in order to gain a broad understanding of the entire political spectrum. To answer the question, I normally reply that I identify as a “conservative feminist”, if there’s even such a thing.  It seems a very paradoxical word to some, but this word seems most appropriate for my personal description.

First of all, I classify myself as a feminist in that I vehemently believe that women should possess equal rights and status as men. Equal pay for equal labor and equal personal respect are some of these rights that I strongly support. However, in my experience, most feminist groups are too radical, at least for me. Reproductive rights, in which “pro-choice” is highly advocated, is often a central principle for feminist groups. Stemming from my religious faith as a Christian and from my own introspective personal beliefs, I fundamentally disagree with this perspective on reproductive rights. Thus, I am a “conservative feminist” in that I support the movement in certain areas, but I definitely do not agree with every motion.

The chapter claims that people tend to possess an extremely inaccurate view of feminism. Unfortunately, considering that the media portrays feminists as “bra-burners” and violent, the assertion that people view feminists in a negative lights seems valid. However, I do agree with the concept that the majority of people agree, at least in part, with the overall goal of feminism. I believe most people would approve of women receiving equal pay for an equal day of labor. I also rest enough faith in humanity that most people consider women as an equal being to a man. As I stated earlier, the media frequently portrays feminism and its affiliates in unflattering manners. These outlets also tend to spotlight a few extremist individuals as well, which reflects poorly on the entire movement. This malpractice of journalism is definitely a factor in the negative perception of feminism, and I sincerely believe that more credible mainstream journalism would produce increasingly just views of feminism among the general public.