The TRUE new face of feminism

When Sarah Palin was interviewed by Katie Couric, she eagerly acknowledged she was a feminist. I thought at the time, perhaps she was a bit of a maverick after all, considering what a bad word that is in the Conservative lexicon. Of course she later recanted, and I have wondered ever since, why?

The right-wing media has managed to paint a hideous picture of feminists. Who would really want to call themselves that? Well, I for one. And my very eclectic, smart, and funny female friends. Modern feminism has evolved from its strident roots of the 70s, and some of the loudest critics have not managed to keep up.

I think it’s time to dispel a few myths about feminists in this new century.

1. We don’t hate men. On the contrary. We love the men in our lives, and that includes the conservatives among them. In my circle, the women are not property of nor subservient to the men in our lives. We are treated as equals, making for strong healthy relationships (not perfect, but working on it). The thing we hate is when a man treats us as inferior just because we are female – it still happens a lot.

2. We don’t think men and women are exactly the same. Of course not. We acknowledge not just the physical differences (vive la difference!), but also the differences in the way we think, the way our brains are wired. In general, we are more willing to exhibit our soft emotional sides. But we are tough, too, and can take care of ourselves and those who depend on us. Incidentally, we are women, but we also like to call ourselves girls.

3. You can open a door for us. We are capable of opening our own doors, but we appreciate all courtesies extended to us. And don’t be surprised if we hold the door for you as well.

4. Being feminist does not make us lesbians. Feminists are both straight and gay. Our sexuality is not determined by and cannot be predicted by our feminist viewpoints.

5. We enjoy our femininity. We see no need for the old androgynous look. We like pretty, flattering clothes (sort of like Sarah, but a little less expensive). We shop for fragrant lotions and beauty products. We color our hair and manicure our nails. We invest in (and I mean that in the most literal sense—if you knew the prices!) creams that promise to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Contrary to conventional wisdom, we wear both makeup and bras. Of course, there are variations in the degree to which each of us applies all of this.

6. We may like chintz, but we are not airheads. The women I know can talk easily about slipcovers and hairdressers and then switch to politics, the economy, and current events without missing a beat. Of all my friends, the women are the most well-read and on top of the issues. Conversations with these women exhibit a high level of understanding and caring about what is going on in the world.

7. We don’t back down when it comes to equal treatment. We are strong advocates for women’s rights; that women should receive equal pay for equal work. That girls should have the same opportunities as boys in school for the things that will help them in their educations and in later life. Discrimination is wrong. Period.

8. We are capable of making our own reproductive decisions without the involvement of the government. Yes, that means the right to choose whether or not to be pregnant. But we hate being called pro-abortion—nobody is that! We are, in truth, pro-life in the most literal sense. We have given birth and we treasure that experience. We think abortion should remain legal, but it should be rare and safe, and that birth control should be readily available at a reasonable cost to sexually active women who want it.

And finally, I should add, these are all generalizations and we can’t be pigeon-holed quite so easily. I’m talking about women I know. But even among us, no two of us are exactly alike in how we think. But we have evolved as feminists. We still embrace the principles of equality and access but without compromising our womanhood and femininity.

Join us, Sarah Palin. It’s a great time to be a feminist. And Rush Limbaugh, get over yourself and your stale femi-nazi routine. The only women I can think of who fit that little lie are Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Gayle Ruzicka, and, oh well, you get the idea.