Modern Feminism

The idea that Con promotes appears to be: Real feminism, which is about equality between the genders, is superior to modern feminism, which is about promoting women over men.I disagree.WHAT IS MODERN FEMINISM?Con: "Modern feminists (Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, etc.) support pushing for women to not only be equal but actually have MORE rights and privileges than men."Hillary Clinton seems to like equality:"Equal pay is not yet equal. A woman makes 77 cents on a dollar and women of color make 67 cents... We feel so passionately about this because we are not only running for office, but we each, in our own way, have lived it. We have seen it. We have understood the pain and the injustice that has come because of race, because of gender. And it's imperative that... we make it very clear that each of us will address these issues." -- Hillary Clinton [9]And Michelle Obama doesn't seem to support Pro's statement:“No country can ever truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contributions of half of its citizens. .... Leadership is about creating new traditions that honor the dignity and humanity of every individual. Leadership is about empowering all of our people— men, women, boys and girls,” she said. “When we commit to that kind of leadership across the globe, that is when we truly start making progress on girls’ education.” -- Michelle Obama [10]Are these isolated viewpoints in modern feminism? No. The following are all quotes by feminists living today or within the past 5 years:"In my heart, I think a woman has two choices: either she's a feminist or a masochist." -- Gloria Steinem [4]“A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.” -- Gloria Steinem [1]"I always get asked, "Where do you get your confidence?" I think people are well meaning, but it's pretty insulting. Because what it means to me is, "You, Mindy Kaling, have all the trappings of a very marginalized person. You're not skinny, you're not white, you're a woman. Why on earth would you feel like you're worth anything?"" -- Mindy Kaling [2]“Feminism is the radical notion that women are human beings.” -- Cheris Kramarae [3]"We've chosen the path to equality, don't let them turn us around." -- Geraldine Ferraro [4]"People think at the end of the day that a man is the only answer [to fulfillment]. Actually a job is better for me." -- Princess Diana [4]"We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back." -- Malala Yousafzai [6]"We still live in a world in which a significant fraction of people, including women, believe that a woman belongs and wants to belong exclusively in the home." -- Rosalyn Sussman [4]“Equality is not a concept. It's not something we should be striving for. It's a necessity. Equality is like gravity. We need it to stand on this earth as men and women, and the misogyny that is in every culture is not a true part of the human condition. It is life out of balance, and that imbalance is sucking something out of the soul of every man and woman who's confronted with it. We need equality. Kinda now.” -- Joss Whedon [5]"Feminism is not a dirty word. It does not mean that you hate men. It does not mena you hate girls that have nice legs and a tan, and it does not mean that you are a bitch or a dyke, it means that you believe in equality." -- Kate Nash [6]"Feminism has fought no wars. It has killed no opponents. It has set up no concentration camps, starved no enemies, practiced no cruelties. Its battles have been for education, for the vote, for better working conditions…for safety on the streets…for child care, for social welfare…for rape crisis centers, women’s refuges, reforms in the law. If someone says, “Oh, I’m not a feminist,” I ask, “Why, what’s your problem?”" -- Dale Splender [7]"I guess I am a modern-day feminist. I do believe in equality. Why do you have to choose what type of woman you are? Why do you have to label yourself anything?" -- BeyonceClearly, many major voices within modern feminism have loudly supported equality.WHAT IS "TRUE" FEMINISM?Con: "The real feminists (Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann, etc.) are the women that want EQUAL treatment, rights, abilities, and opportunities."I'll agree that Sarah Palin broadly agrees with feminism.However, consider how close she comes to the quotes I've presented above:"I'm a feminist who believes in equal rights and I believe that women certainly today have every opportunity that a man has to succeed, and to try to do it all, anyway. And I'm very, very thankful that I've been brought up in a family where gender hasn't been an issue." -- Sarah Palin [12]It seems clear to me that "modern" feminism and "true" feminism are very likely one and the same.On the other hand, Michelle Bachmann seems somewhat against feminism:"I rise today in opposition to this bill [creating a bipartisan commission to study the idea of putting a women’s history museum on the National Mall] because I believe ultimately this museum that will be built on the National Mall, on federal land, will enshrine the radical feminist movement that stands against the pro-life movement, the pro-family movement and the pro-traditional-marriage movement." -- Michelle Bachmann [12]Michelle Bachmann's viewpoint appears to be closer to that of Con: That feminism today seeks bad goals.SUMMARYSimply because there are some feminists who support female supremacy, does not mean that the whole of feminism (or even modern feminism) is invalid. Ultimately, "modern" feminism is fundamentally the same as "true" feminism. Back in the 70's, there were similar feminist extremists; neither then nor now are they a majority or influential. In the same way that all movements have bad apples, feminism has problematic members. Just because the civil rights movement had black supremacists and violent protesters does not mean civil rights was wrong. Again, we must look at feminism as a whole. And as a whole, feminism today continues to support the goals of equality between the sexes.[1] http://www.goodreads.com...[2] http://www.huffingtonpost.com...[3] http://www.goodreads.com...[4] http://www.feminist.com...[5] http://www.goodreads.com...[6] http://www.buzzfeed.com...[7] http://www.feministpeacenetwork.org...[8] http://mic.com...[9] http://www.huffingtonpost.com...[10] http://www.pbs.org...[11] http://www.bostonherald.com...[12] http://www.usnews.com...