FFE believes freedom of expression is especially important for women's rights. While messages reflecting sexism pervade our culture in many forms, sexual and nonsexual, suppression of such material will neither reduce harm to women nor further women's goals. Censorship traditionally has been used to silence women and stifle feminist social change. There is no feminist code about which words and images are dangerous or sexist.
Genuine feminism encourages individuals to choose for themselves.
A free and vigorous marketplace of ideas is the best guarantee of democratic self-government and a feminist future. FFE provides a leading voice opposing state and national legislation that threatens free speech defends the right to free expression in court cases, including those before the Supreme Court supports the rights of artists whose works have beensuppressed or censored provides expert speakers to universities law schools and the media throughout the country. FFE is a founding member of the Rushdie Defense Committee USA and maintains an electrnic forum about censorship through Saturday Review Online, which operates on America Online. The Board of Directors monitors and organizes opposition to mnational, state and local legislation and executive branch orders that establish censorship. The Speakers Network members go to television and radio programs, universities and law schools, and community and professional organizations across the country to speak about feminism and censorship.