This is a post that I placed in the "WomenStrength" tribe at tribe.net... If you're interested in reading the complete thread, be warned - wear an asbestos suit... LOTS of flames going on there, and a lot of really angry, militant women (or should I say wymyn) who are pissed off about anyone saying anything negative about feminism...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism
Regarding feminism vs humanism... The following are selected texts from what I found in Wikipedia - the links are above:
"Feminism is a diverse and thoughtful collection of social theories, political movements and moral philosophies, largely motivated by or concerned with the experiences of women. Most feminists are especially concerned with social, political and economic inequality between men and women (in the context of it being to the disadvantage of women); some have argued that gendered and sexed identities, such as "man" and "woman", are socially constructed. Feminists differ over the sources of inequality, how to attain equality, and the extent to which gender and gender-based identities should be questioned and critiqued. In simple terms, feminism is the belief in social, political and economic equality of the sexes, and the movement organised around the belief that gender should not be the pre-determinant factor shaping a person's social identity, or socio-political or economic rights.
"Some feminist theories question basic assumptions about gender, gender difference and sexuality, including the category of "woman" itself as a holistic concept, other theories question the male/female dichotomy completely (offering instead a multiplicity of genders). Still other feminist theories take for granted the concept of "woman" and provide specific analyses and critiques of gender inequality, and most feminist social movements promote women's rights, interests and issues. Several subtypes of feminist ideology have developed over the years. Early feminists and primary feminist movements are often called the first-wave feminists, and feminists after about 1960 the second-wave feminists. More recently, some younger feminists have identified themselves as third-wave feminists while the second-wave feminists are still active.
"Some radical feminists, such as Mary Daly, Charlotte Bunch and Marilyn Frye, have advocated separatism - a complete separation of male and female in society and culture - while others question not only the relationship between men and women, but the very meaning of "man" and "woman" as well (see Queer theory). Some argue that gender roles, gender identity and sexuality are themselves social constructs (see also heteronormativity). For these feminists, feminism is a primary means to human liberation (i.e., the liberation of men as well as women.)"
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"Humanism is a broad category of active ethical philosophies that affirm the dignity and worth of all people, based on the ability to determine right and wrong by appeal to universal human qualities - particularly rationalism. Humanism is a component of a variety of more specific philosophical systems, and is also incorporated into some religious schools of thought.
"Humanism entails a commitment to the search for truth and morality through human means in support of human interests. In focusing on the capacity for self-determination, Humanism rejects transcendental justifications, such as a dependence on faith, the supernatural, or divinely revealed texts. Humanists endorse universal morality based on the commonality of human nature, suggesting that solutions to our social and cultural problems cannot be parochial.
"Some have interpreted Humanism to be a form of speciesism, mostly because of the word itself, but this doesn't appear to be the case. Humanism does exalt human traits, but doesn't necessarily insist that no other species could or do have the same, or that other species have no rights just because they are not human. The term was originally intended to point out the focus on human affairs and concerns as opposed to those of gods; not meant to be taken as opposed to other species. For these reasons, Humanism appears to be neutral with regard to issues of animal rights."
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I don't claim to have a degree in anything (other than my culinary arts degree, which doesn't mean anything in this debate), and I don't claim to understand all the nuances behind either of these movements.
However - It is from the definitions above that I can say I understand a little more about both of them and feel that I can make a comment regarding this thread.
Based upon the definitions above, the following would be my own basic interpretations:
Feminism: The belief that people should not define one's worth by gender, and that gender should not be considered when dealing with others under any circumstance.
Humanism: The belief that people, regardless of gender, should not be defined by gender, monetary, or social worth, but instead by their moral and ethical daily practices which are NOT defined by any church, but instead by inherent morality and human ethics.
So, I suppose, based upon that understanding, I am a humanist, not a feminist. I don't believe that it's only one's gender that should be considered to make one equal, but what they do, on a day-to-day level, which makes them better or worse, and equal with others.
Before you ask - yes, I believe that a female is capable of pretty much anything that a male is capable of doing, if she puts her mind to it. Yes, I believe that people should be receiving equal pay for equal work, and there should be no glass ceiling - regardless of race, creed, gender, or social standing.
HOWEVER, there are things which a male body does inherently better - just as there are things which the female body does inherently better. The human body was created with different strengths and weaknesses, not to single either gender out, but to instead have them work together as a team in order to survive on the most primal level. Evolution has not changed how our bodies have been created, nor will it anytime soon.
I believe that if you want to make a difference, you have to start with yourself, and act the way you want to be treated, assert yourself when you are wronged, stand up for your own rights, and demand that people accept you for who you are. I believe that you should hone your strengths, accept your weaknesses, and learn how to use both to their full advantage in life. I don't believe that working soley upon the feminist side will help everyone in society, and I don't believe that feminism must be accepted before humanism can work.
~M
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2 comments:
I appreciate the link, Kate.
What's you point, exactly? That feminism is a Humanism subset or Humanism derivative, therefore, who needs feminism when you can have the real McCoy, Humanism, which covers the issues of feminism and then some?
That's like saying "we don't need rap music, because the issues raised in rap music were already raised in rock music (which were already addressed in blues music)".
You contrast Humanism to (what you presumably take to be) the subset derivative, feminism, concluding that, since Humanism usurps the concerns of feminism in its overreaching (or so you allege) scope, it therefore covers all the bases.
Some feminists consider themselves Humanists as well as feminists, whereas other feminists feel that Humanism decidedly does not cover all the bases. Feminists who feel the need to be both will claim that Humanism is not as thorough or overarching as it claims to be, and therefore, women still need feminism. To these feminists, feminism performs a kind of "checks and balances" with regards to Humanism.
But I have to ask why you privilege Humanism, and not something else.
To give you an example: You can also contrast feminism to anarchism and conclude that, since anarchism covers the concerns and issues raised by feminism, we should not be feminist, but instead be should be anarchists.
You can do the same with communism, you can argue that the communist revolution will do away with the problems identified and addressed by feminism, therefore, we need not be feminists but should instead be communists.
You can do the same with libertarianism, nationalism, capitalism, even fascism. People who argue that feminists are Nazis, crudely claim that the issues raised by feminism are equal to those of fascists, and that therefore feminists are the equals of fascists. (Far right people like to sloganeer: "Women elected Hitler".)
Xians will claim that Xianity already addresses the concerns of women, therefore we should be Xians, not feminists.
Do you understand what I am trying to say?
You can take any thought-system you can think of, argue that it already addresses the concerns of feminism, and that therefore we don't need feminism.
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