This Is What A Feminist Looks Like

It's not every day Ms. puts a man on its cover.

In choosing the cover for this special Inaugural issue, Ms. wanted to capture both the national and feminist mood of high expectations and hope as the 44th President of the United States takes the oath of office.

Expectations have only grown since the election, with President-Elect Obama now enjoying over 80% of the public's support. Most people wish him well, and indeed hope he does "save" us from economic disasters, unending war and occupation, global warming, the decline in our international reputation, and relentless attacks on women's rights, civil rights, human rights, science, privacy...the list goes on.

When the chair of the Feminist Majority Foundation board, Peg Yorkin, and I met Barack Obama, he immediately offered "I am a feminist." And better yet, he ran on the strongest platform for women's rights of any major party in American history. Feminist Karen Kornbluh, the platform's principle author, ensured women's rights, opportunities, advancement, and issues were addressed throughout the historic document.

Never has it been easy fighting for equality and social justice. The politics of Washington, our nation, and our world are tough. We have spent far too many years fighting to hold the ground we had already gained. Now is the time to move forward. We are in one of those rare transformational times in history.

But we are not giving President-Elect Obama a blank check. For our hopes to be achieved, we must speak out and organize, organize, organize to enable our new president's team to achieve our common goals. Ultimately, we must hold our leaders' feet to the fire or, to put it more positively, uplift them when they are caught in the crosscurrents of competing interests.

Now is our time to think big. We cannot settle for less...too many women's lives, too many people's lives, depend on it.

In this spirit, the Editors of Ms. magazine asked our readers, feminist leaders, experts, and activists to share their visions of what must be done to move forward at this extraordinary time. In the current issue of Ms., read their visions for change and add yours.

Eleanor Smeal is president of the Feminist Majority Foundation and publisher of Ms. magazine.

Comments

[provgrays]

There is no "Feminism".

There are only differing factions fighting over who owns "Feminism" and the various cottage industries that derive their livings from any particular brand of "Feminism".

Camille Paglia said;

"Feminism has betrayed women, alienated men and women and replaced dialogue with political correctness. PC feminism has boxed women in. The idea that feminism, that liberation from domestic prison is going to bring happiness is just wrong. Women have advanced a great deal but they are no happier."

[GhostwriterDoF]

Poppycock! There have been no betrayals by Feminism. And they didn’t alienate men. They demanded respect and intimidated weak men. What’s wrong with that?

Women weren’t prepared for liberation, and lost their Identities and their Unity of Sisterhood in their new-found freedoms. They made the mistake of believing that once women reached positions of authority, all women would be handed Equality.

Instead, those women who rose to positions of influence closed the doors of opportunity behind them and celebrated themselves as the Elite.

Feminism was a banner borne by women in the fight for Equality. Though not all women are Feminists, they do fight for the Equal Rights of all women. It’s time to pick up that banner again.

[provgrays]

Of course women should be equal and they should have equality in every phase of life. My point was that feminism is a brand to be haggled over and exploited instead of it being a true quest for equality.

One brand of feminism advocates against men as a gender and wants nothing to do with them. A professor named Mary Brady threw male students out of her class at a public university and claimed that their very presence created a "hostile" classroom environment. This is just one example of the often divisive use of "Feminism". It divides, alienates and scapegoats the 49 percent of the world's population that happens to be male.

Equality is a human question, not a female one. The Paglia quote I used was offered to suggest the divisive effect that the war over feminism has created.

[janeinmia]

Camille Paglia? Oh please. Why don't you just quote Ann Coulter?

It's true that there are as many feminisms as there are feminists -- but isn't that true of any forward thinking group of people? In my own little world of feminism, Barack Obama should be celebrated on the cover of Ms. How can we make the world better for women if men aren't feminists?

[provgrays]

I don't agree with everything Camille Paglia says, but she pays no heed to the PC niceties which choke off any honest debate.

On what grounds to you dismiss her so quickly? If you're going to trash someone, make your case before doing so.

[Billie]

Great cover Ms! It immediately conveys that feminism is not just represented by women. Which is why I really dislike the word "feminism." I am one, but the term is so dated. It sounds like no men are allowed. Are there masculinists? I think we need to come up with a better 21st century name for the movement so it has a wider appeal.

[historymatters]

How about universalist? We are all in this together, we all have the same fundamental human rights, we are all bound to this planet, this ecosystem, this unique world that abounds with life in a mutually interdependent, inextricable web. We can not live without one another, can not live in a vacuum, can not destroy others without also destroying ourselves. When people can finally look beyond their own parochial interests and embrace the totality of existence, when we can look holistically at our problems and understand that the solutions can ripple throughout our world to make life better for every person (and every living thing), then we will be able to say we are universalists. To me, that is what feminism has tried to achieve, but unfortunately, what used to be called the "women's liberation movement" has been too bound up by gender politics and the culture wars that have plagued us since the 1960s. Now it's time to make use of the lessons of the past, but look steadily forward.

[delphi]

Unfortunately the term Universalist has religious connotations for me, as in Uniiversalist Unitarian, those folks who were trying to be inclusive of all religious deities but who ultmately did believe in a god or higher power.

I suggest Complementarians. The meaning comes from Ivan Illich who wrote about the separate but necessary equality of the respective roles of both females and males.

[SonofLiberty1]

Forget Abortion period.
Give support to those women who do get pregnant
and who aren't really ready to be mothers. Give them support
and jobs.

End the war against Christians, Catholics & God.

Make war on idiot guys who get their girlfriends pregnant
and skip out on their responsibility.

[Aaror]

Are you sure you are Pro-life???
Seriously, giving support to pregnant women, jobs?
My view of Pro-life has always been defined by the Catholic church which shunned my wife (when whe was single-before I met her) for chosing to keep her baby.

[j.gold]

Sound like you want to forget birth control too.

There is no "war against Christians, Catholics & God" You keep your religious laws away from me and I will keep mine away from you.

True separation of church and state, the only way it will work!

[GhostwriterDoF]

I have heard this rumor, that there is a Feminist movement. Where is it?

The kind of change you’re talking about is seeded in the minds and hearts of the children of today so they may bear the fruits of your high expectations and pass them on to future generations. But you should know this, you are women.

Where are the role models to shape the minds of our impressionable youth? What imagery do we fortify the building of their character with? What are we telling them by focusing on personalities like Britney Spears, Hanna Montana, Reality television or glamorous movie Stars? How are women depicted in the media in general?

Why don’t we ever see the dedicated professional everyday-women to whom you refer in your article being celebrated? Who do you think is controlling the imagery behind the magazines and media, or the aggressive advertising that sells feminism in a bottle, a cosmetic womanhood competing with an airbrushed reality? Why do think so many women in this country feel inadequate just looking in the mirror?

Where is the legislation for equality from the women that are in influential positions? Where are the opportunities from women that have made it in business? Where are the marches for things that matter?

[gemcando06]

The movement is still here. We don't make enough noise is all.

[SammyD]

I was surprised this publication was still around. Agree with you that role models for young women today are lacking. The real woman's movement died a few years back. I think this was evident in the election when Clinton and Palin were both attacked by the media in ways men were not. Whether you believed in either candidate or not, that was not the issue. Not a single woman's organization defended the women againt the media prejudice I was mortified at how far backwards we have gone as women. I can not identify at all with this ridiculous cover.

[Simone]

Thanks, Ellie, for the great cover.

[teacheng]

Great cover, Ms.

[Dukedraven]

I'm sure Obama will be a strong feminist. He often brings up his hopes for his daughters in his speeches and he has a strong, bright woman at his side. And Hillary as Madame Secretary will back him up.

[PNK]

Nice chest! Here's me hoping he actually posed for this photo, heh heh

About as good as the "George" mag cover with Cindy Crawford posed as Geo. Washington.

GObama and GoGals!

[OmegaZ]

Feminism: the radical notion that women are people.

[floatinginspace]

And Feminism: the radical notion that people can be pro-women.

[DJE12857]

FEMINISM: THANK GOD BARACK OBAMA WON OR IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SET BACK 100 YEARS BY GOV. YOU BET YA! WINK WINK

[WilliePilgrim]

Nice perspective. That image seems to me to say that reality will be asking all of us to put aside some of our most fervently held positions in the interest of bringing about the change. That may be tougher than some might expect based on some of the other comments here.

[roshni]

Kudos to Ms for realizing that men can be more pro-woman in their policy than certain women. Very appropriate choice and I look forward to great things from Obama in the womens' rights area.

[fulanita]

The fact that men can be more feminist is not a revelation. Feminism, especially at FMF, has always preached this. A woman candidate is not necessarily a woman's candidate.

[roshni]

It may not be a revelation but a lot of people have a hard time understanding it.
I applaud Ms for doing so.

[cylindar]

You need to get rid of the term "Feminist", as it is outdated and does not convey an egalitarian approach. If you are not egalitarian in today's world you are dead and buried.

[ThomasMc]

I hope the feminists aren't as utterly disappointed by Obama as the gays are...

[truthskr]

I am both a proud lesbian and a feminist, and I've never been so hopeful in all of my 34 years. Obama has my full support and enthusiasm. Sure, he has, and will, make a few poor choices, or say the wrong thing, where both gay and women's rights are concerned, but I have no doubt he will live up to much if not all of the potential and expectation that both the gay and feminist communities have assigned to both him and his administration.

Besides, any possible Obama missteps still beats the McCain option, the one in which he would have seen to it that both gay and women's right were set back about 50 years - or, as I'm sure McCain remembers it, the "good old days" of his youth.

[roshni]

This feminist is not.

[MrsPeel]

I grow weary of your absurd comments about Obama. At least as far back as July, you didn't like or trust him. You prefer Michelle to Barack. Bummer she wasn't the candidate, nor was your fave, Mike Gravel.

In one of your comments you referred to "The View" as a "hen house." Yah, sure, you care about "the feminists" (and "the gays").

I'm hardly Little Mary Sunshine, but do you ever say anything with warmth, good-willed humour, or appreciation?

[trixtah]

Well, I'm not disappointed by Obama, and I'm as queer as queer can be. It's disappointing that US presidents feel the need to talk to their special invisible friends when they get inaugurated, but as to who facilitates that quaint ritual, I certainly don't care.

Also, haven't you seen the news? The GAY bishop will be spreading his gay prayer cooties all over Rick Warren first. Couldn't happen to a better guy.

[JEP57]

Eleanor, I hope you also celebrated a victory for feminism when George Bush appointed Condoleeza Rice to one of the most prestigious posts in American government, the Secretary of State. By the way, Obama can't "save" us from anything. He's not a saviour.

[erinker]

Condaleeza Rice was not the first female Secretary of State. That honor belongs to Madeline Albright. So Ms. Rice's appointment was important, but in no way groundbreaking.

[truthskr]

Exactly. And Madeleine Albright, whose father was one of Rice's favorite professors at DU, has said publicly something along the lines of she's not sure what Rice learned from her father, but that he would be very disappointed in his former student.

Rice, having spent years promoting the GW Bush agenda, one which included both a culture war as well as an actual illegal war in which hundreds of thousands have subsequently died, is neither a feminist nor a humanitarian.

[roshni]

Now Albright I celebrate!

[roshni]

Condoleeza Rice was a sellout who sold Bush's lies to the world. No reason to celebrate her.

[rigormrtis]

Way to throw a sister under the bus. Sounds like "either for us or against us". No room for diversity in feminism, it seems.

[Docbcs]

It's very hard for me to acknowledge the President-elect as a feminist when neither he nor his campaign organization said a word about the outrageous media sexism that went down, and has been documented, during the primary campaign.

[lingonberry]

True, but considering who we had to pick from on Election Day, you have to admit you are relived yes? It is still laughable to say that Palin would be a qualified v-p. She though Africa was a country for crying out loud! Hillary was a very strong contender, but in the end I don't like the thought that the past 20 years would have been ruled by the same two families. Obama and Biden are strong on women's issues, and were the only ones to take a stance on Equal pay for Equal work. Also, Biden has years of Women's Rights legislation in the Senate. I couldn't be happier.

[rjmiller]

Nor did he address media racism, but I don't think I'm going to start calling him a racist. The guy was walking on pretty thin ice for a year, cut him some slack.

[annis]

This is your very skewed opinion.

Here is a man who has shown the utmost respect and regard for his mother, his grandmother, his wife, and the cherishing and concern for his two daughters and their future. This is where attitudes towards women begin and are shown - with those closest; with one's own family.

His closest advisers include many women - more than I personally can remember on staff. He nominated the woman towards whom, I think, your charged is directed as regards "media sexism," to a seriously responsible office when none would have predicted this.
In this complicated and changing time women are more discussed in terms of their character, their traits, and their professionalism than at any other time in media-laced history - and before.

I think you should be celebrating where we have come now.

[roshni]

Obama clearly shows he respects and is comfortable around strong women.
I certainly celebrate him.

[truthskr]

With regards to the candidate you are undoubtedly referencing and the victim of sexism, it should be know that she's no great feminist, despite her gender. Yes, her historic candidacy, which I vehemently supported until her campaign drove itself into the gutter, was a great step forward for women in public office, but that was actually an aspect that was very much downplayed by the campaign itself. To be the candidate whose candidacy was both owned and operated by corporate American is hardly the perspective from which any politician can promote a truly progressive, feminist agenda.

[erinker]

And Clinton didn't say much about the media racism that went down, that doesn't mean she is a racist. Both were trying to win an election and let's face it: is it really fair to hold them accountable for what the media says? Come on. They should be accountable for their own campaigns and nothing else.

[roshni]

Excellent post.

[JulieSA]

There wasn't any media racism, but there was a lot of media sexism. Focus on the female candidates' hair, clothes, cleavage, and ability to mother were all sexist.