I grant Ms. Watson's point. Still.

[ismnotwasm]

86. No need for an alert

But I do suggest you haven't been paying attention to recent history.

Take the word "feminazi" repopularized by Rush Limbaugh and quickly picked up in the era of "shock jocks" To object to blatant sexism was to be prudish or anti-sex, the dialogue was set up as a lose lose. Feminism countered with a "sex positive" movement, one that is still around, but came to focus more on sex workers.

Feminism is very plastic and is constantly evaluating itself. Read the words of a black feminist who feels white feminism is exclusive, and not helpful for AA women, forces white feminists for whom equality is the very lifeblood of feminism to reevaluate--and not always well--but black feminists have a voice and they are going to use it. This is but one example of many.

Feminists, to accomplish their goals need to be uncomfortable from time to time and we are.

But as far as a reputation? We've been polishing that up a bit. The second wave voices are as powerful as ever, the new feminists stand on their words and sacrifice but the thing is, women WANT equality, they may shy away from "labels" or have a poor understanding of what feminism is.


That "reputation" was the result of Rightwing propaganda assholes, it spread to progressives, because it represents change from a direction that can't be controlled. And that frightens people.