No, You’re Not a Feminist

Posted on | May 12, 2013 | 12 Comments

Two years ago, I got in a long argument with my friend Little Miss Attila about feminism, specifically her claim that there is such a thing as “conservative feminism,” which I countered by citing the history of modern feminism from Betty Friedan to Susan Brownmiller as demonstrating that feminism always was a movement of the radical Left. And it still is, as can be seen by the ways in which feminists habitually align themselves in solidarity with other so-called “progressive” movement radicals. Consider this example, which I found in an article highlighted in the “Top Stories” feature of the blog Feministing:

Welcome to the very first post in Feministing’s new sex advice/education column! I’m Elliott, a poly queer kinky trans POC community organizer and radical sex educator. I’ve been educating folks on how to safely and consensually let their freak flags fly for 10 years. I’ve been a peer educator through Planned Parenthood’s ”Reach One Teach One” program, worked at the Sexual Offense Prevention Policy Offices of Antioch College, was a founding member of the Sex E Collective at the New School, and peddled sex toys at the feminist and queer-owned stores Smitten Kitten and Babeland.
I believe that having hot, safe(r), and consensual sex is a vital tool in reclaiming our bodies and giving patriarchy and misogyny a big old kick in the pants, as well as a potential tool for self-care and healing. I always approach this work from a body-positive, sex-positive, queer-positive, trans-positive, anti-oppressive lens . . . My framework is one that supports for all survivors of sexual assault and abuse, as well as one that stands in solidarity with folks who participate in sex work. I strongly oppose slut-shaming and victim-blaming, and want this to be a space where everyone feels comfortable bringing any and all questions.

Anyone can read that and see that there is nothing “mainstream” about it and certainly it does not reflect a conservative viewpoint. It’s about movement solidarity, and so there is the obligatory rainbow-flag-waving “poly queer kinky trans” identification, the citation of credentials that include working for Planned Parenthood, and the ritual denunciation of patriarchy and misogyny.

This is a declaration of the Left’s position on sex, offered by a self-described “radical sex educator,” and featured as a Top Story at Feministing. You cannot be a feminist if you don’t share that perspective, because the editors of Feministing do not tolerate dissent, as made clear by their comments policy:

What isn’t tolerated (and if you’re unsure, err on the side of caution):
– Blaming the victim
– Fat-shaming
– Racist, sexist, ageist, transphobic, sizeist, ableist, homophobic commentary
– Plain malice (i.e.: comments that don’t further the dialogue, but instead just harshly imply to writer that they need to educate themselves or that they are stupid) and personal attacks. Even if most of your comment is constructive, if the last line is “so thanks for that, asshole” we will probably not post it.
– Dismissal, silencing (ie: anything along lines of “Ehh, i don’t think that matters too much” or “This isn’t an issue”)
– Questioning the feminist validity of a topic or post (ie: Why do you care about this? You should really care about x, y, z because its more important)
– Derailing: Anything way off topic or leads the discussion in a completely different and unproductive from the original post

Now suppose, for example, that you think prostitution is a bad thing. YOU CANNOT BE A FEMINIST, because Feministing’s “poly queer kinky trans” radical sex columnist Elliott Fukui advocates “solidarity with folks who participate in sex work,” and disagreement would probably be considered “questioning the feminist validity” of that viewpoint. Therefore, no criticism of prostitution at Feministing.

This is what those who allege the existence of “conservative feminism” as a meaningful category fail to grasp: The Left created feminism, the Left defines what feminism is and what feminists believe, and the Left is not seeking conservative input. Conservatives are an enemy that the Left intends to destroy, and feminists are the Left’s allies in that cultural and political war of elimination.

Oh, and just in case you were wondering what “poly queer kinky trans” radical sex educator Elliott Fukui chose as the topic of his first Feministing sex column, here’s a couple of hints:

Lubrication is going to be your best friend throughout this process. . . .
Once you have penetrated to the base of your hand . . .

Maybe you want to read the whole thing. Or maybe you don’t.

But remember: “Questioning the feminist validity” is not permitted at Feministing. Here, however, it’s still National Offend a Feminist Week, so maybe someone can explain why feminism requires lubrication.

Category: National Offend a Feminist Week, Sex

Comments

12 Responses to “No, You’re Not a Feminist”

instapundit
May 12th, 2013 @ 9:35 pm

RT @smitty_one_each: TOM No, You’re Not a Feminist http://t.co/5HrDpjHNK9 #TCOT
Mike G.
May 12th, 2013 @ 9:39 pm

And people wonder why this country is going to hell in a hand basket.
gvanderleun
May 12th, 2013 @ 10:45 pm

Please don’t say “hand basket” just now, okay?
Mike G.
May 12th, 2013 @ 10:49 pm

Thoughtless of me. 😉
Adjoran
May 13th, 2013 @ 12:18 am

The feminists used trickery to convince many normal women that they, too, were “feminists” in the 1970s and since. The basic drill was questioning – are you for equal rights? equal pay for equal work? Then you ARE a feminist!

Of course it was always nonsense, but American women have been nonsense’s best customer since the Patience Worth writing craze. For instance, their embrace of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
robertstacymccain
May 13th, 2013 @ 12:55 am

There are three factors to the “trickery”:

1. NEW! IMPROVED! PROGRESS! — Convince Americans that X is “modern” and Y is “old-fashioned,” and they’ll go for X every time. Therefore, if it is “modern” to be a feminist, then people will buy feminism as a product.

2. EQUALITY — This is one of those “glittering generalities” that don’t really describe anything, but which everyone is supposed to be in favor of. What, exactly, do we mean by “equality,” and what are the alternatives? How does “equality” work out as a matter of public policy, and what are the costs of imposing equality on a society where inequality would otherwise exist? You never get much intelligent discussions from feminists on this because …

3. ‘THE PERSONAL IS POLITICAL’ — Feminists routinely offer subjective feelings and personal anecdotes as pseudo-arguments on behalf of public policies that they refuse to discuss rationally. Tales of petty grievances (“somebody at work called me fatso” or “my last relationship ended badly”) are told to justify attacks on the Oppressive Patriarchy that supposedly accounts for all unhappiness among women. What is acceptable as “evidence” on behalf of feminism is a very low threshold, whereas evidence against feminism … well, they do not believe such evidence could possibly exist. All opposition is classified as “hate” or “misogyny.” It’s like trying to persuade a Marxist of the benefits of free-market capitalism — their ideology holds that the existence of any such benefits is impossible.
K-Bob
May 13th, 2013 @ 5:03 am

Ah, geez. This part of the ride is where I get off. I’ll come back when the cartoons are over.
Good Stuff
May 13th, 2013 @ 6:15 am

Lubrication is going to be your best friend throughout this process. .
Kevin Trainor Jr.
May 13th, 2013 @ 7:12 am

Kevin Trainor Jr. liked this on Facebook.
Mike G.
May 13th, 2013 @ 9:46 am

Feminism should more appropriately be called “She-Manism” because real
feminists are really just trying to prove that they don’t need a man,
that in essence the world would be a lot better off if men were
obliterated from the face of the earth. Good luck with that ladies! With
out men, how will y’all propagate the species? You have to have a
certain something to put in the turkey baster. IYKWIM
ThomasD
May 13th, 2013 @ 10:40 am

Do not forget that, while feminists decry the ‘patriarchy’ they are by no means matriarchal either. Such a role being far too conformist and implying that marriage is a sacred institution of one man, one woman, with distinctive roles.

And we cannot even call this gynarchy, because fiddly parts simply do not matter. Feminism has never been about individual liberty. It always has been, and always will be about group identity, and is therefore firmly (heh) on the left.
RantMan
May 14th, 2013 @ 9:24 am

Two years ago, I got in a long argument with my friend Little Miss Attila about feminism, specifically her claim that there is such a thing as “conservative feminism,” which I countered by citing the history of modern feminism from Betty Friedan to Susan Brownmiller as demonstrating that feminism always was a movement of the radical Left.

Finally! Someone else believes like I do. Yes, the Femi-Nazi’s are a leftist bunch. Even though some are in the Republican Party.

Just sayin’….