I think the problem is in labeling ourselves as feminists. We end up making it a part of our identity instead of a tool to help us achieve our aims. I don’t know about you, but my aim is to end oppression, and I focus on oppression based on gender. Hence why I use feminism as my major tool. That is the only way that an anti-oppression ideology can work, in my view. It must be a tool.
There is a danger in making an identity out of an ideology. It leads to fighting about identities instead of discussing actions. It prevents us from being able to critically examine our theories and praxis and revise them when necessary. It renders our ideology and our actions insufficient, impotent and infertile because we end up missing the needs of those who truly need to be helped.
From A Truly Elegant Mess (via the 5th Carnival of Feminists) (via gauntlet) (via amandaw)
this is why I don’t like identifying as an “ally,” as well. my ally status should be defined by others based on the work I do. but with feminism, because there’s already such a problem with “I’m not a feminist, but…” I feel the need to identify as such.
(via champagnecandy)
For me, feminism is an identity, and ideology, and a set of tools - and I’ll be damned if anyone’s going to take any of that away from me! :)
by Amber Rhea
