Written by Vanessa Nim
If you search the definition of feminism on google it will tell you that feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.” While this definition seems fairly straightforward and well meaning, it is actually horribly problematic and marginalizing to multiple groups.
By defining feminism this way, we assume not only that all men are equal, but that women’s goal is to be treated like (privileged) men.
When women ask to be given the same rights as men, we must ask ourselves which men? Which men do we want the rights of? Because it is blatantly obvious in our society that not all men hold the same rights and privileges as others.
The Black man does not hold the same rights as the White man, nor does the Latino, or the Asian, or the Muslim man; the gay man does not have the same rights as the straight man; the trans man does not have the same rights as the cis man; and the disabled man does not have the same rights as the able-bodied man.
Our current and standard definition of feminism neglects the fact that men, too, are subject to intersectionality, and their identities exist at many of the same intersecting corners as our own. If we consider this when asking ourselves “Which men do we want the rights of?” it’s painfully clear that we want the rights of the privileged man.
By extension, then, this definition also lacks the intersectionality of womanhood and harms and excludes marginalized women, as well, because, the rights of privileged men are significantly more likely to be gained by privileged women. This means that the most privileged women – i.e. the white, cis, straight, able-bodied women – are realistically the only ones to gain rights under this definition of feminism.
Under this definition of feminism, woman and man are lumped together as two separate and easily definable categories. Under this definition, we assume that women’s goal is to be treated like (privileged) men.
Of course, most feminists do not agree with this goal which is why this definition needs to be reconsidered and rethought. The current definition of feminism as the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men” is not good enough and does not give justice to the goals of the movement. As feminists, we need to create and agree on a definition that clearly defines feminism as the intersectional and radical political movement that it is.
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