There isn't just one type of feminism, there are a variety of feminist groups including: girlie feminist, third-wave feminist, pro-sex feminist and so on, according to DoSomething.org. All these groups aim to deal with different types of discrimination women, and sometimes men, face.
Hillary Clinton has clinched the Democratic Party's nomination, making her the first female in American history to earn a major political party's nominee. And according to a recent Washington Post/ABC News survey, Republican nominee and opponent, Donald Trump has been losing support over the last month.
Just by getting the nomination, Clinton made history. A look into the future of the possibility of a female-led nation brings up questions of feminism: What is it, and can men be feminists too?
According to some Ball State students and professors — yes, feminism is good for men too.
Courtney Jarrett, an associate director of disability services and faculty advisor of Feminist for Action, said she follows American author, feminist and social activist bell hooks’ definition of feminism.
“Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation and oppression,” Jarrett said. “Feminists believe in equality for everyone.”
Feminism is an ideology and social movement, said Julee Rosser, a women’s and gender studies instructor.
“Feminism is the movement toward equality between women and men," she said. "It arose as a way to attend to the concerns and life experiences of women and girls, who, due to widespread androcentric bias, had long been excluded from knowledge construction both as researchers and research subjects. It looks at gender as one of the most significant foundational pieces of social organization and structure."
So if the nation were to elect its first woman president, is that a step toward a feminist America?
Rosser said feminism is actually more than gender alone.
“Gender is not the only classification that structures social life. Feminism also recognizes the importance of perspectives that come from race, class, age, ability, religion, sexuality and ethnicity,” she said. “In fact, we cannot observe or understand the importance of gender in people’s lives without taking into account how these additional standpoints intersect. This is one reason why it is useful to strive to understand feminism, because in the intersections of these classifications we are better able to understand different social realities.”
There are many misconceptions about feminism, Jarrett said.
"I think the most common one is that feminists are all angry, hairy, man-hating lesbians,” she said. “There are many feminists who are also lesbians, but they are not the only people that identify as feminists. And a majority of the feminists I know are very happy people. Anyone that wants equality for everyone can choose to identify as a feminist and be a part of the movement – it’s that simple.”
Though Clinton herself identifies as a feminist, not all feminists have given her their vote; not all women are voting for Clinton, not all men are voting for Trump. Some argue if Clinton really is a feminist herself.
But according a recent NBC survey, while Trump currently has more male voters backing him, he's not too far ahead. He has 51 percent, with 42 percent of males siding with Clinton.
While siding with Clinton doesn't necessarily make someone a feminist, regardless of their gender, Jarrett said another common misconception is males cannot be feminist at all. She said this isn't true — the student group Feminists for Action has several men as members who identify as feminists.
“Feminism is good for men because feminism is good for everyone. If our society were based on principles of equality, then men could choose to display feminine characteristics without fear of judgment,” Jarrett said. “They could choose to be stay-at-home parents and not be judged by others because it would just be a normal thing. They could see that their friends and family who identify as female would be paid the same as they are and not have to worry about body image because those problems would not exist in a society where everyone is considered equal.”
Dalton Martin, a junior telecommunications major and feminist, said that an issue he faces is judgement from society.
“I know many guys who believe in feminism but do not necessarily call themselves a feminist," Martin said. "They tend to identify as an egalitarian or humanist due to the negative stigma the title of a feminist has gathered. Just like any movement or ideology, there will always be different groups that promote their beliefs differently, whether in a positive or negative light.”
Martin said the reality is, feminism is beneficial for everyone.
“It’s easy to misconceive the message of feminism because, in most cases, it focuses primarily on women’s rights so men do not always see the immediate benefits for them," Martin said. "With feminism, males who portray more feminine qualities do not necessarily have to feel out of place and can start to be accepted by society as a whole. The same goes for females who exhibit masculine traits. Due to feminism, people typically end up growing to be more open-minded and more tolerant, which by all means is a huge plus for all genders.”
Studies suggest feminism and gender equality is good for the economy, people's sex lives and people's general happiness.
Rachael Smith, a women's and gender studies professor, said she couldn't agree more with the studies.
"The economy is improved when people are paid a living wage and are able to spend money," Smith said. "There are more female heads of households in the U.S. than ever before. Yet, women make less money than men. Minimum-wage jobs are not going to provide basic needs for families in today’s economic climate. With wage increases and wage equality, men and women will be able to provide for their families and stimulate the economy with extra spending."
Ultimately, Rosser said feminism is important for America, and the world.
“It is important for men to be included in feminism,” Rosser said. “We recently lost 49 people in Orlando due to another angry man with a gun. Let us connect the dots between violent hyper-masculinity, religious aggression and fear: ... a triangle of destruction. Feminism can help men to increase their awareness in issues related to power in themselves, their relationships and in society.”
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