The Stigma of Feminism

When we were initially assigned feminist articles to read, my reaction was...annoyance? That's pretty disturbing for someone who self-discloses as a liberal female. It was troubling me that i was so repelled by a movement I know essentially nothing about. granted, i earnestly tried to read the assigned articles with an open mind...but my preconceived notions undoubtably got in the way.
Is the feminist perspective for me? (haha- do I "agree?") I don't know yet. However, I came away tonight with more respect for feminists, as well as sympathy for the profound stigma our society has for them. I mean, until now, I never "knew" anyone in the feminist movement and read only very brief textbook footnotes about their ideas and contributions. I knew the ERA didn't pass. Women grew out their arm hair and shaved their heads. They yelled about PC-ness. Bras were burned. Unlike other protesters in other movements, I never felt the romanticized revolutionary spirit that the civil rights movement evokes for me.

If I never learned any primary-source information, where did these negative impressions come from?

Since i didn't know, i had to challenge them. Now, I look at those "radical" statements and appreciate the fact that I'm hired based on my knowledge and not my typespeed. I don't have to wear a dress to school- or anywhere i don't want to. For women now in their 60s- that wasn't the case when they graduated. This is alarmingly recent history!

The ERA didn't pass, and women were so outraged (rightfully so) that they earned an exaggerated reputation of being "bitchy." My repugnance for the term "feminist" is ingrained in my desire not to be seen as bitchy- in my need to be perceived as feminine so that i'm desirable, perhaps another consequence of imposed gender roles. Feminists have to fight against the fact that their affiliation- the very term "feminist"- has become a dirty word in this country. Well, people who challenge the status quo- women who remind me to be critically aware that I am, at times, oppressed due to my gender- are "irritating" because they expose those uncomfortable truths. They force us to acknowledge that we are not all treated equally and that many women are complicit...and these women do not want to be reminded of that...I guess I should say "we" instead of "these women..."

What incredible courage it takes to persits while being constantly written off before your words are heard or read. Hooray- now there is one more woman who will listen. I may not "agree" with everything a "feminist" author writes- but I will expect and allow myself to agree with some things, too.