Michele Bachmann Doesn’t Call Their self A Feminist

Michele Bachmann Doesn’t Call Their self A Feminist

I could not need been a lot more annoyed any time Sarah Palin called herself a “feminist.” Icapital t wasn’capital t because I feel a hairy-legged, Prima donna Cup-loving separatist in Berkeley should get to decide what a feminist is. (I am quite sure she would take one look at my mani/pedi and send me back to be able to the gallows for much more pubic hair braiding.) No, it pissed me off due to the fact, while there tend to be some aspects of Palin’s life that actually are rather women's liberationist—she’s the woman in the traditionally male job, she’s any working mom with the mostly-stay-at-home husband, etc. — the lady went co-opting the word “feminism” as if its hers and hers alone. As this clip of Palin appearing on “The O’Reilly Factor” illustrates, your woman uses the term “women's rightist” to suit her needs while at the same time trashing “women’s rights groups ... and those [who] do not empower women.” Oh, thus now you’re telling us what feminism is, lady who believes abortion should be illegal, gays and lesbians shouldn’t marry, and youngsters should be taught abstinence instead of comprehensive sexual health?

Thankfully, the feminists of America need not necessarily worry our pretty little heads about the next arch-conservative swooping in: Michele bachmann has already come right out to say she is not a feminist.

In an interview with The Daily Beast‘s Kirsten Powers (a Fox News analyst), Bachmann declined to be able to call their self a women's liberationist but instead said that the lady is “pro-woman and pro-man.” Bachmann added, “I’m the woman comfortable in her very own skin. I grew up with three brothers. My parents didn’big t see us [as] limited [by gender]. I would mow the lawn and take out the trash; I was making my very own fishing lures. I went along with everything the boys did.”

OK, what does that even mean—“pro-girl and pro-man”? Being pro-lady is women's rightist and guess what, so is being pro-man. Feminism is about empowering both/all genders to be able to be their authentic selves without pressure to conform to scripted roles ... which is exactly her definition of the girl parents not wishing to be able to have their kids “limited” by gender.

Am I arguing Michele bachmann should cop in order to some feminist beliefs? I guess I am, a little bit. By nature of being working mothers and public figures, women like Palin and Bachmann do hold some feminist beliefs — in addition to be able to being against many issues mainstream feminists stand for — and it bothers me anytime anyone eschews a label that I myself wear proudly. I feel it’s detrimental to voice women's liberationist beliefs and not really name them, thus further obscuring what feminism stands for.

For what it’s worth, I partially agree with Los Angeles Times op-ed writer Meghan Daum who says that “if [Palin] has the guts to call their self a women's rightist, then she’s entitled to be able to be accepted as one,” but also partially agree with Feministing.com co-found Jessica Valenti, who wrote “if anyone — even someone who actively fights against women’s rights — can call himself a women's liberationist, the word and the movement lose just about all meaning.” Both are valid points. But I don’big t suppose Bachmann ever will flip-flop on the feminist label like Palin did. Bachmann is a nearly-lifelong evangelical Christian, and many in that faith strongly believe in male headship of the household and lady as helpmate. My instinct is in order to assume your woman breaks that mold by being any politician, but who knows how Bachmann and the woman's husband conduct themselves in their private lives. In any case, the word “women's liberationist” is, generally speaking, an anathema in that culture.

And I suppose it’s just as well the lady keeps her mouth shut on the subject, lest the loud-and-proud women's rightist sect go for Round 2 on the “can conservative women call themselves feminists?” fight.

What do you think, readers? Does it bother you any time uber conservative women call themselves feminists? Or does it bother you any time they don’t capital?