Defining Feminism

The following definitions were obtained from A Feminist Dictionary (pg 158 and pg 160 respectively).

Kramarae, C., Treichler, P. (1985). A Feminist Dictionary. London: Pandora Press.    

We have obtained permission from Paula Treichler to re-print this information.

Feminism:

…Is a theory that calls for women’s attainment of social, economic and political rights and opportunities equal to those possessed by men…  

- mistreatment of women; a dialectical opposition to misogyny.

- A belief that the sexes are culturally and not just biologically formed.
 
- An outlook that transcends the accepted value systems of the time by exposing and opposing…prejudice and narrowness; a desire for a truly general conception of humanity.

Feminism has as its goal to give every woman the opportunity of becoming the best that her natural faculties make her capable of.

Feminist:

A person, female or male, whose worldview places the female in the center of life and society and/or who is not prejudiced based on gender or sexual preference. [A feminist is] also anyone who works toward the political, economic, spiritual, sexual and social equality of women.

 Feminist is formed with the word ‘femme’, ‘woman’, and means: someone who fights for women. For many of us this means someone who fights for women as a class…for many others it means someone who fights for women and her defense.