This past fall semester I took the course Introduction to Women’s Studies. When I told friends about this course, many facetiously asked if I was actually taking a class about crazy, men hating women who refuse to wear bras, don’t shave their legs, and want to rule over men. Each time, the misconceptions about feminism astonished me, perhaps because I grew up in a staunchly pro-feminist home. Recently, I have noticed questions about feminism resurfacing – whether in the context of birth control and halakha, concern for the future of GPATS and women’s Torah learning, or even the issue of changing the title of The Observer. Many of these questions stem from a deep-rooted fear within our community of being labeled a feminist.
Whenever I hear a friend begin the familiar statement, “well, I’m not a feminist, but…” I’d like to ask them if they stand for equal opportunity and equal pay. If they value the respect they are given in society as women. Because that is what the core of feminism means to me – and in that definition, every woman in modern society is a feminist. But clearly the label “feminism” is more complicated than that. My Introduction to Women’s Studies course was a fascinating microcosm of the vast spectrum of opinions regarding feminism at Stern College. We discussed the importance of distilling a hot-button word into a definition that fits with each of our differing approaches.
“Feminism” is a term that gets bandied around quite a bit, often with negative connotations. But why is there so much negativity? To me, “feminism” encompasses the desire to have equal opportunities for women in the legislative realm as well as the workplace. Feminism means the right to equal pay at work, equal opportunities for jobs, and promoting women in positions of power.
Feminism means that women have the right to decide what they want to do with their bodies and for our legislators to enact laws to protect this right as well, in addition to laws that protect against sexual assault. Of course, feminism means a lot more than this – it is a complex and diverse a movement that cannot truly be boiled down to a few sentences.
However, the label of “feminist” is so scary for many women (and men), especially in our Yeshiva University community. In fact, for our final assessment in Women’s Studies this past semester, each student had four minutes to speak freely about how she defined feminism and whether or not she considers herself a feminist. Some of my classmates spoke about their fear of being labeled a feminist, as they found labels inhibiting. Others commented on the tension between feminism and their Jewish values. While I certainly respect those who choose not to call themselves feminists, many of those students still endorsed the fundamental tenets of feminism, such as equal opportunities and rights. These students instead wanted to be called “equalists” or other such terms, often to distance themselves from the tainted label of feminist.
I’d like to suggest something about labels. In the Orthodox community, we have a huge range of labels. While labels can certainly be a useful way of aligning oneself with a certain hashkafa, I wonder if labels have become essentially meaningless because there are so many. We put so much emphasis on labels – I have heard many fellow Stern students adamantly define themselves as “Orthodox,” instead of “Modern Orthodox” and so on. Most of us choose a label to identify ourselves with a certain group or way of thinking, and I am not advocating that we abandon this. Labels are important to our identities, though we may disagree with individual aspects of the label we choose. When I choose a label, I am aligning myself with a group despite the elements I may disagree with because I think the term itself holds significance.
I think the same is true with feminism. Like any label, “feminist” is a chosen belief system, a hashkafa, through which one views the world. For me, feminism means proudly embracing the label itself because of the pride I feel in being a woman who wants equal opportunities. Those who say, “I’m not a feminist, but…” do see the importance of feminist campaigns, but are afraid of aligning themselves whole-heartedly with the label. As with any label, with “feminist” you are buying the system in its entirety and that includes its pros and cons. I accept the label of “feminist” despite the negative associations of the bra burning, man haters because I think the value of global equal opportunities for women is worth defending.
So why do we pass judgment on students who willingly embrace this label? What is it about being a “feminist” that is so scary, especially in the Yeshiva University community?
Often it boils down to a fear associated with feminism and Orthodoxy, as though the two are mutually exclusive. While there is room to argue about the role of women within the realm of religious ritual or halakhic decisions, one can certainly be an Orthodox feminist. She (or he) can be a person who cares deeply about women’s opportunities in society at large and be a committed member of the Orthodox community.
The trepidation regarding feminism is unnecessary, even detrimental. This fear of feminism is detrimental because it inhibits change. It prevents the advancement of women’s Torah learning or communal leadership because we are afraid this might be seen as “feminist.” When the label that represents equal opportunities for women has these negative associations, it affects the position of women in our communities. Women may be barred from pursuing their goals because of the fear that they have a feminist agenda. As such, at Yeshiva University, we should foster an environment that respects students’ beliefs and the myriad of labels they endorse, including feminism. Not everyone has to be a feminist, but respecting and valuing other systems of belief is of utmost importance.
Let us make Stern College a place of honest conversation about the labels we choose. Choosing or rejecting a label should be a consciously thought out decision, not a choice made out of fear. And, at the end of the day, labels are important but they are not conversation stoppers; even those who are “not feminists, but…” are welcome to engage in dialogue about the role of women in society today. Especially in our community, as we continue to expand the opportunities for women’s Torah learning or leadership roles, I hope we strive to create spaces of meaningful and respectful conversation about our existing labels. Without such dialogue and respect, progress and change don’t stand a chance.