[Choo-ChooAKA]

I think, miss priss, that before you ask women if they call themselves feminists, you should first define feminism. There are many myths floating around as to exactly what feminism is and, unfortunately, many of those myths scare away women who are in deed, action, and thought, true feminists. Unfortunately, "feminism" as a theory has gained the reputation of being a group of "bully broads" who hate men. WRONG!!! I most certainly call myself a feminist because I feel men and women are equal and are entitled to the same rights and priveleges. Period.

To be more specific, I call myself a black feminist (which is a far different group with far different aims than those of white feminists). A "Third Wave Feminist?" I'm not very familiar with this term and am reticent to say yay or nay based upon hearsay, but, if what I hear about this third wave feminism, that it is along the lines of Courtney Love's Riot Girl ilk, then, no, I do not wish to align myself with these women.

What have feminists achieved, REIKI? THE RIGHT TO VOTE, FOR ONE. Healthcare rights and initiatives for women, equality in the workplace, equal access to education, etc., etc. I think at one point, in a zealous fury, the IRA seemed to think that taking care of home was no longer an admirable or acceptable line of work for women. However, we learn as we go, and there is room for every type of woman who is interested in equality under the umbrella of feminism.

Unfortunately, the white female feminist agenda that is at the forefront of the feminist movement tends to alienate black women whose role in society and battle for equality are very, very different from those of white women. While white feminists were fighting to escape the apathetic confines of the house wife and earn a place in the workplace (BTW, they were the biggest beneficiaries of affirmative action policies, and still are.); while they were bi%#*ing and whining about being "stuck" in the house, Black feminist agendas were much deeper and more enlightened (read Michelle Wallace, Alice Walker, Audre Lorde). Black and white feminist views are still markedly different, which is why you probably won't see many black feminists among this "third wave." White women's issues seem silly to many a black woman. As Black women have ALWAYS known all too well, staying home and concentrating solely on one's family is a luxury.


In fact, you won't find too many black feminists, period. Those few black women who do label ourselves as feminists must withstand the ridicule of our own communities as man-bashers/haters and lesbians; I am neither of these. I can love me some black man and still want to see myself as an equal. What's wrong with that? Couples form partnerships, however they form them, and they figure out a way to make them work. I don't care whether the man makes the decisions on one front and the woman on another, or the man works and the woman takes care of the household. Working together is the key, and a woman's role within a man/woman relationship doesn't make her a feminist or not a feminist. I have 2 friends who are stay-at-home moms and they are feminists!

OK, now, for your questions:

1. Answered above.

2. No, I don't embrace profanity.

3. Be more specific. I don't understand this question.

4. Umm, as Black women. YES.

5. The only "women's group" meetings I go to are Sorority meetings, and, no, I don't feel nonplussed. I feel invigorated. Be more specific about which women's groups you are referring to.

6. My Sorority is playing a productive role in the feminist movement inside of the targets and programs it has in place. What do you mean by "outside." ALL of our targets support feminist theory (equality for women) in some way or another.