Perceptions of Feminism

• In Event: Interactive Roundtable Discussion Session

Short Description

Feminism is a word that carries strong connotations. Research shows many women believe in feminist principles but prefer not to be labeled as feminist. This phenomenon is referred to as feminist paradox. Join this roundtable discussion about the paradox, why it occurs, and solutions for how it could be overcome.

Detailed Abstract

The word “feminism” is defined by Merriam-Webster’s (2018) dictionary as “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities”, or as “organized activity in support of women’s right and interests”. The “Me Too” movement has spurred conversations and general interest about women’s rights and equality, but the interest is not limited just to popular culture. A search in Google Scholar returns approximately 231,000 results for publications that include feminism over the last 10 years. There were approximately 26,800 publications in just 2018.

Despite this, many women shy away from labeling themselves as a “feminist”. A review of literature appears to indicate the word often creates a negative connotation women prefer not to be associated with. Zucker and Bay-Cheng (2010) suggested that non-labelers may feel as though they would be stigmatized if they applied the label to themselves. Swirsky and Angelone (2014) supported those findings, and also found that women often have a negative view of feminism. In addition, they added that some women appeared to believe that feminism was no longer needed. Meijs, Ratliff, and Lammers (2017) found that feminists were perceived as less likable (as measured by perceived warmth) than individuals who were not labeled a feminists.

The body of literature also suggests a feminist identify is important to advancing equality for women. Swirsky and Angelone (2016) suggested that is important for women to have exposure to feminist principles and ideals in order to self-identify as a feminist. Furthermore, they found that a woman’s exposure to individuals that identify as a feminist help to encourage self-identify.

This round table discussion will explore the term “feminist”. Positive and negative perceptions of the term (as found in the academic literature) will be presented for a group discussion.

Presenter

• Tricia Berry, Purdue University Global