feminism

because the definition of "feminism" varies from person to person, when writing about it, convey your own understanding of it and, if possible, your readers' or listeners' understanding of it. Classic definitions include: "the belief that women are full human beings capable of participation and leadership in the full range of human activities—intellectual, political, social, sexual, spiritual and economic" (Pearl Cleage, Deals with the Devil and Other Reasons to Riot); and "the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes." Rachel Fudge (Bitch magazine). Although primarily women identify themselves as feminists, some men do too. The Reverend Jerry Falwell is not one of them, inadvertently defining what feminists are not: "I listen to the feminists and all those radical gals—most of them are failures. They've blown it.... These women just need a man in the house. That's all they need. Most of these feminists need a man to tell them what time of day it is and to lead them home. And they blew it and they're mad at all men. Feminists hate men. They're sexist. They hate men—that's their problem" (quoted in Ms. ). See also feminisms, womanist, women's movement.