1. Yes, I strongly identify as a feminist. To me, feminism is about equality of the sexes, in terms of gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation. I find that both men and women face unique challenges as a consequence of their gender and gender role expectations. I have experienced sexism first hand (when the bank associate, car sales associate, etc. insist on speaking only to my husband) - and I have observed my husband experience sexism (when daycare centers directed all of their questions towards me, instead of towards my husband) and my children (such as when people cannot believe that I would let my 3 year old son wear his pretty pink princess shoes). I believe that in order for both men and women to experience their full potential, they cannot be limited by gender role expectations.
2. Yes, I think that the term feminism has developed negative connotations - but truthfully, I do not think that changing the term is going to make feminism any more popular. Gender differences are complex and challenging. Science reveals that men and women may be truly, fundamentally different from one another (the obvious example is child birth, but there may be other biological differences in that way that men and women think, learn, and reason). It is so difficult to parse apart nature versus nurture when it comes to this issue. Especially since people are gender socialized from day one (pink for girls, blue for boys). I think that a challenge is that most people are comfortable with their gender role expectations and so there is no motivation to question these expectations or to change them.
3. I think that we need to try and lessen the impact of gender socialization in children. From birth, things are categorized as 'boy' versus 'girl' clothes, toys, etc. Even at McDonald's, the associate happily asks, is that toy for a boy or girl - without any recognition that toy preferences may cut across gender lines. As long as we continue creating highly defined differentiations between males and females, we continue to provide means by which to discriminate against one group or the other.
4. I think that a blog could potentially be used to mobilize, in very specific ways, people who identify as feminists. As for creating new feminists, I do not think that a blog would be very effective. The people who would read such a blog are probably already on board with feminist thinking. Unless it is organized in a very unique and broad reaching manner, I think that such a blog would probably end up 'preaching to the choir.'
5. Minimizing gender socialization and the impact it has on keeping people locked into gender boxes.
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