Essay --

Webster defines feminism as both the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes and organized body process on the behalf of womens rights and interests (Webster 418). Equality of the sexes (in terms of rights) and the furthering of womens rights are seemingly positive aspirations yet people tend to describe feminism using negative terms, and feminism like a shot has acquired a bad reputation. Radical and extremists are adjectives commonly applied to feminism as a whole, when, in truth, feminists who adopt extreme positions constitute the minority. Moreover, these gender feminists, or militant feminists, as many call them, although they receive the most public attention because of their aggressive tactics and high visibility, alienate people in broadcasting their views. Their goal, to create a sentimental priesthood that will achieve collective power and retribution as oppressed victims of a white-male supremacy, seems unreasonable (Himmelfarb 20). In contra st, equity feminists, or academic feminists, embrace the basic principles of feminism. They celebrate womens achievements, work for the individual rights of all women, and, as Christina Hoff Sommers aptly says, want for women what they want for every unitary, equal protection down the stairs the righteousness (Himmelfarb 20). Though not all feminists agree on how to reach this goal, most argue for a reasonable, realistic, and positive method. By contrasting the differing feminist ideas of writers like Adrienne Rich, Gertrude Himmelfarb, and Camille Paglia, one defines a winning brand of feminism a philosophy founded on equity feminist ideology and dedicated to the achievement of social, political, economic, and intellectual reform. David Thomas and Camille Pag... ...minism by constantly raising the stakes, and seeking not mere reform or revision...but revolution (Himmelfarb 20). In this way, they isolate themselves and lose support among both men and women for the perfect femini st cause. John Ellis concludes that gender feminism poisons relations between the sexes, and catapults into leadership roles in the womens movement angry, alienated women who divert that movement from the necessary task of exploring feasible changes (74). People need to know that feminism, based on its essential ideals and goals, has broad appeal, and that they should not dismiss it because of a specific sector. They must look beyond the extremists to respect a branch of feminism that welcomes all people and focuses on a positive and reasonable goal a society that affords everyone the opportunity and right under the law to reach his or her potential.