Might help also to describe what you think feminism is, since it’s one of those terms that is overloaded.

I once had a physical therapist tell me she wasn’t a feminist because she thought women couldn’t be as physically capable as men when serving as soldiers, and seemed to believe feminism requires treating women exactly like men.

I told her I was a feminist because I believe in equal rights for men and women, an idea she did not seem so opposed to.

  • arsCynic@beehaw.org
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    3 hours ago

    “Ecofeminists examine the effect of gender categories in order to demonstrate the ways in which social norms exert unjust dominance over women and nature. The philosophy also contends that those norms lead to an incomplete view of the world, and its practitioners advocate an alternative worldview that values the earth as sacred, recognizes humanity’s dependency on the natural world, and embraces all life as valuable.” —https://www.britannica.com/topic/ecofeminism

    Yes. Because it goes hand in hand with Cynicism, my main guiding philosophy:

    Cynic: “an adherent of an ancient Greek school of philosophers who held the view that virtue is the only good and that its essence lies in self-control and independence” —Merriam-Webster

    • dandelion (she/her)@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOP
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      2 hours ago

      The Cynics (notably Diogenes of Sinope) also advocated for sexual relations between relatives (such as brothers and sisters), since incest norms were socially imposed and thus “arbitrary” in the view of the Cynics.

      Diogenes also died after eating a live octopus, which is amusing.

      Either way, love Cynicism (incest aside and all), cheers!

  • deadcatbounce@reddthat.com
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    1 hour ago

    I’m an egalitarian. I believe women and women are, and should be treated, equal(ly).

    The clue is in the name feminist. Feminism is about equality in the same way an advocate of masculinism is an advocate of equality.

  • JackbyDev@programming.dev
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    5 hours ago

    I am a feminist because I believe men and women should have equal rights. I think a lot of people fell for the propaganda that feminism is about women over men or something. The thing a lot of men fail to realize is that “the patriarchy” hurts them too. A lot of the things you see men complain about like being told to “man up” or not being able to express their feelings without being mocked are 100% a side effect of patriarchy.

  • RBWells@lemmy.world
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    5 hours ago

    I will say yes, because I am a woman who has benefited from what feminists did in the past, and don’t believe in strict gender roles for men or women, and my kids were all born as girls, I had to work a lot to get them good education, my focus has necessarily been more on advancing the lives of girls than boys, I didn’t get boys until I married.

    I think humanity as a whole is stronger when women are stronger. Empowering women empowers men too, when we all do more we are stronger, it’s not a zero sum thing.

    So yeah I think so, yes, soy feminista.

  • Basic Glitch@sh.itjust.works
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    4 hours ago

    Yes, bc I support equality. That’s it. That’s all it means. I try to treat others the way I would want to be treated. I try not to be an asshole to others. I know sometimes I fail, but I don’t go out of my way to do it. If somebody tells me I did something incorrect or hurtful, I don’t get offended, I just try to do better in the future if I see them again.

    I didn’t know that supporting feminism was just supporting equality until I was an adult bc nobody ever taught me that. It’s not surprising to me that some people attach so much additional meaning to the word (both positive and negative), and they’re opposed to it for whatever additional meanings they have attached.

    It is still very surprising to me that there are people who will openly admit they’re just strongly opposed to equality. From my perspective, if you’re opposed to equality, that means you’re opposed to treating others as you would want them to treat you. You’re intentionally being an asshole, and you kinda forfeit any expectations that people shouldn’t be an asshole to you too. Yet, I still believe you’re entitled to the same rights as anyone else. Equality means it’s ok to be an asshole to another asshole. That is feminism to me.

  • hactar42@lemmy.ml
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    8 hours ago

    As a CIS male I consider myself a feminist because I recognize that women continue to face systemic challenges that demand more than just abstract ideals of equality. To me, feminism goes beyond egalitarianism. It’s not just about treating everyone the same, it’s about recognizing the different challenges people face and working to change the systems that create and sustain those imbalances.

    I was raised by my mom and 3 sisters, and that gave me a front-row seat to the everyday injustices women face. Everything from subtle slights to overt discrimination to being victim of abuse. It wasn’t theory for me, it was lived experience, just one degree removed. I’ve seen the strength and resilience of the women in my life, and I’ve also seen what they’ve had to push through simply because of their gender.

    Now, as a father with a daughter, I feel an even deeper responsibility to be part of the shift. I don’t just want her to grow up in a world that pays lip service to “equality”. I want her to live in one where she’s safe, respected, and empowered. That means doing more than being “not sexist.” It means actively pushing back against the structures and behaviors (the patriarchy) that holds women back.

    I have zero tolerance for toxic masculinity and so-called “alpha male” attitudes that promote dominance, entitlement, and emotional repression. That culture hurts everyone, but it especially harms women by normalizing control and aggression.

    I want my daughter and every woman to see examples of men who are allies, not bystanders. Feminism is a promise: to show up, to speak out (or more often shut up), and to help dismantle barriers so that every person, regardless of gender, can thrive without restriction or fear.

  • LuigiMaoFrance@lemmy.ml
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    3 hours ago

    I’m a male vegan anarchist and reject every form of mistreatment based on immutable qualities like species, ethnicity, sex etc. At the same time women in my life have consistently broken my trust, which has left me with some generalized cynical views about them. I also believe that the west is at a point where women often receive preferential treatment in sectors like education and hiring, so advocating for them while men are left behind doesn’t make much sense to me. I do not consider myself a feminist.

    • dandelion (she/her)@lemmy.blahaj.zoneOP
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      2 hours ago

      I wish I could give you like an award for writing the most Lemmy comment of all or something, lol

      I’ll write a more thoughtful response later, but in the meantime, thank you for sharing 🧡

  • NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml
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    5 hours ago

    ‘Feminist’ is one of those terms that seems to have different definitions based on who you ask. I don’t know what you call me but I’m a proponent of Equal Rights Amendment full-stop.

  • brygphilomena@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    9 hours ago

    I think I’m more egalitarian. But this is largely dependent on what you mean by feminism.

    I believe all women should have total agency over themselves. I believe they deserve equal pay, treatment, and rights. I believe them when they discuss their issues and the prevalence of sexual assault and abuse.

    I also believe that there are structures in our society that unfairly put them above men. For instance, in child care and criminal sentencing. Women tend to get the benefit of doubt that they are the better parent and that the relationship between a child and a mother is generally more important than that of a child and father. Women also, in general, get lighter sentences for the same crime.

    I believe that we should be more equal in the value we place on the relationship between a child and it’s father. Raising the importance of how we as a society view that relationship rather than bringing down the importance of the mothers relationship.

    I also believe we should lighten the sentences of men to be more in line with women’s sentencing. Although that largely falls in line with my personal opinion that criminal sentencing in this country is far, far too harsh.

  • captainlezbian@lemmy.world
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    8 hours ago

    Yeah, specifically I’m fairly third wave in that I’ve been convinced of the value of an intersectional perspective, am pro modern sexual liberation (including the freedom to not want it), and generally am more aligned with the feminist critiques of the second wave. Furthermore I find a lot of the fourth wave to a shitshow, though considering the concept of the fourth wave is not based on academic ideas or coherent demands, but rather the idea that social media changed feminist discourse so radically as to constitute a change to a different wave.

    Feminism has always had multiple sides, and like most liberatory movements it has people who are cringe, who are counterproductively hostile, and who generally suck. It will try things that don’t work or push things in bad directions. Also college students and young people will do it in ways that look terrible. But feminist theory is also insightful texts that challenge cultural biases. And in a time where rights such as abortion are under attack and government officials are expressing their opposition to women’s suffrage, the principle of equality and fundamental rights remains even if it looks different now from when our grandmothers and great grandmothers were fighting for the right for a bank account.

  • Dharma Curious (he/him)@slrpnk.net
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    7 hours ago

    I’d specifically think of myself as an anarchafeminist, so yes, I’d say I’m a feminist. Fuck bullshit gender division, and fuck anybody who thinks someone is less capable because of their genitals or the clothes they wear (or if those things “match” or not)

  • Sunsofold@lemmings.world
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    11 hours ago

    I call myself egalitarian. It distinctly means what you mean by feminist without being so readily confused with what she means by feminist.