Why “Feminist Values”? Why Not Just Say “Feminism”?
When the original “Ten Key Values” statement was prepared in 1984, the term “Post-Patriarchal Values” was used to cover issues of gender equity and non-hierarchical social structures. Here’s the text as it came out of the St. Paul meetings:
Postpatriarchal Values
How can we replace the cultural ethos of dominance and control with more cooperative ways of interacting? How can we encourage people to care about persons outside their own group? How can we promote the building of respectful, positive and responsive relationships across the lines of gender and other divisions? How can we encourage a rich, diverse political culture that respects feelings as well as rationalist approaches? How can we proceed with as much respect for the means as the end, the process as well as the product? How can we learn to respect the contemplative, inner part of life as much as the outer activities?
You might note the complete absence of gender-specific terminology there. This was quite deliberate at the time, but as you can imagine it’s caused quite a bit of discussion over the years. It’s now been replaced explicitly by “Feminism” or “Feminism and Gender Equity” in the most current versions of the Ten Key Values:
7. Feminism and Gender Equity
We have inherited a social system based on male domination of politics and economics. We call for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination and control with more cooperative ways of interacting that respect differences of opinion and gender. Human values such as equity between the sexes, interpersonal responsibility, and honesty must be developed with moral conscience. We should remember that the process that determines our decisions and actions is just as important as achieving the outcome we want.
This phrasing does bring the gender issues forward and into clearer focus. But I have to admit, I kinda preferred the old terminology.
“But, why, Skip?” someone might say. “Nobody has any idea what ‘Post-Patriarchal Values’ even means!”
Well, precisely. That’s why I liked it.
I don’t have a problem with “feminism” as a concept, mind you. My problem is with the baggage that has unfortunately been attached to the word itself. An awfully large group of Americans think they already know what it means – because they’ve been told so by people like Pat Robertson. They have had certain negative images and associations so drilled into them by the media and other institutions that when they hear the word, they may react reflexively and possibly even stop thinking completely.
I think that hearing a phrase like “post-patriarchal values” might instead provoke a question: “‘Post-patriarchal values’? What the heck do you mean by that?” And then, maybe perhaps, a useful conversation might ensue – about what patriarchy means, its pervasive nature, and how our society could develop beyond those antiquated and obsolete structures.
Still, it is inarguably true that the word “feminism” is important and positive to many people, with generations of proud history and struggle attached to it. So for the purposes of this project, I think I have found a middle course with the phrase “Feminist Values,” which hopefully will prompt a similar spirit of open-minded inquiry while maintaining the historical and ideological connections.
So what do you think “Feminist Values” are? Please comment below…
A Green Year 