Fundamentally, feminism comes down to the basic definition that the sexes should be equal on social, political and economic grounds. The women (and men) who proclaim themselves as feminists follow this definition and advocate for anything that positively supports this agenda, such as allowing women to have their private reproductive rights and eliminating the pay gap that unfairly pays men more than women. Sounds simple enough to comprehend, right?
Actually, not so much. Although many famous self-proclaimed feminists in today’s culture, such as actress Amy Poehler and her “Smart Girls” organization, do follow and support policies that help support the feminist agenda, many others, like former GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina, claim that they also follow and support these policies, but in reality, do not. Self-proclaimed feminists, under the same mindset of Carly Fiorina, are not actually feminists because their seemingly feminist ideas and opinions do not advocate for equality of the sexes and, in some cases, support the negatively-impacting policies that would hurt the chances of women being on complete equal grounds with their male counter-parts.
Fiorina’s claim that she is a genuine feminist is betrayed by her obvious and harsh eschewing of Planned Parenthood and abortions in general, as she made very clear in a CNN interview back in December. Reproductive rights are considered to be a fundamental and key concept relating to feminist activism. The presence of these rights advocates for women to be entitled to their private rights and choices concerning their bodies and reproductive health without any interference or imposing by the government. These rights also reinforce the notion that women deserve to be treated with as much respect, in relation to personal decisions, as men have. If women are not allowed to obtain these basic rights, then they, inherently, are not on equal grounds with men, who possess natural autonomy in their private rights. Therefore, anything (or anyone, regardless of their gender) that does not support women’s gaining of their reproductive and private rights is intrinsically un-feminist. That being said, it is difficult to view Fiorina as a feminist while she strongly advocates against something that is so integral to the feminist agenda. It is no secret that many of Fiorina’ statements and arguments concerning feminism hold some folly, as this clip from an interview with Katie Couric back in May demonstrates, but this one really takes the cake. It is incomprehensible that anyone who claims to be an advocate for women and women’s equality is against a system of rights and privileges that allow women to be imbued with the same rights and respects that our societal system gives to men.
Being able to recognize people like Carly Fiorina who boast their feminist ideology, yet do not believe in it in practice, is important in further promoting and popularizing more legitimate and equal feminist agendas. If Fiorina’s voice is the only voice that is heard regarding feminist policies, then it will encourage the notion that all feminists think and feel this way. I know for a fact, based on my own life experiences, this is not the case, and because of this, feminists who do not support Fiorina’s “feminist” policies should not let her speak for them. Speaking out and advocating for a viewpoint or cause you believe in is the best way to get that viewpoint or cause popularized as well as potentially convince others who previously thought a different way to support your side of the issue. For feminists against Fiorina, this is the best way to expose her and others like her as someone not truly feminist.
