Defining Feminism

By ma.

While studying abroad last semester, I encountered a type of American that I had no previous interactions with: the social conservative. Even though conservatives attend Bowdoin, I never ventured out from my self -imposed Liberal Land and engaged in conversation with them. In a program of seven girls however, it became a necessity to be on friendly terms with everyone.  Moreover, it was election season and politics frequented the topic of discussion.  Over the weeks, we discussed terrorism, family values, gay marriage, education, AIDS, gender equality, abortion, sexual assault, the election, the economy, and other equally charged topics. I began to see that the way I defined and identified with certain words as labels, such as American, female, student, and Obama fan, varied from the others. The definition of feminist varied most profoundly, and was therefore, for me, the most thought provoking.

During our many discussions, one pro-life student utilized classic feminist rhetoric to argue her position on women’s rights issues, from the right to work to the rights of a survivor of sexual assault. I was confused. Was this pro-lifer a feminist? When I asked her if she considered herself one, she said yes. While she recognized that pro-life and feminist are often seen as opposite, she said that feminism is the idea that women were equal to men and deserve the same rights and opportunities. Abortion care, in her view, belonged to a different category of rights. I found myself nodding, wanting to giver her space to define her proper identity, but I was not convinced. Alone, I pondered the topic. Is it possible be both a feminist and pro-life?

While we shared the basic tenants of feminism, I felt that somewhere an inherent opposition between pro-life ideology and the core of feminism existed. I think the foundation of feminism is choice. It’s the choice to work, of whom to marry, what to wear, what to do with your body, whether or not to have a baby etc. If the basis of feminism is choice, then being pro-life, in my mind, negates it. Another aspect of choice is, of course, the choice of what to believe. It is one’s right to choose to believe that abortion is wrong. We all have a right to choose insomuch as it does not limit another’s right to choose. While anyone can believe that abortion care is wrong, the transformation of that belief to law, impinges upon another’s choices. Feminism is the belief that we all deserve the same opportunities, that we deserve a choice. Pro-life sentiments limit other’s choices, and is thus, at heart, in discord with the fundamental principles of feminism.

While our discussions did not change my opinion on abortion care, I no longer regard views on the topic as absolute. After all, pro-lifers deserve the choice to make their own value judgments. While I will never agree with a pro-life stance, I will never again write it off whole-heartedly as an anti-feministic view. While pro-life beliefs contradict the pro-choice necessity of feminism, pro-lifers can still have a role in the feminist movement. If they believe in women’s equality, like this student, a pro-lifer is a worthy ally. Even if I never share the title of feminist with a pro-lifer, I will never again make the mistake of ignoring his/her role and potential contribution in women’s struggle for equality.