There was a time in the not-too-distant past when I thought that people were missing the point if they said "'feminists' should call themselves 'equalists' if they truly embrace equality." Now, I think I may have been missing the point. While I agree with most strong feminist concepts, I do not feel part of the feminist "community" nor do I longer want to be part of it any longer. This has been eating at me more and more the past year.

When I was homeless in the Northampton/Amherst area, I had just as much trouble with "feminists" as I did with frat boys, both groups being endemic to the area. I was refused housing on the basis of being trans by both groups. But I still identified as feminist.

Recently, I've become more and more dissatisfied with the drama and the readiness of many feminists to shout "You're not a feminist if you are X"; X being a sex worker, a transsexual, a pro-lifer, or someone who disagrees with them. It's interesting that the same people who would readily deny people the feminist label will also state "a feminist is anyone who believes in equality for women". I've known a lot of people who stopped identifying as feminist for this very reason. The exchange goes as follows: "You're not a feminist." "Okay."

I have also come to dislike the feminist community's knack for grabbing a concept because it sounds or feels good, not because it makes sense. Personal opinions and beliefs are fine and can be based on whatever you want to base them on, but policy and law should be based on reason and logic. Reason and logic are not inherently male concepts nor are they dirty words, as I have heard some "feminists" actually claim.

Reading the blatant hatred and nastiness on MichFest Boards the other day have sealed the deal: While I may agree with most feminist concepts, I no longer want to be part of the "community". Feel free to label me whatever you want based on my views or your views or whatever, but I will from now on be calling myself a There was a time in the not-too-distant past when I thought that people were missing the point if they said "'feminists' should call themselves 'equalists' if they truly embrace equality." Now, I think I may have been missing the point. While I agree with most strong feminist concepts, I do not feel part of the feminist "community" nor do I longer want to be part of it any longer. This has been eating at me more and more the past year.

When I was homeless in the Northampton/Amherst area, I had just as much trouble with "feminists" as I did with frat boys, both groups being endemic to the area. I was refused housing on the basis of being trans by both groups. But I still identified as feminist.

Recently, I've become more and more dissatisfied with the drama and the readiness of many feminists to shout "You're not a feminist if you are X"; X being a sex worker, a transsexual, a pro-lifer, or someone who disagrees with them. It's interesting that the same people who would readily deny people the feminist label will also state "a feminist is anyone who believes in equality for women". I've known a lot of people who stopped identifying as feminist for this very reason. The exchange goes as follows: "You're not a feminist." "Okay."

I have also come to dislike the feminist community's knack for grabbing a concept because it sounds or feels good, not because it makes sense. Personal opinions and beliefs are fine and can be based on whatever you want to base them on, but policy and law should be based on reason and logic. Reason and logic are not inherently male concepts nor are they dirty words, as I have heard some "feminists" actually claim.

Reading the blatant hatred and nastiness on MichFest Boards the other day have sealed the deal: While I may agree with most feminist concepts, I no longer want to be part of the "community". Feel free to label me whatever you want based on my views or your views or whatever, but I will from now on be calling myself a equalist.