Is Feminism Flawless? —A Commentary on the Complexities of Womanhood

Feminist: One advocating social, political, legal, and economic rights for women equal to those of men.  It seems that the conversation around what it means to be a feminist has always either elicited concord or conflict.  For example, in December, shortly after Beyoncé’s release of her fourth music album, I came across a blog article titled: “The Problem with Beyhive Bottom Bitch Feminism.”  There followed a thread of over 400 comments from women of various ages, wrestling with the very definition of feminism.

 

But feminism isn’t flawless.  When constant questions are raised as to whether artists like Nicki Minaj and Beyoncé are feminists, I am reminded of this.  In fact, while some like to romanticize the details of the feminist movement and assert that women across color and circumstance were on one united front advocating for the equality of all women, the contrary is true.  Black women were not included in the definition of woman.  Works like Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I A Woman?” manifest the black woman’s unapologetic struggle for her society to view her as fully woman.  In fact, many scholars deemed the plight of the black woman in a majority white world, a “double bind.”  Essentially, as stated by Anna Julia Cooper, black women were “confronted by both a woman question and a race problem.”  Therefore, given that the aims of the feminist movement excluded black women, I wonder if any black woman— Ms. Minaj, Mrs. Knowles-Carter or otherwise, can truly call herself a feminist.

 

In addition, women deserve the freedom to create our own definitions of womanhood.  Some may desire to express that meaning by using the words: feminist, black feminist, womanist or none of the above.  And that’s just fine!  Our true power lies in our ability to define womanhood on our own terms.  Moreover, the benefit is that each of these terms may challenge us to think of womanhood in ways that we hadn’t before. 

 

In one of her essays, bell hooks discusses the representation of the black female body in popular culture.  For hooks, she is empowered when notions of womanhood “subvert sexist and racist representations” that have pervaded our society.  While this is an honorable and necessary task, does it force women into a sort of existential straight-jacket?  If a woman constantly engages in overturning images, which undermine her gender or sexuality, is there any middle ground?  For example, a woman may say that she refuses to marry because she does not want to support the sexist institution of patriarchy.  Or is there a way for her to operate within the system (institution of marriage) and be an equal to her husband?  Or if a black woman refuses to wear a mini-skirt and halter top for the sake of not upholding the “black woman as Jezebel” stereotype, where is her freedom to dress as she pleases?  For me, the freedom lies in the ability to create and recreate a personal definition of womanhood as often as needed.  While subversion of “racist and sexist” images is important, my definition of womanhood cannot stop there.  If it does, I am merely tip-toeing around the meaning of womanhood (which includes sexuality) as opposed to embracing it! 

  

Also, it seems that being a woman is difficult.  While there are days that it comes with ease, there are also days that being a woman comes with struggle.  Maya Angelou confirms this for me.  She writes, 

Being a woman is hard work. Not without joy and even ecstasy, but still relentless, unending work. To become and remain a woman commands the existence and employment of genius. The woman who survives intact and happy must be at once tender and tough. She must have convinced herself, or be in the unending process of convincing herself, that she, her values, and her choices are important. In a time and world where males hold sway and control, the pressure upon women to yield their rights-of-way is tremendous. And it is under those very circumstances that the woman's toughness must be in evidence.

In our struggle to be women, we must remember that we are human.  We do not possess all of the answers of what it means to be a woman.  If we had all of the answers, what need would we have of the Divine Mother’s spirit to guide us on our journey?  It may be that the definition of womanhood is fluid and not static, growing as we grow.  Perhaps womanhood exists beyond any of the labels that we have imagined.  It may be that it is as breathtaking, as vast and as mysterious as the horizon.