Feminism: What's in a Name?

Slate's XX Factor has a fascinating discussion about Sandra Day O'Connor's passing on calling herself a feminist even though she totally is one. Need proof?

Do you call yourself a feminist?

I never did. I care very much about women and their progress. I didn’t go march in the streets, but when I was in the Arizona Legislature, one of the things that I did was to examine every single statute in the state of Arizona to pick out the ones that discriminated against women and get them changed.

So, 'feminists' march in the streets (which is bad) but don't fight for a seat in government from which to focus on women's equality? I ain't mad at Sandra. The woman haters have worked very hard to make the word "feminism" synonymous with man- and baby-hating. With—gasp!—lesbianism and everything 'unladylike'. With all that scary protesting and refusing to play nice. Ah well, I much prefer women (and men) who pass on the name but fight the power anyway. Sandra O is just in the closet but active as hell on the feminist down low. Works for me.

As a side note, SDO'C rocks as an interviewee. What a breath of fresh air to hear someone say, essentially, 'Screw you. I'm pushing a majorly important new website and you want to talk about inanities. Shut the frack up (sorry—HUGE Battlestar Galactica fan), and let's talk about what I agreed to talk about.' Here's a taste of that great old-chick no-nonsense:

Although you were nominated to the court by President Reagan, you became known as a centrist who disappointed conservatives and provided relief to liberals.

Look, that's your spiel, not mine. I tried to decide each case based on the law and the Constitution.

Old feminists rock. Whatever they call themselves. BTW: if you're not a feminist, what are you: anti-feminist?

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