Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 2/28/08 Section: Opinion

Colleen Watson

As a freshman I was going to the cafeteria with two new friends, Brent and Jen, when the subject of women's rights came up. Brent looked at us and said, "You guys aren't feminists or anything are you?"

Jen was quick to answer back, "No, those chicks are crazy."

"I am," I said, and I felt the need to defend my position. Both of them looked at me and rolled their eyes.

Ten years later and I still feel that whenever I say that I'm a feminist, I feel like I have to explain why, to give a reason for my pro-women stance, or at least let people know that I don't get any joy from kicking puppies.

Whenever I hear a woman say she is a feminist, it is always with an added caveat. She can't just be a feminist. She has to quickly explain that she is not a "feminazi" and that she doesn't hate men.

When did this happen? When did proudly burning uncomfortable undergarments turn into lengthy explanations about how you are not one of "those" feminists, the kind who hide in bushes and randomly knee male passersby in the balls.

Or has feminism always had negative connotations in our society?

When did "feminist" become a bad word?

Feminists are still needed. When a presidential candidate is referred to by her first name while the others are mentioned by their last names, it shows there is still a gap. I don't even know Huckabee's first name.

MSNBC's Chris Matthews even called her an "uppity woman."

When that same candidate gets judged by her looks, her makeup and what she is wearing, it shows that feminism is still needed.

With the Internet comes even more misogyny. I read a news aggregate site called Fark, on which users submit news stories from around the country with better, funnier headlines. Whenever a woman is mentioned, the first thing that the forum users talk about is if she is "hittable."

After determining a woman's hittability, then the woman-bashing really starts in. Comfortable in the knowledge that their victims will never know their real name, users are quick to tell women to go back to the kitchen or that they are all psycho bitches. I admit some of the comments can be funny. It's the quantity that is depressing.

Are these people trying to be funny, or do they really mean what they say? Or is it a little bit of both?

Sexism, along with racism, runs rampant on the Internet. The Internet tough guys and trolls are always present. If you can't say something to someone's face, then shut up.

Continued...

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