Talking Point #1 ( Hogeland)

Fear of Feminism
Lisa Maria Hogeland
ARGUMENT

Lisa M. Hogeland the author of Fear of Feminism argues that women get the willies from feminism when the distinction between gender consciousness and feminist consciousness is blurred. Lisa argues that women do not know how to distinguish the two different forms of gender consciousness which are awareness of women vulnerability and celebration of women. She argues that older women are less likely to become feminist, while younger women are more likely to become feminist. Lisa also argues that fear, violence, and vulnerability is the main reason why women fear feminism.

Hogeland is stating that people in general but mostly women do not the difference between being conscious of your gender and being feminist conscious. Since a lot of women cannot differentiate the difference it causes confusion about feminism. Hogeland talks about how older and younger feminist view issues like for example older feminist view the backlash as changeable while younger feminist view the backlash as unchangeable and how it has to be. She states that fear is another reason why women don’t want to be associated as a feminist. Fear of violence plays on the fears of millions of vulnerable women that can be used as an anti-feminist campaign. 

* This all ties back to the discussion we had in class about what is feminism ? and it touches base on what Chris said in class about people being afraid of being called a feminist.