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Individualist feminism

January 01, 1970

This article is about libertarian feminism. For individualist anarchist feminism, see Anarcha-feminism. For libertarian feminism in general, see Feminist movements and ideologies § Libertarian. For liberal feminism, see Liberal feminism.

Individualist feminism, also known as ifeminism, is a libertarian feminist movement that emphasizes individualism, personal autonomy, freedom from state-sanctioned discrimination against women, and gender equality.

Overview edit

Individualist feminists attempt to change legal systems to eliminate sex and gender privileges, and to ensure that individuals have equal rights. Individualist feminism encourages women to take full responsibility for their own lives and opposes any government interference into choices adults make with their own bodies.[1][2][3][page needed]

Individualist or libertarian feminism is sometimes grouped as one of many branches of liberal feminism, but it tends to diverge significantly from 21st-century mainstream liberal feminism of the 21st century.[4][5][further explanation needed] Individualist feminists Wendy McElroy and Christina Hoff Sommers define individualist feminism in opposition to what they call "political" or "gender feminism".[6]: 14 [7][8]

Beliefs edit

Libertarian feminists reject gender roles that limit women's autonomy and choice, and assert that strict gender roles limit both women and men, especially if they are legally enforced.[9] Libertarian feminists are critical of using institutional power to achieve positive aims, believing that allowing the government to make decisions on behalf of women may limit women's individual choices. For instance, banning sex work to "protect" women treats women as a monolithic group, rather than individuals, and takes away economic opportunities for women who want to work in the sex industry by choice.[citation needed]

The Cato Institute, an American libertarian think tank, argues that capitalism has given women a higher standard of living, greater access to resources, greater individual freedoms and more job opportunities outside of physical labor.[10][11]

Individualist feminism conforms to the theory of natural law, supporting laws that protect the rights of men and women equally.[12][page needed] Individual feminists argue that government should not prioritize the needs of women over men, nor should it strive to intervene to create equality in personal relationships, private economic arrangements, entertainment and media representation, or the general sociocultural realm.[citation needed]

History in the United States edit

According to individualist feminist Joan Kennedy Taylor, early organized feminism in the United States was fundamentally "a classical liberal women's movement".[13] First-wave feminists focused on universal suffrage and the abolition of slavery, along with property rights for women and other forms of equal rights.[citation needed]

During the Victorian era and the early 20th century, individualist feminism fell out of vogue in the US and UK as the progressive, labor, and socialist movements began to hold more sway over politics.[citation needed]

Individualist feminism was revived by anti-authoritarian and individualist second-wave feminists in the mid-20th century. According to Taylor, "the political issues that gained wide adherence were the reproductive rights to birth control and abortion, and the Equal Rights Amendment, which (at least in its initial support) was a classical liberal restraint on government."[2]

Labels like individualist feminism, libertarian feminism, and classical liberal feminism were explicitly embraced by late 20th century writers and activists such as Taylor, Sharon Presley, Tonie Nathan, and Wendy McElroy.[citation needed] Modern libertarian feminism is a continuation of ideas and work developed by these women and their contemporaries, including Nadine Strossen and Camille Paglia, as well as of the ideas of classical liberal and anarchist writers throughout history.[citation needed]

Libertarian feminist organizations edit

Association of Libertarian Feminists edit

The Association of Libertarian Feminists (ALF) was founded in 1973 by Tonie Nathan and Sharon Presley on Ayn Rand's birthday in Eugene, Oregon, at Nathan's home.[14][15] In September 1975 in New York City, ALF became a national organization.[15] As of 2015, Presley was the executive director of the organization.[16]

The ALF has stated that their purpose is to oppose sexist attitudes, oppose government, and "provide a libertarian alternative to those aspects of the women's movement that tend to discourage independence and individuality."[17] The ALF have opposed the government's involvement in childcare centers, including "zoning laws, unnecessary and pointless "health and safety" restrictions, [and] required licensing."[18] The ALF have also opposed public education, saying that public schools "not only foster the worst of traditionalist sexist values but inculcate docility and obedience to authority with sterile, stifling methods and compulsory programs and regulations."[18] In 1977, Nathan suggested eliminating parts of the United States Postal Service regulations that obstructed the mailing of birth control samples and information about family planning at the National Women's Conference in Houston, Texas.[15]

Feminists for Liberty edit

Feminists for Liberty (F4L) is a nonprofit libertarian feminist group founded in 2016. It was founded by Kat Murti and Elizabeth Nolan Brown[19] to promote the values of libertarian feminism. F4L are "anti-sexism and anti-statism, pro-markets and pro-choice" and "classically liberal, anti-carceral, and sex positive".[20] They are opposed to collectivism and argue that "treating someone as simply a representative of their sex or gender" is collectivist.[20]

Ladies of Liberty Alliance (LOLA) edit

The Ladies of Liberty Alliance (LOLA) was established in 2009 as a nonprofit organization. LOLA's goal is to engage women in libertarianism through social groups, leadership trainings, and visits from guest speakers.[21]

Mothers Institute edit

The Mothers Institute was a non-profit educational and networking organization supporting stay-at-home mothering, homeschooling, civics in the classroom, and an effective networking system for mothers and freedom of choice in health and happiness. It is now defunct.[citation needed]

Criticism edit

This section is about criticism of individualist feminism. For the political movement opposed to feminism, see Antifeminism.

Criticism of individualist feminism ranges from expressing disagreements with the values of individualism as a feminist to expressing the limitations within individualist feminism as an effective activism. Critics have argued that individualist feminism does not sufficiently address structural inequality.[22] In 1995, American radical feminist Catharine MacKinnon criticized the value of individual choice, saying there were still instances where "women are used, abused, bought, sold, and silenced", especially women of color.[23] In 1999, American feminist Susan Brownmiller suggested that the aversion to collective, "united" feminism was a sign of a "waning" and unhealthy feminist movement.[24]

Notable individualist feminists edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Liberty for women : freedom and feminism in the twenty-first century. Wendy McElroy. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee. 2002. ISBN 1-56663-434-2. OCLC 48475190.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^ a b Taylor, Joan Kennedy (1992). Reclaiming the mainstream : individualist feminism rediscovered. Buffalo, N.Y.: Prometheus Books. ISBN 0-87975-717-5. OCLC 25282967.
  3. ^ Taylor, Joan Kennedy (1999). What to do when you don't want to call the cops : a non-adversarial approach to sexual harassment. New York: London. ISBN 0-8147-8232-9. OCLC 41580348.
  4. ^ "Carceral Feminism and the Libertarian Alternative | Libertarianism.org". www.libertarianism.org. 2015-01-28. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  5. ^ "How is Libertarian Feminism Different from Other Feminisms? | Libertarianism.org". www.libertarianism.org. 2015-01-06. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  6. ^ McElroy, Wendy, ed. (2002). Liberty for women: freedom and feminism in the twenty-first century. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee. ISBN 978-1-56663-435-9.
  7. ^ Hoff Sommers, Christina (1995). Who Stole Feminism? How Women Have Betrayed Women. New York: Touchstone/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9780684801568.
  8. ^ McElroy, Wendy (2003). "Gender Feminism and Ifeminism: Wherein They Differ" (PDF). Etica & Politica / Ethics & Politics. 2.
  9. ^ www.libertarianism.org https://www.libertarianism.org/columns/how-is-libertarian-feminism-different-other-feminisms. Retrieved 2023-09-02. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ^ www.cato.org https://www.cato.org/commentary/why-feminists-should-embrace-capitalism. Retrieved 2023-09-02. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ^ www.cato.org https://www.cato.org/policy-report/november/december-2019/does-capitalism-help-women. Retrieved 2023-09-02. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ^ McElroy, Wendy (2001). Individualist feminism of the nineteenth century: Collected writings and Biographical profiles. McFarland.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  13. ^ "Reclaiming Feminism for Liberty | Libertarianism.org". www.libertarianism.org. 2020-03-11. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  14. ^ Fisher, J. A. (2013-07-16). "Individualist Feminism: A Libertarian Feminism". Being Feminist. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  15. ^ a b c . 2008-12-26. Archived from the original on 2008-12-26. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  16. ^ "Association of Libertarian Feminists". The Insomniac Libertarian. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  17. ^ . 2008-12-23. Archived from the original on 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  18. ^ a b Presley, Sharon; Kinsky, Lynn (2008-12-26). . Archived from the original on 2008-12-26. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  19. ^ "Who We Are – Feminists for Liberty". Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  20. ^ a b "Feminists for Liberty – consent in all things". Retrieved 2023-04-08.
  21. ^ Ladies of Liberty (2018). "Ladies of Liberty Alliance". LOLA: Ladies of Liberty Alliance. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  22. ^ Personal Narratives Group, ed. (1989). Interpreting women's lives: Feminist Theory and Personal Narratives. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. pp. 172–88. ISBN 9780253205018.
  23. ^ Freedman, M., & Hofstra University (1995). Group Defamation and Freedom of Speech: The Relationship Between Language and Violence. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press. ISBN 9780313292972.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Brownmiller, Susan (1999). In Our Time: Memoir of a Revolution. New York: Dial Press. p. 328. ISBN 978-0-385-31486-2.

Further reading edit

  • Kennedy Taylor, Joan (1992). Reclaiming the mainstream: individualist feminism rediscovered. Buffalo, N.Y: Prometheus Books. ISBN 9780879757175.
  • Heywood, Ezra (1873). . Archived from the original on 2 September 2005. One of the first individualist feminist essays, by Ezra Heywood.
  • de Cleyre, Voltairine (2005). Presley, Sharon; Sartwell, Crispin (eds.). Exquisite rebel: the essays of Voltairine de Cleyre: feminist, anarchist, genius. Albany: State University of New York Press. ISBN 9780791460948.
  • Johnson, Charles W. (1 May 2005). "Libertarian Feminism: Can This Marriage Be Saved?".
  • Presley, Sharon. . Archived from the original on 30 July 2012.
  • "Liberal Feminism". Liberal Feminism (definition). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2021. Essay including discussion of libertarian feminism.
  • Davies, S. (1987). (PDF). Libertarian Alliance Pamphlet, no. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2010-09-28.

External links edit

  • iFeminists
  • Pro Choice Libertarians 2007-09-03 at the Wayback Machine
  • The Mother's Institute
  • Ladies of Liberty Alliance (LOLA)

January 01, 1970
individualist, feminism, this, article, about, libertarian, feminism, individualist, anarchist, feminism, anarcha, feminism, libertarian, feminism, general, feminist, movements, ideologies, libertarian, liberal, feminism, liberal, feminism, this, article, rely. This article is about libertarian feminism For individualist anarchist feminism see Anarcha feminism For libertarian feminism in general see Feminist movements and ideologies Libertarian For liberal feminism see Liberal feminism This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral Please help improve it by replacing them with more appropriate citations to reliable independent third party sources April 2023 Learn how and when to remove this message Individualist feminism also known as ifeminism is a libertarian feminist movement that emphasizes individualism personal autonomy freedom from state sanctioned discrimination against women and gender equality Contents 1 Overview 2 Beliefs 3 History in the United States 4 Libertarian feminist organizations 4 1 Association of Libertarian Feminists 4 2 Feminists for Liberty 4 3 Ladies of Liberty Alliance LOLA 4 4 Mothers Institute 5 Criticism 6 Notable individualist feminists 7 See also 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External linksOverview editIndividualist feminists attempt to change legal systems to eliminate sex and gender privileges and to ensure that individuals have equal rights Individualist feminism encourages women to take full responsibility for their own lives and opposes any government interference into choices adults make with their own bodies 1 2 3 page needed Individualist or libertarian feminism is sometimes grouped as one of many branches of liberal feminism but it tends to diverge significantly from 21st century mainstream liberal feminism of the 21st century 4 5 further explanation needed Individualist feminists Wendy McElroy and Christina Hoff Sommers define individualist feminism in opposition to what they call political or gender feminism 6 14 7 8 Beliefs editLibertarian feminists reject gender roles that limit women s autonomy and choice and assert that strict gender roles limit both women and men especially if they are legally enforced 9 Libertarian feminists are critical of using institutional power to achieve positive aims believing that allowing the government to make decisions on behalf of women may limit women s individual choices For instance banning sex work to protect women treats women as a monolithic group rather than individuals and takes away economic opportunities for women who want to work in the sex industry by choice citation needed The Cato Institute an American libertarian think tank argues that capitalism has given women a higher standard of living greater access to resources greater individual freedoms and more job opportunities outside of physical labor 10 11 Individualist feminism conforms to the theory of natural law supporting laws that protect the rights of men and women equally 12 page needed Individual feminists argue that government should not prioritize the needs of women over men nor should it strive to intervene to create equality in personal relationships private economic arrangements entertainment and media representation or the general sociocultural realm citation needed History in the United States editAccording to individualist feminist Joan Kennedy Taylor early organized feminism in the United States was fundamentally a classical liberal women s movement 13 First wave feminists focused on universal suffrage and the abolition of slavery along with property rights for women and other forms of equal rights citation needed During the Victorian era and the early 20th century individualist feminism fell out of vogue in the US and UK as the progressive labor and socialist movements began to hold more sway over politics citation needed Individualist feminism was revived by anti authoritarian and individualist second wave feminists in the mid 20th century According to Taylor the political issues that gained wide adherence were the reproductive rights to birth control and abortion and the Equal Rights Amendment which at least in its initial support was a classical liberal restraint on government 2 Labels like individualist feminism libertarian feminism and classical liberal feminism were explicitly embraced by late 20th century writers and activists such as Taylor Sharon Presley Tonie Nathan and Wendy McElroy citation needed Modern libertarian feminism is a continuation of ideas and work developed by these women and their contemporaries including Nadine Strossen and Camille Paglia as well as of the ideas of classical liberal and anarchist writers throughout history citation needed Libertarian feminist organizations editAssociation of Libertarian Feminists edit The Association of Libertarian Feminists ALF was founded in 1973 by Tonie Nathan and Sharon Presley on Ayn Rand s birthday in Eugene Oregon at Nathan s home 14 15 In September 1975 in New York City ALF became a national organization 15 As of 2015 update Presley was the executive director of the organization 16 The ALF has stated that their purpose is to oppose sexist attitudes oppose government and provide a libertarian alternative to those aspects of the women s movement that tend to discourage independence and individuality 17 The ALF have opposed the government s involvement in childcare centers including zoning laws unnecessary and pointless health and safety restrictions and required licensing 18 The ALF have also opposed public education saying that public schools not only foster the worst of traditionalist sexist values but inculcate docility and obedience to authority with sterile stifling methods and compulsory programs and regulations 18 In 1977 Nathan suggested eliminating parts of the United States Postal Service regulations that obstructed the mailing of birth control samples and information about family planning at the National Women s Conference in Houston Texas 15 Feminists for Liberty edit Feminists for Liberty F4L is a nonprofit libertarian feminist group founded in 2016 It was founded by Kat Murti and Elizabeth Nolan Brown 19 to promote the values of libertarian feminism F4L are anti sexism and anti statism pro markets and pro choice and classically liberal anti carceral and sex positive 20 They are opposed to collectivism and argue that treating someone as simply a representative of their sex or gender is collectivist 20 Ladies of Liberty Alliance LOLA edit The Ladies of Liberty Alliance LOLA was established in 2009 as a nonprofit organization LOLA s goal is to engage women in libertarianism through social groups leadership trainings and visits from guest speakers 21 Mothers Institute edit The Mothers Institute was a non profit educational and networking organization supporting stay at home mothering homeschooling civics in the classroom and an effective networking system for mothers and freedom of choice in health and happiness It is now defunct citation needed Criticism editThis section is about criticism of individualist feminism For the political movement opposed to feminism see Antifeminism Criticism of individualist feminism ranges from expressing disagreements with the values of individualism as a feminist to expressing the limitations within individualist feminism as an effective activism Critics have argued that individualist feminism does not sufficiently address structural inequality 22 In 1995 American radical feminist Catharine MacKinnon criticized the value of individual choice saying there were still instances where women are used abused bought sold and silenced especially women of color 23 In 1999 American feminist Susan Brownmiller suggested that the aversion to collective united feminism was a sign of a waning and unhealthy feminist movement 24 Notable individualist feminists editWilliam Lloyd Garrison 1805 1879 citation needed Ezra Heywood 1829 1893 Voltairine de Cleyre 1866 1912 Dora Marsden 1882 1960 Suzanne La Follette 1893 1983 Tonie Nathan 1923 2014 Joan Kennedy Taylor 1926 2005 Mimi Reisel Gladstein b 1936 Sharon Presley 1943 2022 Camille Paglia b 1947 Christina Hoff Sommers b 1950 Wendy McElroy b 1951 Virginia Postrel b 1960 Cathy Young b 1963 Tiffany Million b 1966 Rene DenfeldSee also editAnarcha feminism Cultural liberalism radicalism Equity feminism Female entrepreneur Feminist anthropology Feminist economics Feminist existentialism Feminist political theory and ecology Individualist anarchism Left libertarianism Liberal feminism Libertarian perspectives on abortion List of conservative feminisms Sex positive feminism Women s property rightsReferences edit Liberty for women freedom and feminism in the twenty first century Wendy McElroy Chicago Ivan R Dee 2002 ISBN 1 56663 434 2 OCLC 48475190 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint others link a b Taylor Joan Kennedy 1992 Reclaiming the mainstream individualist feminism rediscovered Buffalo N Y Prometheus Books ISBN 0 87975 717 5 OCLC 25282967 Taylor Joan Kennedy 1999 What to do when you don t want to call the cops a non adversarial approach to sexual harassment New York London ISBN 0 8147 8232 9 OCLC 41580348 Carceral Feminism and the Libertarian Alternative Libertarianism org www libertarianism org 2015 01 28 Retrieved 2020 12 06 How is Libertarian Feminism Different from Other Feminisms Libertarianism org www libertarianism org 2015 01 06 Retrieved 2020 12 06 McElroy Wendy ed 2002 Liberty for women freedom and feminism in the twenty first century Chicago Ivan R Dee ISBN 978 1 56663 435 9 Hoff Sommers Christina 1995 Who Stole Feminism How Women Have Betrayed Women New York Touchstone Simon amp Schuster ISBN 9780684801568 McElroy Wendy 2003 Gender Feminism and Ifeminism Wherein They Differ PDF Etica amp Politica Ethics amp Politics 2 www libertarianism org https www libertarianism org columns how is libertarian feminism different other feminisms Retrieved 2023 09 02 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help www cato org https www cato org commentary why feminists should embrace capitalism Retrieved 2023 09 02 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help www cato org https www cato org policy report november december 2019 does capitalism help women Retrieved 2023 09 02 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help McElroy Wendy 2001 Individualist feminism of the nineteenth century Collected writings and Biographical profiles McFarland a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Reclaiming Feminism for Liberty Libertarianism org www libertarianism org 2020 03 11 Retrieved 2020 12 06 Fisher J A 2013 07 16 Individualist Feminism A Libertarian Feminism Being Feminist Retrieved 2020 12 04 a b c About ALF The Association of Libertarian Feminists 2008 12 26 Archived from the original on 2008 12 26 Retrieved 2020 12 04 Association of Libertarian Feminists The Insomniac Libertarian Retrieved 2020 12 04 Association of Libertarian Feminists 2008 12 23 Archived from the original on 2008 12 23 Retrieved 2020 12 04 a b Presley Sharon Kinsky Lynn 2008 12 26 ALF Paper Government Is Women s Enemy Archived from the original on 2008 12 26 Retrieved 2020 12 04 Who We Are Feminists for Liberty Retrieved 2020 12 04 a b Feminists for Liberty consent in all things Retrieved 2023 04 08 Ladies of Liberty 2018 Ladies of Liberty Alliance LOLA Ladies of Liberty Alliance Retrieved 26 November 2020 Personal Narratives Group ed 1989 Interpreting women s lives Feminist Theory and Personal Narratives Bloomington Indiana University Press pp 172 88 ISBN 9780253205018 Freedman M amp Hofstra University 1995 Group Defamation and Freedom of Speech The Relationship Between Language and Violence Westport Conn Greenwood Press ISBN 9780313292972 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Brownmiller Susan 1999 In Our Time Memoir of a Revolution New York Dial Press p 328 ISBN 978 0 385 31486 2 Further reading editKennedy Taylor Joan 1992 Reclaiming the mainstream individualist feminism rediscovered Buffalo N Y Prometheus Books ISBN 9780879757175 Heywood Ezra 1873 Uncivil Liberty An Essay to Show the Injustice and Impolicy of Ruling Woman Without Her Consent Archived from the original on 2 September 2005 One of the first individualist feminist essays by Ezra Heywood de Cleyre Voltairine 2005 Presley Sharon Sartwell Crispin eds Exquisite rebel the essays of Voltairine de Cleyre feminist anarchist genius Albany State University of New York Press ISBN 9780791460948 Johnson Charles W 1 May 2005 Libertarian Feminism Can This Marriage Be Saved Presley Sharon Feminism in Liberty Archived from the original on 30 July 2012 Liberal Feminism Liberal Feminism definition Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 2021 Essay including discussion of libertarian feminism Davies S 1987 Libertarian Feminism in Britain 1860 1910 PDF Libertarian Alliance Pamphlet no 7 Archived from the original PDF on 2018 10 04 Retrieved 2010 09 28 External links editAssociation of Libertarian Feminists iFeminists Pro Choice Libertarians Archived 2007 09 03 at the Wayback Machine The Mother s Institute Ladies of Liberty Alliance LOLA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Individualist feminism amp oldid 1219376770, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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