Might help also to describe what you think feminism is, since it’s one of those terms that is overloaded.

I once had a physical therapist tell me she wasn’t a feminist because she thought women couldn’t be as physically capable as men when serving as soldiers, and seemed to believe feminism requires treating women exactly like men.

I told her I was a feminist because I believe in equal rights for men and women, an idea she did not seem so opposed to.

      • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
        0·
        1 year ago

        I’d say you’re 70% right, 30% wrong. Liberal feminism has often been a tool of empire, correct, but Marxist feminism is a critical tool for the liberation of the oppressed. Liberal feminists like the early suffragettes were only fighting for the rights of white women, as an example. The way your comment is framed unfortunately erases the need for feminism more than it highlights the imperialists coopting the movement. There are feminists like bell hooks and Angela Davis, Alexandra Kollontai, Leslie Feinberg, etc that point out that it is by uniting the oppressed segments of society that we can all liberate together. Marxism needs feminism, and feminism needs Marxism.

          • Cowbee [he/they]@lemmy.ml
            0·
            1 year ago

            I’m absolutely in agreement that secondary and tertiary contradictions are easier to solve when the primary contradiction is tackled. Social progress for Palestinians will speed along once Palestine is free, and would be stunted if Israel were to succeed in its aims. I do believe that uniting the oppressed in society is ultimately the best revolutionary strategy.