Thread by @RadfemBlack

Empowerment and how LibFems get it wrong. 🧵

EmPOWERment literally means gaining power. But third wave feminism has shifted the meaning of this very simple word to something like “gives good feelings”. This is not only plain wrong, but actively undermines feminism and retards women’s liberation.

You know that meme “modesty empowers some women, nudity empowers some women”? It’s kinda wrong. Bearing or hiding flesh provides no power, and depending on the context they can be degrading. It should be “modesty makes some women comfortable, nudity makes some women comfortable”.

What’s so insidious about this redefinition is that not only does it disincentivize women from pursuing real power, but it actively encourages women to engage in and uphold their oppression, believing that they’re somehow liberating themselves.

In a patriarchal society, of course what FEELS “empowering” to women is adhering to what said society pushes onto women, which just perpetuates the system, propping up patriarchy. Humans are social creatures and derive pleasure from conforming to social norms.

Mattafak in general, what’s empowering feels bad (at first) and what’s disempowering feels good (at first). Junk food and drugs feel good initially, but we know they are bad. Education and exercise frequently feel bad, but we know those are good. Analysis can’t end at feelings.

This is why in feminism the emphasis must be on what’s best for all women, not what any woman likes or wants. The female sex class is the subject of feminism, not the individual woman.

#WomenEmpowerment must be two things: objective and collective. Objective in that it tangibly affects the material world, and collective in that it benefits women as a group. No feelings or selfishness.

Ofc makeup FEELS “empowering” when women are literally penalized for rejecting it.
Ofc “sex work” FEELS “empowering” in a society that makes fuckability and sex appeal out to be the highest value of a woman.
Ofc hijab FEELS “empowering” in societies that shame female “immodesty”.

But all of the above and more are actually DISEMPOWERING, certainly to women as a class and often to women as individuals. They take away women’s power, uphold oppression, prop up patriarchy. It doesn’t matter how the women engaging in them feel, power has nothing to do with it.

And remember, something that does personally provide one woman with status and authority can throw all women under the bus. Take the entire careers of conservative female politicians, for example.

What IS empowering for women is what provides social, economic, and political clout to the female sex. Freedom, authority, status, resources. It’s not rocket science. Does it challenge misogyny? How does it affect women relative to men? What are the consequences and benefits? Etc

Getting educated is empowering. A prestigious career is empowering. Rejecting makeup is empowering. Embracing your natural face and body is empowering. Building bonds with other women is empowering. Exercise is empowering. Health is empowering. Strength is empowering.

Money is empowering (economic power), but that doesn’t mean that anything that provides money is empowering (*cough*).

The freedom to choose is, of course, empowering (it is the power to create one’s own destiny), but that doesn’t mean that every choice in and of itself IS empowering. Important.

Not every choice a woman makes is empowering and not every choice a feminist makes NEEDS to be empowering. Just please stop cheapening and watering down this word to make you feel better. This misappropriation is sewing confusion and delusion and holding back any real change.