—
Michael. 26. Birthplace: Hauppauge, New York. Currently: New York, New York. Spiritual, Raised Jewish. Food/Architecture/Real Estate. Digital Branding Agency.
What does the concept/word “feminism” mean to you? What does the concept of equality mean to you?
To me the word feminism means people working together to help bridge the gap of gender inequality. The idea of gender equality both for people that are cisgendered or people with their preferred gender. As I associate with the LGBT community, for me specifically it’s really important that there’s gender equality for people’s preferred genders. That’s specifically something I’ve helped advocate and push for, especially since there are no real laws in place protecting the transgender community.
What do you think is the most pressing struggle for women today? What is the most crucial aspect in your eyes?
As a career person I think equality in pay is a huge thing. It’s interesting that there’s this idea of the glass ceiling and I think for a long time there was a lot of progress but even in these past weeks seeing what’s been happening with Trump is kind of outstanding to me. To see that the country (not necessarily metropolitan New York), but the rest of the country is still so far behind and lacking so much. Trump coming out with the idea to repeal the 19th Amendment, is just crazy to hear in an urban city. I mean, I went to school in the Midwest and even there I wasn’t really exposed to this, so it’s unfamiliar and sad for me to hear. Basically yes, the wage gap.
Is feminism a subject you think about? Have you ever read a book or seen a documentary about feminist issues?
I haven’t read any books per se; I read a book about a transgender musician who had struggles identifying as a woman as she went on tour throughout the country, specifically in the more rural side of the country. But I definitely follow the “He for She” campaign, so when Emma Watson talked about that campaign at the UN, and how viral it went on the Internet and in social media, I think that grabbed a lot of people’s attention. I have read a lot about feminism on the Internet – I am a millennial. I think about it a lot and I was raised mainly by women – I have my two older sisters who were my founding mothers, if you will, and I followed in their path. My mother was definitely the stronger voice and matriarch of our family more than my father, so I always saw it as something that was nothing. I never saw this line between two genders because family was so open and supportive and my sisters were the successful ones. For me it’s second nature. I am the youngest of three siblings, I have two older sisters, both of which are extremely successful in their fields and have really paved the way for me in terms of finding myself and wanting to be successful and becoming aspirational. My sisters literally called me Annie until I was three and I dressed in dresses and played hopscotch in our driveway.
Why do you identify as a feminist and how/when did you learn about it? What were you taught about women growing up?
For me it was all rooted within my family – having my very open-minded, liberal parents who never divided gender in any way so it should be equal opportunities for everyone. And I think that and my education, although we grew up in a suburb, was very open-minded so it was never an issue growing up. Then for me personally, I see everything that should be an equal opportunity for any person or thing or however they identify, so yes I’m a feminist but I would say on a global scale I really fight for everyone to have an equal opportunity and voice. Feminism is not just men and women – there’s transitioning, there’s people who are gender fluid or aren’t necessarily sure, or identify differently depending on the time in their life, so it’s interesting.
Is feminism empowering for men? If so, how? How does feminism differ for you?
Yeah for sure. I think this could be spoken to on two points – for myself personally as a homosexual man, it’s empowering that I am surrounded by very powerful women all the time; friends, family and colleagues, so it’s important for me to empower them and allow them to believe that they have equal opportunities in life because I strongly believe that. I think for heterosexual men it’s the same thing, as well as appealing to their other half if they’re in a relationship. A relationship is 50/50 and I feel that the only way for people to be truly successful and happy is if they really see it as an equal partnership.
Why do you think the word “feminist” is associated with a negative stigma? What do you think it connotes? How do you think it could change?
The word came around probably in the mid-20th century in terms of a popular term so I think there is a lot of stigma around it because men and anti-feminists were able to use that or create the negative connotation behind it over the times. When you give power to one thing, leaving the other thing aside (which would be the man) in a word, that gives opportunity for people to get fearful of it so they feel: “I’m afraid, therefore I should fight against or retaliate”. How do I think it could change? Not necessarily changing the exact word because I think that’s just ludicrous (rebranding a word so that it appeals to someone is unfair and unjust), but I think it’s also interesting what they did with the “He For She” campaign: they brought together all genders by having the two main genders on equal sides, making it seem like it was an equal playing field for them. I think more recently it’s become a less offensive or less intrusive word for people who don’t like it, hopefully because gender equality is progressing. But honestly, if there were less stupid people then the word wouldn’t be so hurtful. Basically education would help those people.
What issues/reservations do you have with feminism today? What do you personally think needs change?
For me it’s completely astonishing that in 2016 this is still an issue: to revoke the 19th Amendment that was created centuries ago. It’s crazy that this is still even a topic. I think there needs to be a lot more support and pushing of Title 7, the discrimination act against genders, religion etc. I think that needs to be held much more on a national level more so than a state-by-state basis because you’re still finding these situations where women are segregated from men or that they have certain birth control rights and stuff like that. It’s crazy that their local employer can make a decision that affects them which doesn’t really hurt the man. I think everything needs to be pushed more on an equal playing field in laws. In terms of employers, they need to be doing what they should be doing, what they can be doing in terms of equal opportunity. It’s harder for me to say because I live in a liberal city, in a very progressive industry, surround myself with very progressive friends and family so I’m not exactly on the battlefield of where it’s happening. But with the cause of feminism I don’t have any issues and it’s really hard for me to say because there are a lot of people that preach that women are too feminist or are too feminist-empowered which changes their ability to do things because all they think about is the cause over what is the task at hand and I think that’s absolutely ludicrous. As someone who is part of a minority as you would say, because I am a gay man and I have dealt with society in troublesome ways, but I feel like I’m apathetic and can put myself in other people’s shoes and I think there’s still a lot more that needs to be done that needs to protect women. It’s the fact that there are statistics showing still this huge pay gap in the workforce is crazy. I think the stupid people who say that feminists suck, like Donald trump, are really fucking stupid and I really don’t like them and they should not have a public voice.
Is there anything else you’d like to add? Are there any other questions you think I should be asking?
What kind of other people are you interviewing? Has there been a broad spectrum of people? Has anyone said anything that really surprised you? {I’ve been asking every person whether I should add more questions, this is a learning process for me as well. This project isn’t perfect, I just decided to do it on my own so it’s not like I’ve had a lot of input.} people have different knowledge bases, in terms of government and current political news I can’t honestly say that I know that much. I mean I follow the news every day but I don’t know what’s happening on a global level or something to that extent, but I know that what I see or what I’ve heard from friends is that it’s still a thing. My sister works in a really conservative British bank and for her it was really hard to push her way to become a Vice President.
—
—
Photo credit:
I think it’s also interesting what they did with the “He For She” campaign: they brought together all genders by having the two main genders on equal sides, making it seem like it was an equal playing field for them. Yes the campaign that was advertised as being supportive of both men and women but at the time of launch literally had nothing on its site but how issues affect women and what men can and should be doing to help women. It was a textbook example of a bait and switch. Bait men in with promise of supporting all… Read more »
Danny writes: It was a textbook example of a bait and switch. Bait men in with promise of supporting all people and looking at all issues from both the perspectives of men and women. Switch to focusing solely on women’s perspectives and only include men when it comes time to preach to them how they can improve for the sake of women. >>> Danny, you are 100% correct. This is why I (and many other men and not a few women) continue to reject feminism as a movement. It is, unfortunately, an expression of mass narcissism, where the only one… Read more »