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Matthieu Miossec

Doctoral Student - Genetic Medecine (Congenital Heart Disease),

TEDCRED 100+
TED TranslatorAssociate

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Would you call yourself a feminist? Why or why not?

Is there something about feminism you don't agree with?
Is the problem you perceive with the people in the movement or the idea behind feminism?
What are the most important priorities for feminism today, what are the least?
What would feminism be like if you had your way?
Is there something you'd like to propose instead that is altogether not feminism?

Topics: Gender Gap Gender equality equality feminism gender neutrality human nature social construct
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    edward long 100+

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    Sep 1 2012: You, Mr. Miossec, have presented nine separate questions in one post! Add to this the fact that feminism is both a principle and a movement and you have not defined which you intend by the word "feminist". So, I can really only answer your first two questions: I support the principle that women should have the same social, economic, and political rights as men. I do not support the movement to win such rights for women because I consider it a battle already won (here in the USA). As evidence for the irrelevance of the feminist movement (here in the USA) I suggest reading the current Forbes article titled "The 100 Most Powerful Women in the World". 59 of the women are from the USA. They hold many of the highest level jobs in business; politics; media; entertainment; finance; humanitarian; philantropy; education; and art. I am sure this list was quite a bit shorter a couple of generation ago. The battle has been won (in the USA), all we need now is continuing vigilance.
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      Matthieu Miossec 100+

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      TED TranslatorAssociate
      Sep 1 2012: There's nothing like pointing at the greatest successess of a country to hide all its dirty laundry. We like to pretend America is the greatest country because of its impressive GDP when in fact the gap between rich and poor is shocking. I suppose you also think racial discrimination is a thing of the past with Obama at the head of the country?
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        edward long 100+

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        Sep 1 2012: Mr. Miossec,
        Do you have anything to say which could be considered germane to any one of the 9 questions you posted? Also, which aspect of "feminism" do you intend, the principle, or the movement? Vive la France, and God bless America!! Thank you sir.
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          Matthieu Miossec 100+

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          TED TranslatorAssociate
          Sep 1 2012: I'll answer your second question first. I have intentionally not been specific with the word "feminism" because what I want to see people's own reaction and characterisations of feminism. If I narrowly define feminism, I risk to cut out some interesting conversation. Someone like you (and at times someone like me) will need some clarification about what is meant by this and that. It is understandable. For others, something like feminism means one specific thing. What? Well hopefully with a post like this we can find out just what.

          To me, feminism is a struggle for equal rights, which in its historicity and its balance has been mostly about women's rights. I would call myself a feminist, although I would distance myself from gender feminism which I've described as purposefully in denial of physical differences betweeen men and women. However I do share the concern of gender feminists that a use of actual physical differences between the sex may be used to defend all sorts of things that shouldn't be. Nevertheless, fear of distortion is never a good reason to deny biological facts. In that respect, I am more of an equity feminist, a more rational approach to feminism.
          I think neither the people in the movement or the idea are a problem, I think it is the modern perception of both that is all wrong and there be many reasons for that which we could explore.

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