Hugh Mackenzie
Huntsville Doppler
Am I a Feminist?
Recently, I had an interesting conversation with a female friend of mine. We were talking about the women’s marches that took place all over the world, and particularly in Washington, in the wake of the inauguration of Donald Trump. I said that while I would be uncomfortable with some of the hats and signs that referred to women’s private body parts, I felt the marches were an effective expression of woman’s rights and an important message to the President and that I would have had no trouble marching with them. The response from my friend was a little surprising to say the least. She said: “But this is a feminist movement and you can’t be a feminist because you are a Conservative!”
Well, she had me there. I am a Conservative, not one of those tea party type wingnuts, not one who cannot vote for another political party, when I believe it’s justified, but a Conservative nonetheless. It is a bit of a shock to hear that I could not be a feminist because of it. So, then I began to ask myself if that was true; that being a feminist and a conservative were incompatible. Do people, especially women, really believe that?
Off I went to consult Mr. Webster, he of dictionary fame. He defines feminism as “the theory of the political, economic and social equality of the sexes.” And as, “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.” Well, I buy that 100 per cent. I also recognize that we are far from that reality and that this is 2017. That is why I support these marches. Does that make me a feminist? Are my views consistent with feminist principals? Here is what I believe.
I believe strongly in equal rights for both men and women. I do not support special rights for anyone, although I do recognize that in some ways, men and women are created differently and sometimes have different needs. However, certainly in my view, one is not and never should be, subservient to the other.
In that context, I have no problem with the concept of women controlling their own bodies. Certainly, men control theirs, so why shouldn’t women? Paradoxically, I have trouble with abortion on demand. A woman has every right to decide if she wants to give birth, but surely in the event of an unwanted pregnancy, the first trimester, before a fetus becomes viable, is sufficient time for that decision to be made. I believe the sanctity of life should be an important issue for both men and women.
Over the course of my business career, I have had five partners who are women. All of them were (are), in one way or another, exceptional. As an employer, I probably hired more women than men. Frankly, if I had two candidates, equally qualified for a job and one was male and the other female, I would lean toward engaging the woman. In my experience, women in the workplace often work harder than men. No doubt they believe they have to which, of course, is unfair. Interestingly, I have also found that women usually work better with men than they do with their own gender. I have lost at least one good friend over this reality. I often wonder if in general, limited opportunities for women make them more competitive and aggressive with each other.
As to the view of some in relation to equal pay for work of equal value, it is beyond belief that there are those who believe it’s okay to pay a woman less than a man for the same work. I know that it still happens and to me it smacks of discrimination. It is the same as paying a black person less than a white person for carrying out the same task. If it is not already a criminal offense, it should be.
One of the signs that I saw several times during the women’s marches was, “The future is Female”. I respectfully disagree with that. What is accomplished by replacing one form of domination with another? No, I believe in Webster’s definition of feminism; the equality of men and women.
However, we have a long way to go before the “theory” of feminism becomes reality. I find it astounding that although our society is thousands of years old, it is only in my grandparent’s generation that women were able to vote. Even in my generation, when my wife and I were first married, though she had a good job my signature was required in order for her to get a loan.
I do believe we will be a much better society when we have full equality between women and men and I believe we should all keep marching until we do. Does that make me a feminist? Probably not, in some people’s view, but I would like to think that I am…..and a Tory to boot!
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Very good to hear, Hugh, that you are a feminist and a Conservative/conservative.
I think you may be confusing “Equal pay for work of equal VALUE” and “Equal pay for equal work”. Equal pay for equal work refers to men and women doing the SAME or very similar jobs.
Equal pay for work of equal VALUE is much more complex and what pay equity is about. Its about ensuring that jobs that women have typically done are paid for their true worth, e.g. nurses compared to orderlies, or to electricians, or to heavy equipment operators.
Both are legal requirements – not everyone is in compliance.
Love to see you and Hugh on the same page above and beyond Doppler. I am in the same boat.I use that metaphor as it has more room for likeminded people .
Hi Hugh,
I have no problem at all seeing you as a feminist. I recall when Liz and I helped out with your campaign how often you would ask for and then take our advice on some issue. Your respect for women was very evident to me then and it’s really when I came to know you well and appreciate your friendship.
Being a Conservative – what I think of as a ‘true’ conservative – in no way disqualifies you for the tag of feminist. There were plenty of Republican men of all ages at the Women’s March I attended and the thing they all had in common was a belief in the equality of the sexes and that women’s rights are human rights.
Regards, Dale