What is Feminism as Leftists

CN: discrimination, oppression, patriarchy, white supremacy, activism.

Feminism is not humanism or equalism - we are not seeking only equality. Historically, humanist or equalist groups have left minorities (specifically, women) out of the picture. They do not believe in and reject groups that function as a movement for specific groups and/or minorities. Feminism works to recognize the differences and to give them that space, it recognizes the structures of privilege and oppression and moves to dismantle and destroy the oppression.

Feminism is not about equalizing femininity and masculinity - it's for human rights and equitable equality for all regardless of aspects and/or gender identity, race, class, ability/capacity, etc. - and it's primary motives are to destroy the structures that oppress such as the patriarchy and white supremacy. Destroy the system, not damage control. As a Leftist, I don't want to do a patch job, I don't want to merely reach equal terms with cis men - because that doesn't resolve the problem nor the roots. Damage control and patch jobs such as trying to balance femininity and masculinity (which is problematic in and of itself because that's still trying to make usage and application of the gender binary, which is critically flawed and insidious) undermines and erases.

To quote Nellen Zim/Nell Al-Awamleh (a friend of mine):

"What is Feminism?

Answer:

Feminism is a movement for justice against the patriarchy, and is a movement for and by its most needed followers. Within feminism we recognize that the lives and safety of transgender people around the world is at a dire point, as well as the rights of LGBQAI+ folks. Women have been instrumental in promoting feminism, and a big hand is given to the women and trans people of color who have extended and enlarged feminist theory. Because of that, our feminism here is intersectional.

What is Leftist Feminism?

Answer:

Leftist feminism encompasses all ideologies that are anti-capitalist: Democratic Socialism, Marxism, Anarchism, Libertarian Socialism, etc. Leftist feminism sees patriarchy as specifically an unjust hierarchy that maintains and profits off the unpaid domestic labor of women, and establishes toxic norms and standards that separate individuals by gender in order to maintain power for cis gender men while gender non-conforming men, men who reject toxic masculinity, transgender women, nonbinary folks and cis gender women are then rationalized as less worthy for a good wage, living standards and basic needs. This, overall, safeguards capitalist profits, and while they occasionally have to make compromises, their power doesn't wane as long as they are able to hold the carrot of survival over our heads in the long run.”