Can we please retire the word "feminazi"?!?

[Anonymous]

I've seen the word feminazi tossed about on several posts lately. Surely I can't be the only one who finds the term offensive (and on so many levels). As a Jew who has many relatives who survived Nazi concentration camps (and even more relatives who didn't survive), equating feminists with Nazis is just so disgusting, even more so when you consider that Nazis were anti-feminist and anti-choice. And as a woman and feminist who is proud of what women have accomplished in the realm of equality and civil rights over the past 150 years, I am disturbed that so many women throw this term around. I'm always so surprised by the number of women who willingly use a word that was brought into popularity by Rush Limbaugh, who will never be mistaken as a friend to women, a word whose only purpose is to demean women and make their accomplishments and demands for equality seem small and worthless.

[Anonymous]

I agree - I don't understand why feminism is a bad word or negative concept. Being a WOHM with two daughters I am a feminist for sure. And the only reason I included that I work outside the home is that I now care a lot more about family-friendly work policies and policies that can help women who don't have the advantages I have (if they are low wage workers, punching a clock, don't have supportive pumping policies at work, access to high quality child care, etc.).

Some great books I've read in the past year that I recommend: Influence - How Women's Soaring Economic Power will Transform our World for the Better; and When Everything Changed.

[Anonymous]

I report these posts every time I see them. I consider it hate speech both against women and against jewish people.

[Anonymous]

ITA - it's such an ugly word, and demeans so many people and concepts at once. Would you believe my FIL used to call me that as a term of endearment? I am Jewish and I work for a reproductive rights organization - he thought he was being cute! Ha. It's taken a few years but he's finally stopped.

[Anonymous]

ITA - it's such an ugly word, and demeans so many people and concepts at once. Would you believe my FIL used to call me that as a term of endearment? I am Jewish and I work for a reproductive rights organization - he thought he was being cute! Ha. It's taken a few years but he's finally stopped.

[Anonymous]

I think it started with the Soup nazi on Seinfeld and using nazi as a colloquialism for anyone who is very rigid in their stance on something and always trying to correct others. Someone at work is referred to as the chair nazi as she goes insane if anyone moves her chair. I've seen grammar nazi on here too.

I found this little news piece interesting and speaks to it being used as slang.

"The High Court has heard that the "Nazi" jibe made by Jon Gaunt (represented by Gavin Millar QC and Mark Henderson) on his TalkSport show was used as slang rather than as a historical insult.

Jon Gaunt was sacked from his show following an OfCom decision to censure the station after he called a councillor a "health Nazi" on air. Gavin Millar QC argued that Gaunt had not used the word "Nazi" in an historical or ideological sense, adding that "there is now a recognised slang of the word Nazi [as] one who imposes their views on others". He further contended that Ofcom had acted disproportionately by censuring TalkSport and impugning his client's professional reputation, in contravention of article 10 of the European convention on human rights."

[Anonymous]

I am a German-American and I wish that it would become unacceptable to use Nazi-inspired imagery every time someone wants to denote a villian. In a movie, tv show, book, etc. want to make someone seem sinister, dress him like a Nazi. Want to make a political system seem oppressive, dictatorial, menacing, give it Nazi imagery. The Nazis were absolutely terrible, but they do not have a monopoly on despicableness. Unfortunately, human history is littered with brutal genocidal regimes to choose from. And, Germany has a long and wonderful history both before and after that period. So, lets all stop using "Nazi" as a shorthand for everything. It is offensive from many sides.

[Anonymous]

It comes up in every BFing thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it started with the Soup nazi on Seinfeld and using nazi as a colloquialism for anyone who is very rigid in their stance on something and always trying to correct others. Someone at work is referred to as the chair nazi as she goes insane if anyone moves her chair. I've seen grammar nazi on here too.

I found this little news piece interesting and speaks to it being used as slang.

"The High Court has heard that the "Nazi" jibe made by Jon Gaunt (represented by Gavin Millar QC and Mark Henderson) on his TalkSport show was used as slang rather than as a historical insult.

Jon Gaunt was sacked from his show following an OfCom decision to censure the station after he called a councillor a "health Nazi" on air. Gavin Millar QC argued that Gaunt had not used the word "Nazi" in an historical or ideological sense, adding that "there is now a recognised slang of the word Nazi [as] one who imposes their views on others". He further contended that Ofcom had acted disproportionately by censuring TalkSport and impugning his client's professional reputation, in contravention of article 10 of the European convention on human rights."

Limbaugh started using the term "feminazi" in 1992; the Soup Nazi Seinfeld ep was 1995. There is no relation. I really disagree with your argument that "feminazi" is used as slang or a colloquialism. It is almost always used in an insulting manner, generally directed at women who are perceived to have stepped out of their "place" or dare to argue against something that they feel is an injustice. "Soup Nazi" was supposed to be comedic, feminazi is supposed to insult the woman at whom it is directed, and put her in her supposed place.

[Anonymous]

I am a woman and feminazi is the same to me as soup nazi or grammar nazi. The only women who get called feminazi or those who try and impose their views on others.

I don't think feminazi is used when trying to put a woman in her place at all or argue against injustice. It is when they go overboard.

Then again I don't consider myself a feminist myself as I don't see myself as a victim /martyr. I don't see the world through oppression glasses and I don't dislike or try and minimize or vilify men.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a woman and feminazi is the same to me as soup nazi or grammar nazi. The only women who get called feminazi or those who try and impose their views on others.

I don't think feminazi is used when trying to put a woman in her place at all or argue against injustice. It is when they go overboard.

Then again I don't consider myself a feminist myself as I don't see myself as a victim /martyr. I don't see the world through oppression glasses and I don't dislike or try and minimize or vilify men.

Do you really believe that feminists are women who (to paraphrase) see themselves as victims and martyrs, and view the world through oppression glasses, and dislike and vilify men??!! Wow. I'm always amazed at the women who so quickly proclaim that they are not feminists. You really should learn the meaning of the word. So many opportunities are available to you and your daughters because of the work of feminists. Guess they were all just a bunch of feminazis, though, whining about voting rights, equal pay for equal work, and the right to control their own bodies and lives.

[Anonymous]

I like the word feminazi. Sure it is over the top, but it uses the suffix as a perjorative to indicate the fanaticism and wrongheadedness of some in the feminist movement.

[Anonymous]

words only have power over you if you let them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like the word feminazi. Sure it is over the top, but it uses the suffix as a perjorative to indicate the fanaticism and wrongheadedness of some in the feminist movement.

no comment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:words only have power over you if you let them.

yes. but other people, like our children here it. It doesn't have power over me, but I hate that I have to explain this to my children.