This class has been an eye-opener for me. It’s amazing how I’ve always identified as a feminist but knew so very little of it. It is a very broad topic, with historical, racial, class and cultural context, it means different things to different people. In Claire Goldberg’s ‘What’s in a Name?’ On Writing the History of Feminism, Goldberg explains how the word feminism came to define movements spanning over years and borders, ever changing. It may seem like the varied definition of feminism makes the word inconsequential, or even contradictory. In recent context, the diverse ideologies feminists subscribe to can be seen in the debate about inclusion of transgender women in women spaces. Like Tina Vasquez mentions in her article, It’s Time to End the Long History of Feminism Failing Transgender Women, trans-exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs) advocate for the exclusion of transgender women, arguing that they are counterproductive to the feminist movement for toppling gender roles. On the other hand, there are feminists that understand transgender women are exactly what feminism is all about. After all, they’ve gone through the same disadvantages (if not more) that cis-gendered women have throughout history. Wouldn’t fighting for trans rights be the next organic movement of feminism?

In the same way, the difference in beliefs can also be seen when discussing sex work and pornography. Katz. Jackson highlights how there are feminists that critique pornography and its role in desensitizing sexualization, objectification and victimization of women in society. On the other hand, pro-porn feminists argue that it promotes sexual liberation and empowerment of women. So when there is such disconnect in the ideas behind every sub-group of feminists, one may wonder what does it mean to be a feminist, can they all be coexist in a single umbrella under feminism? Goldberg seems to believe that feminism, the word, its history and core motif of women empowerment matters.