Feminism about equality of all
As a feminist, I appreciate Ilana Fried’s column, “Long live feminism; the fight
isn’t over” (April 29), but I would like to add a
few points to clarify what it means to be a feminist.
Although it is not the only definition, according to The
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the
definition of feminism is the “belief in the social,
political, and economic equality of the sexes” or “the
movement organized around this belief.” Feminism is often
mistaken for the idea that it only encompasses female rights.
What many people do not recognize is that feminists seek equal
rights for all people, including men and women of all ethnicities,
sexual orientations and economic statuses. Historically, feminists
have accomplished incredible goals for women, as Fried states, but
have also participated in the civil rights and gay rights
movements, since these movements are integrally linked with
feminist ideals of equality.
Many people, including Lynne Cheney, don’t recognize that
once someone affects change, it’s not necessarily
permanent.
There are always people who will fight to destroy the laws that
protect the rights we have. It is imperative that we actively
promote ideas of equality, raise awareness of injustices, and
protect our fellow human beings from those who wish to take our
rights away.
Evan Cholfin Third-year, paleobiology
American Idol uses stereotypes
Things went horribly awry when William Hung, a Berkeley
engineering student and participant on American Idol, got in front
of the camera.
The laughter generated by Hung’s performance is strikingly
similar to the kind produced by minstrel show performers nearly a
century ago. These shows consisted of white men who wore makeup to
look black. After traveling to the South to observe the culture of
plantation slaves, the performers would put on a black face and
imitate the unique aspects of African American song, dance and
speech. The purpose of these sketches was to amuse the
predominantly white audiences who could be counted on to laugh at
the stereotypical absurdity of it all. Despite the eventual decline
of the minstrel show, its racial implications have lived on through
vaudeville, movies and television to affect the way that popular
entertainment portrays blacks to this day.
This brings us back to the William Hung show of 2004. Except as
martial arts fighters, male Asians haven’t found a place in
the country’s entertainment industry. If this American Idol
reject is to be our big ticket in, I denounce the ignorance it will
preserve.
It is disturbing to note Hung is happily allowing himself to be
exploited for this mockery, so that nobody else has to dress up to
do it. To the people who find William Hung funny: What are you
really laughing at? This man is popular for all the wrong reasons,
and I believe the rise of his popularity can be attributed to his
ability to amuse predominantly white audiences who laugh at the
stereotypical absurdity of it all.
Richard Meng Second-year, business
economics