Female Chauvinist Pigs

Last semester, in my Feminist Theory course, we read an article that discussed the existence of women who fall into the category of “Female Chauvinist Pigs”. I have been thinking a lot about this lately, and think that it is a very interesting view of what it means to truly be a feminist.

Essentially, a “female chauvinist pig” is a woman who might seem to embody a host of feminist qualities, such as ambition, initiative, and independence. The important differentiation is that these women do not seek to raise the status of women as a whole; in fact, they are often willing to put down other feminine characteristics and practices in order to elevate their own status. The author divides these women into two characteristics: women who behave like “cartoon women” and women who behave like “cartoon men”.

Ever since reading this, I’ve been nervous that I fall into the “cartoon men” category, at times. I tend to dismiss stereotypical “girly” practices like reading celebrity magazines, or watching chick-flicks. But I think I really need to watch myself with this distancing of my own sex, as that itsn't doing feminism any favors.