So apparently a few years ago, back when she was still at Google, newly minted Yahoo ceo Marissa Mayer said in an interview that she did not consider herself a feminist. Yes, she did believe in equal rights, and also that women were as capable—”if not more so”—than men in certain respects, but added, “….I don’t have that sort of militant drive and the sort of chip on the shoulder that sometimes comes with that.”
And you know? Marisa Mayer can choose to call or not call herself whatever she wants. She really can. But I do hope she understands that those militant, chip-on-shoulder women she refers to paved the way for her ass.
Exactly! Why is it that feminism got such a bad name? I think it was the 80s when women started saying things like “i’m not a feminist.” I don’t get it, to paraphrase Caitlin Moran: does the thought of equal pay and opportunity irritate you?
(We have a very visible example, although fictionalized, of what offices were like for women just a short while ago– Mad Men. My mother couldn’t watch it bc she said it brought back too many bad memories)
Right on. It drives me nuts when people define feminism as militant. Especially when they do so while blithely agreeing they they obviously believe in equal pay opportunities. Obviously! Hasn’t equality always been a thing? Oh wait…
My mom feels the same way about Mad Men.
Preach.
Well said and thank you! Two years ago I blogged about my annoyance at Martha Stewart for saying the same thing. I can’t believe grown-ass educated women still don’t know what the word “feminist” means….
Wow. Thank you for saying this. This blog just gets awesomer and awesomer.
You’re right. Without Gloria Steinem & Betty Friedan et al, MM would be sitting behind a desk typing, fending off passes from boozed up bosses & being paid a pittance. And she wouldn’t like it. Not one bit.
CT, Mad Men isn’t all that fictionalized. That’s why your Mom couldn’t watch it & that’s why I wrote books like MODERN WOMEN. I remember too much of those days and that cr*p.
Wow. That makes that show even more depressing to me. I always feel on the wrong side of any discussion of MM. I admire the art direction and the costume design. But it’s a glamorization of a time I am so so so grateful I didn’t have to be an adult in.
While it sounds like you missed the intention of her quote, you did quote her correctly. Let’s not forget in this age of pseudo-journalism that women are the worst supporters of other women. I’m going to assume the best of a woman I’d never even heard of until a week or so ago. And I doubt I will assume the journalistic credibility of a site called “the frisky.
” let’s not forget in this age of pseudo-journalism women are the worst supporters of other women.”
that is so true.
perhaps she’ll start to self-identify a little better when one reporter too many asks her how, more importantly, she plans on getting her pre baby body back?
the tone of the tech media regarding her pregnancy is one step above US magazine! maybe half a step.
amen.
Amen, KF. There was a pretty good piece on Slate a couple days ago about why Silicon Valley women want to lie low on the Women Question. They get to play Good Cop, essentially, because anything else would get them blacklisted there (as in, well, almost everywhere else too, if we’re being honest).
Things haven’t changed as much as people think.
Equal rights, the ability to own and inherit property, the right to vote, the right to an education.
Yeah, who needs that stuff.
Well, I guess she thinks that she got there all on her own b/c she’s just that fabulous…
Thank you KF! You always articulate exactly what I’m thinking! Keep on keeping on – love your blog
I don’t know her but can only imagine the bruises she would endure if openly admitting to a pro- woman agenda. The trick is to quietly stack the deck with strong qualified women who actually get things done. Changes the dynamic in the boardroom. It’s sad but true.
you go girl!!!! well said (as always)
I actually laughed out loud at this one. Thank you. As a woman who has worked long and hard to advance the right of other women to work outside the home/stay at home/ramp up after a baby/put their career life on hold after a baby/but most of all turn around and put your hand out to give the women around you a chance, I am. A feminist. Since 1972. Or so.
I live in the South, where it really is the “F” words. None of my friends, all of whom are well educated and liberal, refer to themselves as feminist. Just me.
I don’t care what I’m called, just give me the same pay as a man for the same responsibilities.
Maybe being reticent about it flies when you’re starting out, but when you hit the CEO level, any guy who will stop being intimidated by you if you giggle and say, “Gosh, no! I’m not a feminist, they’re mean!” is too stupid to care about. Too many women have fought to let you be hired, let alone pregnant. Don’t degrade them by saying you don’t like some of their methods.
My mom also couldn’t watch Mad Men. She lived it, but working in the public sector. Got chased around a desk once by a superior. She was six feet tall in her bare feet, so once she stopped and was towering over him, he backed down. She didn’t talk about her work much, but her face when she did was enough to let me know I never want to go through what she did. Thanks, mom, and every other woman who helped make sure I won’t.
“don’t degrade them by saying you don’t like some of their methods” — well said!
hahaha this is so true. I just love the cynicism or (ignorance) of today’s feminine youth and not so young, who cannot openly embrace what feminism is today (because it certainly is evolving) and how it owes our founding mothers everything. You would think these girls were born yesterday. Scorn. Scorn.
Like to see Caitlin Moran slap her around a little. (OK, maybe more than a little.)
When women say that, it’s such a step backwards for feminism and women everywhere, and it really bums me out.
Memo to Marissa Mayer:
Nice career you got. You didn’t build that. Someone else made that happen.
Thanks for this… young women need to be reminded we wouldn’t have any of these choices if it weren’t for those women before us. This really makes me think she’s not so bright…