User:Zorono Ornitorrico

Individualist feminism, also known as libertarian feminism, ifeminism or liberal feminism in European context, is a feminist school of thought that occurs particularly within libertarian, classical-liberal and anarcho-capitalist, but also to some extent in social-liberal and conservative movements and that emphasizes individualism, personal autonomy, freedom from state-sanctioned discrimination against women, toleration and gender equality.

Overview

Individualist feminists attempt to change legal systems to eliminate sex and gender privileges, and to ensure that individuals have equal rights. Individualist feminism encourages women to take full responsibility for their own lives and opposes any government interference into choices adults make with their own bodies.

Individualist or libertarian feminism is sometimes grouped as one of many branches of liberal feminism, but it tends to diverge significantly from 21st-century mainstream liberal feminism of the 21st century. Individualist feminists Wendy McElroy and Christina Hoff Sommers define individualist feminism in opposition to what they call "political" or "gender feminism". In Europe, individual feminism is more open to the tenets of Queer Theory and Gender Mainstreaming. The German individual feminist Mirna Funk separates her feminism from the political mainstream current (she refers to this as "Reihenhausfeminismus"; in English, "row house feminism"), as she emphasizes women's individual responsibility and rejects victimization on one hand, while proclaiming a feminist capitalism on the other, which is criticized by other feminists as "Girlboss feminism".

Beliefs

Libertarian feminists reject gender roles that limit women's autonomy and choice, and assert that strict gender roles limit both women and men, especially if they are legally enforced. Libertarian feminists are critical of using institutional power to achieve positive aims, believing that allowing the government to make decisions on behalf of women may limit women's individual choices. For instance, banning sex work to "protect" women treats women as a monolithic group, rather than individuals, and takes away economic opportunities for women who want to work in the sex industry by choice.

The Cato Institute, an American libertarian think tank, argues that capitalism has given women a higher standard of living, greater access to resources, greater individual freedoms and more job opportunities outside of physical labor.

Individualist feminism conforms to the theory of natural law, supporting laws that protect the rights of men and women equally. Individual feminists argue that government should not prioritize the needs of women over men, nor should it strive to intervene to create equality in personal relationships, private economic arrangements, entertainment and media representation, or the general sociocultural realm, while espcially European indivdualist femninists try to

History in the United States

According to individualist feminist Joan Kennedy Taylor, early organized feminism in the United States was fundamentally "a classical liberal women's movement". First-wave feminists focused on universal suffrage and the abolition of slavery, along with property rights for women and other forms of equal rights.

During the Victorian era and the early 20th century, individualist feminism fell out of vogue in the US and UK as the progressive, labor, and socialist movements began to hold more sway over politics.

Individualist feminism was revived by anti-authoritarian and individualist second-wave feminists in the mid-20th century. According to Taylor, "the political issues that gained wide adherence were the reproductive rights to birth control and abortion, and the Equal Rights Amendment, which (at least in its initial support) was a classical liberal restraint on government."

Labels like individualist feminism, libertarian feminism, and classical liberal feminism were explicitly embraced by late 20th century writers and activists such as Taylor, Sharon Presley, Tonie Nathan, and Wendy McElroy. Modern libertarian feminism is a continuation of ideas and work developed by these women and their contemporaries, including Nadine Strossen and Camille Paglia, as well as of the ideas of classical liberal and anarchist writers throughout history.

Situation outside the USA

Germany

The first feminist efforts outside the left-wing spectrum come from the neoliberal or classical liberal FDP (Free Democratic Party) in Germany. The party made initial attempts at promoting women in the 1970s, leading to the establishment of the party-affiliated feminist organization, Liberal Women, in 1990. This organization strives to promote women as individuals in line with the party's philosophy, thereby distinguishing itself from left-wing feminisms.

Ria Schröder, leading figure of the individualist Female Future Forum

As the Liberal Women are relatively small compared to the overall party, efforts to promote individual feminism within the party were particularly driven by members of the Young Liberals. Alongside the "Federal Working Group of Liberal Feminism," (Bundesarbeitskreis Liberaler Feminismus) there exists the Female Future Forum, led by the young politician Ria Schröder. Consequently, there were early structures within the party where individual feminism could develop.

Mirna Funk (2015)

The contributions of individual feminist intellectuals in Germany only began to emerge in the 2020s. Here, a clear difference is apparent compared to the USA, where individual feminism has aligned more closely with anti-feminist structures. In contrast, individual feminist activists and intellectuals in Germany are more firmly rooted within the broader feminist structures, making it a recognized feminist movement. In 2022, the German-Jewish writer and journalist Mirna Funk wrote the first German individual feminist manifesto with her book "Who Cares! Von der Freiheit, Frau zu sein" ("Who Cares! On the Freedom to Be a Woman"). In this work, she emphasizes women's individual responsibility and their ability to make personal choices within capitalism while critiquing left-wing feminisms.

Ronja von Rönne (2018)

The German writer, journalist, and presenter Ronja von Rönne expressed decidedly anti-feminist views in a polemical article published in the German populist-liberal magazine "Die Welt" in 2015, titled "Why Feminism Disgusts Me." She wrote, "I am not a feminist, I am an egoist. I don't know if 'one' needs feminism in Germany in 2015, I don't need it. It rather disgusts me. Feminism sounds to me as antiquated as the word 'tape jam'." Consequently, she was seen as a German icon of anti-feminism, although she did not want to be labeled as such, feeling that she was being wrongly appropriated. She stated that it was polemical and a spontaneous rant, rather than an anti-feminist contribution. In her book "Trotz" ("Defiance"), published in 2023, she reconciles with feminism and identifies herself as an individual feminist.

Other individual feminists worth mentioning include Janin Ullmann with her Female Finance podcast focusing on women's finances, and Annahita Esmailzadeh with her book "Von Quotenfrauen und alten weißen Männern" ("Of Quota Women and Old White Men"). Additionally, there are left-leaning, social-liberal feminists who seek to enrich the movement with individualistic positions, such as Paulita Pappel, Nadine Primo, and Marie von den Benken.

Libertarian feminist organizations

Association of Libertarian Feminists

The Association of Libertarian Feminists (ALF) was founded in 1973 by Tonie Nathan and Sharon Presley on Ayn Rand's birthday in Eugene, Oregon, at Nathan's home. In September 1975 in New York City, ALF became a national organization. As of 2015, Presley was the executive director of the organization.

The ALF has stated that their purpose is to oppose sexist attitudes, oppose government, and "provide a libertarian alternative to those aspects of the women's movement that tend to discourage independence and individuality." The ALF have opposed the government's involvement in childcare centers, including "zoning laws, unnecessary and pointless "health and safety" restrictions, [and] required licensing." The ALF have also opposed public education, saying that public schools "not only foster the worst of traditionalist sexist values but inculcate docility and obedience to authority with sterile, stifling methods and compulsory programs and regulations." In 1977, Nathan suggested eliminating parts of the United States Postal Service regulations that obstructed the mailing of birth control samples and information about family planning at the National Women's Conference in Houston, Texas.

Feminists for Liberty

Feminists for Liberty (F4L) is a nonprofit libertarian feminist group founded in 2016. It was founded by Kat Murti and Elizabeth Nolan Brown to promote the values of libertarian feminism. F4L are "anti-sexism and anti-statism, pro-markets and pro-choice" and "classically liberal, anti-carceral, and sex positive". They are opposed to collectivism and argue that "treating someone as simply a representative of their sex or gender" is collectivist.

Ladies of Liberty Alliance (LOLA)

The Ladies of Liberty Alliance (LOLA) was established in 2009 as a nonprofit organization. LOLA's goal is to engage women in libertarianism through social groups, leadership trainings, and visits from guest speakers.

Mothers Institute

The Mothers Institute was a non-profit educational and networking organization supporting stay-at-home mothering, homeschooling, civics in the classroom, and an effective networking system for mothers and freedom of choice in health and happiness. It is now defunct.